THE HON. RYAN PARK MP
MINISTER FOR HEALTH

GREG WARREN MP
MEMBER FOR CAMPBELLTOWN
PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR WESTERN SYDNEY

SALLY QUINNELL MP
MEMBER FOR CAMDEN

NATHAN HAGARTY MP
MEMBER FOR LEPPINGTON

CHARISHMA KALIYANDA MP
MEMBER FOR LIVERPOOL

THE HON. ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG
MEMBER FOR MACQUARIE FIELDS

LIBERAL NATIONALS LEFT 119.2 NURSES UNFUNDED IN SWS-LHD

The Liberal Nationals have owned up to their failure to fund 1,112 nurses across NSW, including 119.2 nursing positions in the SWS-LHD.

Incoming briefings provided to the Minns Labor Government revealed that the previous Liberal Government left 1,112 temporary nurses unfunded beyond the 2024-25 fiscal year.

This includes dozens of unfunded nurses in 14 local health districts (LHDs) along with the Childrens Hospital Network.

This massive funding black hole includes no funding allocated for:

• 138.2 nurses in the Hunter New England LHD
• 119.2 nurses in South Western Sydney LHD
• 109.1 nurses in Western Sydney LHD
• 104.4 nurses in South Eastern Sydney LHD
• 99.4 nurses in Sydney LHD
• 82 nurses in Northen Sydney LHD
• 61.4 nurses in Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD
• 57.1 nurses in Central Coast LHD
• 56.1 nurses in Western NSW LHD
• 51 nurses in Northern NSW LHD
• 50 nurses in Nepean Blue Mountains LHD
• 43.3 nurses in Mid North Coast LHD
• 41.6 nurses in Murrumbidgee LHD
• 41 nurses in Childrens Hospital Network
• 26.6 nurses in Southern NSW LHD

During Question time on the 23rd of August, in response to a member of the government addressing the former government’s budget mismanagement – which left these 1,112 essential health workers unfunded – the former treasurer and current Shadow Minister for Health Matt Kean interjected to inform the house these were ‘COVID recovery nurses’.

“The Minister is being deliberately quarrelsome, misleading the house about nurses that were COVID recovery nurses,” Mr Kean admitted to the chamber.

The Shadow Health Minister confirmed that the Coalition’s intention was to sack 1,112 nurses – at a time the NSW health system is under immense pressure.

The Liberals and Nationals failure to fund our essential workers is just one element of a $7 billion black hole uncovered by the Minns Government which included:
• a funding shortfall of $700 million for children living in out of home care; and
• a school repair backlog of $1.2 billion

Moreover, Matt Keans mismanagement of the budget has left the new government with record debt, which is on track to pass $187 billion – the equivalent of around $22,000 for every resident of NSW.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
“Matt Kean has confirmed what we all knew, but they were too cowardly to admit before the election – the Coalition government had no intention of continuing to fund these essential nurses.

“The fact is, even post-COVID, our health system is under immense pressure and we cannot afford to lose thousands of nurses.

Quotes attributable to Member for Campbelltown &
Parliamentary Secretary for Western Sydney Greg Warren:

“The former government’s unfunded plan for nurses in the Southwest will have a significant impact on Campbelltown and our region. At a time when our health system is under immense pressure, the previous government’s plan to axe 119.2 nurses in the region is both reckless and irresponsible.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Camden Sally Quinnell:
“Healthcare in the Camden electorate is already under incredible pressure, losing these vital nurses will stretch our healthcare services to the limit.”

“The former Liberal National Government presided over more than a decade of mismanagement and underinvestment in healthcare in our rural and regional areas.”
“The fact they planned to axe 119.2 nurses from our region is proof of that.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Leppington Nathan Hagarty:

“We are facing rapid population growth in the South West, particularly in Leppington, and it’s clear the public health system in South Western Sydney is already under pressure following 12 years of underinvestment.”

“Now the neglect is clear to see as the former Coalition government planned to sack 119 nurses in the South West Sydney Local Health District, further limiting our struggling health system.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda:

“Nurses in Liverpool have been telling us they are under incredible pressure for years, this revelation by the former Treasurer beggars belief and shows that they had no care for the residents of south west Sydney.”

“The fact they planned to axe 119 nurses from our region is proof that they had no understanding of just how important these nurses are in servicing our fast growing region – they were asleep at the wheel.”

“South-west Sydney is one of the largest and busiest health districts in the country. Having to absorb the impact of this puts further pressure on already at capacity staff. It’s unfair to these hardworking men and women who are at the frontline of caring for our community.”

“In contrast to the previous government, I’m pleased that the Premier and Health Minister have demonstrated their commitment to south-west Sydney. They have been in constant communication and have been out to see and hear from the community about their experiences”

Quotes attributable to Member for Macquarie Fields Anoulack Chanthivong:

“Everyone I speak to in Macquarie Fields already knows health services in South-West Sydney are under extreme pressure, I’m shocked by confirmation that the last government planned to cut more than 100 nurses from our area.

“This confirms what we already knew, our region was out of sight and out of mind for the previous government. Our focus is on cleaning up the mess left behind to ensure we fund the essential services people rely on.”