NSW nurses and midwives win major pay rises after industrial dispute
Consensus Summary
The NSW Industrial Relations Commission ruled in favor of nurses and midwives, awarding pay rises of up to 28% over three years after a two-year dispute with the state government. Registered nurses received a 16% increase (10% backdated to July 1, 2025, plus 3% annually), enrolled nurses got 18%, and assistant nurses received 28%. The decision cited undervaluation of the majority-female workforce and post-COVID inflation, though the commission acknowledged the financial strain on the NSW government, which will cost $74.5 million per 1% annually. The pay rises follow three statewide strikes in 2024 and a union push for a 35% increase. Justice Ingmar Taylor noted the 'real possibility' of gender-based undervaluation but balanced this with fiscal concerns, rejecting backdating to 2024. The NSW government, led by Premier Minns, accepted the ruling, though the union criticized the outcome as insufficient for registered nurses and systemic reform.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The NSW Industrial Relations Commission awarded a 16% pay rise over three years to registered nurses and midwives (10% backdated to July 1, 2025, plus 3% annually for 2026â2027).
- Enrolled nurses received an 18% pay rise over three years (12% backdated to July 1, 2025, plus 3% annually for 2026â2027).
- Assistant nurses in nursing (AINs) received a 28% pay rise over three years (22% backdated to July 1, 2025, plus 3% annually for 2026â2027).
- The pay rises were granted after the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) argued nurses' work had been undervalued, partly due to the workforce being majority-female (9 in 10 nurses and 98.9% of midwives are women).
- The Industrial Relations Commission ruled the pay rises were justified due to post-COVID inflation and the undervaluation of nurses' work, but noted the increases would cost the NSW government $74.5 million per 1% annually.
- The pay rises were backdated to July 1, 2025, rather than the unionâs requested 2024 backdating, due to fiscal concerns.
- The NSW government, led by Premier Minns, upheld the Industrial Relations Commissionâs decision, with Health Minister Ryan Park stating the government would comply.
- The dispute followed three statewide strikes in 2024 by nurses, which brought the public health system to a standstill.
- The NSWNMA initially sought a 35% pay rise over three years to address cost-of-living pressures and expanded roles.
- Justice Ingmar Taylor, president of the Industrial Relations Commission, acknowledged the 'real possibility' that nurses' work was undervalued for gender reasons.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The NSW government previously imposed a wages cap, which the union argued contributed to the undervaluation of nurses' work.
- The union argued that womenâs work and care skills were undervalued in the decision-making process.
- The unionâs barrister, Leo Saunders, argued that nurses are 'expensive now, theyâll be made more expensive, but this does not represent an economic disaster.'
- The NSW Treasury estimated the unionâs proposed pay offer would cost $14.7 billion over five years, rising to $16.3 billion with interest.
- Justice Taylor warned that the pay rise could put 'upward pressure on interest rates' but should not be a barrier to a fair increase.
- The governmentâs lawyer, Simon Meehan, warned that service cuts may be required to fund any increase above what was already budgeted.
- The union accepted an interim 3% pay increase in September 2025 ahead of the court case.
- The article highlights that the pay rises were described as a 'landmark ruling' addressing undervaluation in the nursing sector post-pandemic.
- General secretary of the NSWNMA, Michael Whaites, stated that the outcome 'says womenâs work has to remain undervalued because of the economy,' calling it 'appalling.'
- The article notes that the pay rises were not enough to fix 'structured reform' needed in the NSW health system, per Whaites.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The SMH and NEWSCOMAU mention that the pay rises were backdated to July 1, 2025, but the ABC states the pay rises are 'backdated to July 1, 2025' while also noting the union sought backdating to 2024, which was rejected by all sources.
- The SMH states the union sought a 15% rise retrospectively for the 2024 financial year, while the ABC does not mention this specific figure.
- The SMH notes that the unionâs proposed pay offer was estimated to cost taxpayers over $10 billion, while NSW Treasury estimated $14.7 billion over five years (with interest rising to $16.3 billion).
Source Articles
'Their work is undervalued': NSW nurses, midwives get major pay rise
Registered nurses will receive a "one-off reset" of a 10 per cent pay rise in the first year, backdated to July 1, 2025, and a 3 per cent pay rise the following two years.
NSW nurses win pay rises of up to 28 per cent in end to two-year dispute
Nurses and midwives argued their pay was suppressed by the now-abolished wages cap and the historical undervaluation of their female-dominated professions.
NSW nurses and midwives land major payrise
Nurses and midwives in NSW are set for bumper payrises in a landmark ruling after a long battle.