Senate debates

Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Motions

Nurses

3:47 pm

Photo of Scott LudlamScott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Hanson-Young, I seek leave to amend general business notice of No. 1238.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) the long-term forecasts provided by Health Workforce Australia that show there will be a national shortage of 109 000 nurses and midwives by 2025, and

(ii) that South Australia is already facing a shortage in these industries due to a lack of succession planning, with only 50 per cent of South Australian nurses who graduated in 2012 employed in the state's public health system; and

(b) in light of current and impending pressures, urges the Federal Government and the Labor Weatherill Government to work with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (South Australian Branch) to increase secure graduate jobs for nurses and midwives and provide specialist skills development within those industries to address the worsening attrition rates.

Question agreed to.