Yesterday lunchtime, at least 120 nurses, midwives, and supporters stood out in front of the Lismore Base Hospital, making their presence known with placards and calling slogans. Honks of support from passers-by encouraged their bid for a 15% raise and better conditions.

NSW nurses and midwives are the lowest paid in Australia, and being close to the Queensland border makes working further north more attractive. This contributes to staff shortages, which are filled with temporary or agency nurses and new graduates. This leads to a lack of experienced nurses and more pressure on all staff.

Penelope Anderson, the Lismore representative from NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA), opened the rally with a Welcome to Country.

The rally began with Penelope's news of the announcement that Lismore Base Hospital has been allocated 29 more nurses. This received cheers, but when she asked the question, “But where are they going to get them from?” agreement resounded.

“We welcome all these nurses and midwives (agency and new graduates) but we don't have the experience in the building to support them safely. And once they realise they could cross the border to Queensland for much better pay and far better conditions, they’re off.”

Agency nurses are appreciated but can cause angst as they are paid far more and have housing subsidised and transport covered. The nurses and midwives made it clear how they feel.

(Out the front of Lismore Base Hospital)

“We're so grateful for their presence but we're also a little ticked off that the New South Wales Labor Government justifies this tremendous expense, yet they can't afford a real pay rise for us who have stuck it out through thick and thin.

“I don't know about you but I'm sick of it, working in a system that gives us praise, but will not give us a real raise.

“We are sick of being undervalued and underpaid.

“NSW Labor, you are on notice!”

The cheers and honks kept coming throughout the speeches.

(These nurses came straight from the theatre)

Penelope then welcomed other people in the association that had travelled from Casino and Tweed to help highlight the situation in Lismore.

The chants then resounded:

“What do we want?”

“15%”

“When do we want it?”

“Now”

(Penelope and Keir - Penelope was celebrating her birthday)

Keir Loughlin (Mental Health Secretary) got up and said a few more heated words, “We have a government that wants to lock us into a 3-year sh*t deal.”

“10.5%, which is 9.5% with super, and they want us to piss off for the rest of their term.

“We need 15%, we need parity with Queensland, we need conditions like Victoria. We have put up with this shit for too long, and we are going to draw the line in the sand.

“We will do what it takes. We will shut the place down. We will close your beds. We will not fill in your funding reports. And we will make you bleed like you have made us bleed. NSW Labor, you are on notice!

“We are coming for you, and we will get our 15%!”

The Mental Health Steward, Peter Byrnes, then got up,

“Absolutely sick of the way we are treated. I can believe they treat, mainly women like you, as an unending resource. It’s time for you girls and us guys to say ‘No Bloody More.’”

One last speaker, Gil, joined the ranks to lead some chants, “We're going to let them know in there (LBH) that we're serious.”

The chant was “We deserve more in 2024,” and it rang out loud and clear several times.

“The only reason the health system runs, is on our backs. It’s about time they supported us and gave us a decent pay rise!”

The retinue spread out and walked down to the roundabout and back, chanting all the way.

A bystander approached to vent his feelings. Ben said, “I just can't believe how insane it is that the New South Wales Government is allowed to pay nurses less here than in the rest of the country. In any other industry, that would be wage theft and illegal, and they would be brought before some sort of commission then people would be repaid. 

“It's not that they're affecting only nurses and midwives. They're selling the people of New South Wales short, leaving them with the worst health system in the country. 

“By not paying people fairly, you're not valuing them. People who don't feel valued in the workplace don't deliver in the workplace. 

“If you're going to get sick in Australia, you better hope it's not in New South Wales. Chris Minns better not get sick and need a hospital.”

The rally came to a close, and the nurses and midwives started to break up. One nurse walking back towards the hospital said to her companion, “Oh well, gotta go save some lives, I suppose…”