The industrial and professional organisation for 170,000 nurses and midwives in Australia
Canberra Office
Unit 3, 28 Eyre Street Kingston ACT 2604 Australia
PO Box 4239 Kingston ACT 2604 Australia
(T) + 61 2 6232 6533 (F) + 61 2 6232 6610
anfcanberra@anf.org.au
Melbourne Office
Level 1, 365 Queen Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia
(T ) + 61 3 9602 8500 (F) + 61 3 9602 8567
anfmelbourne@anf.org.au
ANF Journals
Australian Nursing Journal
Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing
anj@anf.org.au ajan@anf.org.au
ABN 41 816 898 298
Media Release
Attention: news, health, aged care, industrial relations, politics
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Xenophon attacks South Australian aged care nurses - ANF
Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) federal secretary Ged Kearney said comments made by
Senator Nick Xenophon today display a lack of understanding of the award modernisation
process and the benefits this process brings to nursing staff, employers and the aged care
industry.
Ms Kearney said a media release issued by Senator Xenophon, calling on the government to
delay the introduction of a new award in aged care was an ill-considered acceptance of
economic modelling prepared by South Australian aged care employers.
“The Senator’s comments show he has little understanding of the funding or employment
arrangements that apply to the aged care industry,” Ms Kearney said.
“The employer costings he cites have been around for a number of months now and no one
accepts them because upon closer examination they are obviously flawed and misleading. It
is disappointing that Xenophon appears to have accepted the modelling without question.”
“The new award will provide nursing staff with an equitable safety net and Senator Xenophon
should support the dedicated nurses who care for some of the most vulnerable members of
our community.”
It is well known that nurses working in aged care across the country earn on average 20% or
$300 per week less than nurses in other sectors of health.
“Why should nursing staff working in aged care be denied a decent award and fair pay
because the sector is under funded.”
Ms Kearney said the ANF is currently campaigning for pay equity for nursing staff in aged
care and as the representative of 170,000 nurses and midwives in Australia invites Senator
Xenophon to work with industry representatives to ensure that aged care workers are
adequately paid and that residents continue to receive quality nursing care.
Media inquiries
Ged Kearney, ANF federal secretary, 0417 053 322
Lee Thomas, ANF Assistant Federal Secretary 0419 576 590
For information on the national ANF aged care campaign - Because We Care go to:
NEWS 
