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News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘We're done being disrespected': Nurses ramp up action over fair pay
Thousands of nurses and midwives across Queensland have escalated their campaign for fair wages and conditions, with stage 2 of protected industrial action officially under way. The Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union (QNMU) has confirmed members across all Queensland Health facilities will participate in targeted action, stepping back from a range of non-clinical duties while continuing to prioritise direct patient care. QNMU secretary Sarah Beaman said members were sending a clear message to Health Minister Tim Nicholls that it was now time for a new, nation-leading offer. 'Today marks a historic step in our push for a deal that recruits, respects and retains this state's frontline nursing and midwifery workforce,' Ms Beaman said. 'Nurses and midwives are holding our health system together through sheer heart, skill and determination. 'We're at breaking point and we're done being disrespected.' The latest action follows the union's rejection of the government's proposed 11 per cent pay rise over three years, with the QNMU instead pushing for a 13 per cent increase over the same period. The government's offer includes staged increases of 3 per cent in April 2025, 2.5 per cent in both April 2026 and April 2027, and a final 3 per cent in December 2027. Mr Nicholls has described the proposal as a 'nation-leading' package that includes an 'Australian-first double-time-for-overtime care package'. However, Ms Beaman said the deal would strip Queensland's nurses and midwives of their long-held position as the highest paid in the country, a status they've maintained for 15 years. She said the workforce was now escalating action to 'keep Queenslanders safe.' 'We are over the state government's stalling tactics and gaslighting,' she said. Actions under stage 2 include not performing administrative and support duties such as filing, answering phones, cleaning equipment, moving beds or entering non-clinical data into hospital systems. The QNMU has also issued specific notices for additional actions in various wards and units across the state. The union confirmed it had provided Queensland Health with the required three full working days' notice to allow for contingency planning. The industrial action has been approved by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC). Members will continue to document all clinical observations to ensure safe, continuous care. The QNMU said the latest action was in response to what it described as a failure by the government to uphold its written commitment to maintain nation-leading wages and conditions. It said that under the current offer, more than 36,000 of Queensland Health's 55,000 nurses and midwives would miss out on those wage standards. 'We have not taken this decision lightly, but the government has left us no choice,' Ms Beaman said. She said the protected industrial action is about making sure there were enough nurses and midwives to care for Queenslanders. 'Fair pay, safe conditions, respect. That's all we're asking,' Ms Beaman said. The first stage of industrial action began on June 5 with low-level visibility activities such as staff wearing pink or promotional shirts and email signature updates. Ms Beaman said the stage 2 action would be 'legal, safe, and targeted,' in response to what she described as ongoing disrespect and gaslighting from the LNP state government. She emphasised that while the action may cause some inconvenience for Queensland Health officials, patient safety would not be compromised. 'We dedicate our working lives to the provision of safe, quality health care. As such, patient safety remains our priority at all times,' she said. Ms Beaman clarified the action was not a strike and assured the public that nurses and midwives would remain on the job, continuing to deliver frontline care. 'Nurses and midwives will be focusing on direct patient care, rather than some of the many other additional duties which have been added to their workload over the years,' she said. 'Nurses and midwives will not suddenly abandon their professional obligations or their longstanding and demonstrated commitment to patients and their care. 'But we are standing strong and calling on this government to bring an end to the disrespect and dishonouring of its election commitment. 'The Premier promised frontline nurses and midwives he would respect them. It's time to make good that promise.'
