Challenging economic times
Published: 2 February 2009
The global financial crisis dominated the news headlines and our thoughts throughout much of 2008 and the uncertain and challenging economic circumstances are set to continue into 2009 and probably beyond.
But in these uncertain times, as governments and employers look to ways to implement more sustainable and cost effective models across our services, we have real opportunity to revalue nursing and midwifery work and once again prioritise what the community needs and expects.
The current mantra from governments, economic policy makers, business groups and employers alike is that we all must show restraint—wages can’t blow out and we have to think of the long term.
It’s a great pity these same calls for restraint were not being made so loudly in the past, particularly around executive salaries and excessive fees paid to the (now not so) brilliant financial whizzes. An appropriate focus on sustainability of investment and economic activity as well as appropriate regulation in the past would have certainly assisted in averting this current greed inspired crisis.
Some employer groups are seeking to use this crisis and gain leverage in their campaign to reduce the effectiveness of new federal industrial legislation and retain as much of the draconian WorkChoices as they can.
The truth is that tough economic times require fair and balanced industrial legislation with a strong umpire. The federal government must not dilute its Fair Work Australia reforms because we simply cannot be swept along by those acting like Chicken Little—the sky is not falling.
What’s needed now is some perspective and cool heads. While this is a very serious situation, Australia is one of the best placed countries in the world to come through this crisis and Queensland is the best placed Australian state economically.
What we need to do is reframe the current crisis and look to seize on the positive opportunities which do exist.
For instance there is the opportunity for communities across the world to debate the fundamental role of government and what their expectations are around the provision of services such as health, aged care and education. It’s an opportunity to put what the community expects and values back front and centre.
The global financial crisis combined with the election of President Obama will create the opportunity for some great social infrastructure projects in the US.
It is my hope that this opportunity is taken to advance the implementation of universal health care in that country. Their current shameful, inequitable health system that sees around 47 million Americans uninsured (and many more that are under-insured) could become a thing of the past.
Closer to home, the focus on budget restraints in government and business, including in the health and aged care sectors, while creating significant challenges, also provides potential opportunities. It could provide impetus for innovation in health care including nurse and midwife led models, protocol initiated discharge, a greater focus on the team in health care delivery. We will hear more about ideas on the national level in the area of health reform when the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission releases its interim report to the Rudd government shortly.
No matter what the economic circumstance, the QNU will never shy away from advancing the values and interests of our members. Our industrial and professional claims are evidence based and well reasoned.
Our claims are not extreme or greedy. Nurses and midwives want fair wages and workloads. We want to be treated with respect and to be valued—we have a unique identity that must be maintained. We want to be provided with the resources to provide the quality of care we know we are capable of delivering. We want equitable outcomes for nurses and midwives across sectors, to see an end to the disgraceful wage disparity for nurses working in the aged care sector.
There is much to be done and the circumstances are challenging—but nurses and midwives are up to the challenge.
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