Terri Butler (Griffith, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

and I will take the interjection from the member from Bass who suggests that the language is new to me. You might like to know that the phrase 'frontline services' was used by the Liberal-National Party prior to the 2012 state election in my home state of Queensland. 'Frontline services,' they said. 'There will be no cuts to frontline services.' How did that go? What happened? Let us see this: 4,000 full-time equivalent hospital and health services jobs were lost across Queensland, including more than 1600 nurse and midwife positions. So when the Liberals and Nationals use the language of 'front-line services', you know they certainly do not mean front-line jobs. It is code for 'cuts'. It is always code for cuts.

Government members interjecting—

I thank members opposite for so kindly providing me with an eye line and a group of people to address. As the member for Bass and others know, when you hear Liberals talk about front-line services, when you hear Nationals talk about front-line services, you need only think back to the example of Queensland, my home state—1,600 full-time equivalent nursing and midwifery jobs lost across that state, notwithstanding that reference to 'front-line services'.

Who else has spoken about front-line services? Perhaps COAG has spoken about front-line services. What did they say? On 18 May this year, shortly after the federal budget, they said:

The meeting of premiers and chief ministers expresses grave concern that, contrary to the Prime Minister's remarks today, there are immediate impacts on front-line services and the cost of living for Australians. For example, from 1 July 2014, there will be a reduction in funding for 1,200 hospital beds across Australia …

That is what COAG said about front-line services. So when members opposite use the words 'front-line services', we know that is code for cuts.

It is gravely disappointing that, despite the protestations from those opposite that they care about nursing and that they care about health care, they have offered nothing but union bashing in this debate today. It is the old LNP playbook: 'We have nothing to say; let's bash some unions and let's talk about the Labor Party and union connections.' I have some news for you, members opposite. In Queensland, the nurses union is not affiliated with the Labor Party—not to mention that they are a fine representative organisation. Who do you think runs the Queensland Nurses' Union, members opposite? Nurses run the Queensland Nurses' Union. In fact it is enshrined in legislation—democratic control of organisations.

Government members interjecting—

They are not affiliated with the Labor Party. If you were listening instead of interrupting, you might have heard me saying that. Perhaps, members opposite, instead of continuously interrupting, you might want to listen.

Let's talk about nursing. We know that the report Health Workforce 2025

Mr Nikolic interjecting—

Oh! The member for Bass is married to a nurse. In the Labor Party, we run nurses for parliament.

A government member interjecting—

The Queensland Nurses' Union is not affiliated. I have said it several times. But, yes, do you know what? Being a nurse qualifies you to stand for parliament. In fact we have a nurse running for parliament in one of my local state seats, Greenslopes. Our candidate, and hopefully our future member, is Joe Kelly, who is a nurse. He is standing for parliament—and guess what? You can stand for parliament in Queensland if you are a nurse. He will stand up for nurses as we on this side of the House do. I look forward to his getting elected and I certainly hope that he does.

But let's talk about nursing in Australia. Health Workforce 2025reported that there is already a shortage of more than 20,000 nurses in Australia. That is what Health Workforce Australia's report said. It projected that, without nationally coordinated reform, there will be a shortage of more than 109,000 nurses by 2025. Yet the Senate this week is moving to abolish that agency and to cut more than $142 million from workforce planning. It is a terrible shame. This side of the House cares about nursing. I invite that side of the House to join us in doing so.

See this speech in context