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
How to check your eligibility for early cancer screening programs
Data provided to Four Corners by Cancer Australia has painted a concerning picture for young Australians. Between the years 2000 and 2024 — in 30–39-year-olds — early onset prostate, pancreatic, liver, uterine and kidney cancer diagnoses increased dramatically in varying percentages. Some increases, such as prostate cancer, might be explained by changes in the way they are diagnosed — but most cannot. Screening still is one of the most effective ways to detect early signs of cancer and there are several national programs that test eligible Australians for various forms of cancer. Eligibility for some programs has recently been expanded to reflect the increasing cancer rates among younger Australians, while other programs have just rolled out this month. These are the eligibility details for each. Women aged 25–74 are able to participate in Australia's cervical screening program, which is to be repeated every five years. The cervical screen test is straightforward and checks for the human papillomavirus, a common virus that can cause cervical cancer. You can either self-collect or book an appointment with your GP. Self-collection allows a person to collect their own vaginal sample in a private space in a primary healthcare setting, potentially reducing barriers to cervical screening. Previously, self-collection was only available to people who were 30 years of age or over and had never participated in the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) or who were overdue for cervical screening by two years or longer. You can contact your GP to talk about what the most suitable option for you is. If you are aged between 45 and 74 you are eligible for a free bowel cancer screening kit. The test is for people who have no signs or symptoms of bowel cancer. This is because bowel cancer can develop without you noticing the early signs. Australians between the ages of 45 and 49 can request a bowel cancer screening kit, which will be sent to them via mail. People aged 50 to 74 years old will receive a kit every two years. The screening age was lowered from 50 to 45 last year due to increasing rates of colorectal cancer in Australia among people under the age of 50. If you are outside the age range for a free screening but wish to receive one, speak with your GP. Your doctor may recommend bowel screening available via Medicare. Bowel screening kits are also available for purchase at pharmacies or online. If you have signs, symptoms, or a family history of bowel cancer, this test may not be suitable for you. If you are under screening age, you may not need to do the test if you have had a colonoscopy in the last two years or are seeing a doctor about bowel problems. Breast cancer screening is recommended for women aged 50–74 and should be repeated every two years. Once an eligible individual turns 50 they will be sent an invitation to receive a free mammogram. Women aged 40–49 and those aged over 74 are also eligible to receive a free mammogram if they don't have symptoms of breast cancer but they will not receive an invitation. For women under 40, breast screening isn't offered for free and is less effective, the Breast Cancer Network of Australia says. If you're concerned you may have a higher risk of breast cancer, you should talk to your GP as a breast ultrasound or MRI may be better. If you have an increased risk of developing breast cancer because of family history, for example, you may be offered free mammograms each year. You can find your closest BreastScreen clinic here. A national lung cancer screening program was introduced as of July 1 this year. The program screens for lung cancer in high-risk individuals using low-dose computed tomography (low-dose CT) scans. People are eligible for the program if they are aged between 50 and 70 years and: Prostate cancer, ovarian cancer and skin cancer are commonly diagnosed among Australians, but we do not yet have population-based screening programs for those cancers. The Australian Standing Committee on Screening has found the harms of offering tests for these cancers to large target groups outweigh the benefits or do not result in fewer deaths. Instead, it's recommended you speak to your doctor if you have a family history of ovarian cancer about options for managing your risk and your concerns. You can book a skin check with your GP and the Australian Cancer Council provides guidance on how to check your skin here. And men with a family history of prostate cancer or symptoms that could indicate problems (difficult or frequent passing of urine) should speak with their doctor. Keep an eye out for any unusual changes to your body, such as: All of these symptoms do not necessarily indicate cancer. Speak to your GP about any health concerns. You can also sign up to the National Screening Register, which provides program information and reminders to participants. It acts as a single electronic record for each Australian taking part in the bowel, cervical and lung cancer screening programs. You can register here.
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Queenslanders to continue legal challenges against COVID-19 directives after successful appeal
Several Queenslanders, including small business owners and teachers, who had their legal challenges against COVID-19 vaccine directives thrown out, can continue fighting their cases after a successful appeal. In 2022, two groups of people launched Supreme Court action alleging directives made by two Chief Health Officers (CHO) and the state government during the pandemic were unlawful. They also alleged some of the directions breached parts of the Human Rights Act. The 19 applicants were made up of Education Queensland employees, privately employed teachers and hospitality owners and businesses. Of the individuals in the claims, most had refused to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, which under the health directives at the time prevented them from working. While others were unable to permit staff and customers who were not vaccinated to enter their business. However, in 2023, before the matter reached the trial stage and the substantive legal and factual arguments could be made, their applications were dismissed. At the time, a Supreme Court judge ruled the groups "never had… or ceased to have" legal standing, as the health directives had since been revoked. Because of this, it was ruled they were "no longer adversely affected" and would "incur no foreseeable consequence". The applicants appealed that decision last year, and on Tuesday it was overturned. Three Court of Appeal judges found they did have legal standing and ordered that the appeals be allowed. When determining if there were any other grounds to dismiss the applications, Justice John Bond said there was "no other good reason to deny the applicants their day in Court". "In an attempt to establish the merits of their claims for declaratory orders in relation to alleged past contraventions," he said in a published decision. "There is a strong public interest in determining whether or not there is any merit in their claims." Outside court the lawyer representing the groups, Sam Iskander, said he was "really happy" with the outcome, which allows both civil cases to continue. The decision comes almost 18 months after separate workplace vaccine mandate challenges were successful. A court determined directions given to some frontline workers were unlawful or of no effect.
