Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk speaks with a nurse in Townsville. Photo: Tony Moore
Labor has promised to employ an extra 400 nurses throughout Queensland if it wins the election on January 31.
The program, which would be rolled out over four years, would cost $110 million, Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said when announcing the policy in Townsville on Thursday.
Flanked by Shadow Health Minister Jo Ann Miller and Labor candidates for the Townsville seats, Ms Palaszczuk described the policy as “the first positive policy of the election campaign”.
Nurses wearing “Nurse power” and “Midwife power” t-shirts – mostly members of the Queensland Nurses Union – appeared in the background of the policy launch at Townsville hospital.
“Nurses say they are stretch to the bone, they are working harder than ever before, “Ms Palaszczuk said.
“They are not taking their meal breaks, they are working double shifts.”
She said when the LNP came into office it cut 4800 positions from Queensland Health, including more than 1800 nurses and midwives.
A spokesman for Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said Queensland Health figures show there were 21 more nurses working at Townsville Hospital and Health district in December 2014 (2599) than in April 2012 (2578).
Overall, there are 5575 staff in Townsville, compared to 5489 in April 2012, the spokesman said.
Ms Palaszczuk dismissed this as “LNP spin.”
The Opposition Leader also revealed on Thursday Labor would not abolish the health and hospital board system established by the LNP.
“We support the board system,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“However under this government, Lawrence Springborg has basically taken no responsibility for actions that happen in hospitals,” she said.
“That will not happen under a government I lead. The minister will be responsible and the buck will stop with the minister.”
Ms Palaszczuk said the nurses announcement was the first part of Labor’s health policy to be announced during the campaign.