Doctors across all public hospitals in New South Wales unified by walking out for a three-day strike on Tuesday, marking what is the first state-wide strike in nearly a decade for doctors.
The strike is the third by NSW hospital staff in the past year, with nurses and midwives walking off the job twice in 2024 in protest of similar disputes – better working conditions and increased pay.
NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park released a statement in preparation of the strike and agreed hospital doctors should receive an increase in pay. He also urged the Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation (ASMOF) to call off the strike, describing it as a “want not a need” and an “unreasonable demand” from the union for a 30 per cent raise.
“We do not want this,” Minister Park said.
“ASMOF’s strike plans will disrupt our hospitals and health facilities across NSW… It’s inexplicable that ASMOF would actively choose to jeopardise patient safety over resolving its claim in the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC).”
Wollongong Hospital staff joined the strike after months of claimed short-staffing and record high patient attendance.
University nursing student Lauren Bunnell said all hospital staff deserve better working conditions with medical students across the university hoping the strikes will lead to real change in the workforce.
“When I was doing practical work at the hospital, I noticed that staffing numbers were definitely down, and a lot of staff were in support of this strike and wanting to get in on it,” Ms Bunnell said.
“Hospital staff are really underpaid for the work they do and it’s impacting a lot of areas. It’s a really significant issue that I don’t think has been fully addressed, and now someone’s finally put their foot down and everyone’s really come together to try and change that issue head on.”
The NSW Government has offered a 10.5 per cent wage increase over three years to doctors but has said it cannot meet the union demands.
Ms Bunnell expressed the severity of the situation and what exactly the strike means for the future of medicine, particularly for students studying to work in the healthcare system.
“Whilst nurses pay and conditions are more relevant for me, I think everyone agrees that doctors and nurses need to be paid more and doctors definitely deserve more recognition for the work they do,” she said.
“For the future, when we go into the workforce I definitely hope we get recognised more and get paid fairly for the hours we contribute because it’s serious, we’re going to have someone’s life in our hands.”
The community is urged to contact HealthDirect for any advice, treatment or care in non life-threatening instances and Triple Zero (000) in the event of an emergency during the strike.