South Australian nurses and midwives turn down 16% pay offer, heading to arbitration

The South Australian branch of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation voted to reject the state government's final offer of a 16% salary increase for nurses and midwives over a three-year period. Elizabeth Dabars, ANMF SA chief executive, said the union had anticipated the need for arbitration and was ready to proceed. Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis described the vote as disappointing, maintaining that the proposal balanced the interests of healthcare workers and taxpayers.

The dispute will now be handed to the South Australian Employment Tribunal, which will decide whether the offer is fair. Beyond wages, the union emphasized concerns over staffing ratios, urging that newborns be counted alongside mothers in staffing calculations. Dabars indicated the union will pursue legislative changes to address patient-to-midwife ratios, a point the government did not accommodate during negotiations.