Australia’s largest union,the Nursing and Midwifery Federation,and the Health Services Union are bringing a case in the Fair Work Commission,which sets industries’ minimum pay rates,demanding a 25 per cent pay rise.
But its odds of success depend on whether the federal government that funds the sector comes to the table with more money for staff pay,in addition to the $17 billion it committed in the budget.
So far,it has not done so but the commission has told it to make the information it can available by July 23.
A spokeswoman for Health and Aged Care Minister Greg Hunt said the government would respond to the commission’s requests,though lawyers for the government said last month that some of the information sought may be unavailable or subject to cabinet confidentiality.
“The government has invested a record $17.7 billion in aged care in response to the royal commission,” Mr Hunt’s spokeswoman said. “This includes specific initiatives to support wages,including a bonus for nurses to assist in raising the quality of care.”
If the unions are successful,personal carers in nursing homes would see their minimum wage go up by about $5 an hour,from $23.09 to $28.86 on wage rates when the application was lodged. Home care workers and registered nurses in aged care facilities are also in line for the pay rise if the case is successful,though it could also only be granted in part.
Patricia Sparrow,chief executive of Aged and Community Services Australia,which represents many not-for-profit providers,said the government needed to provide funding more reflective of the cost of delivering good aged care.