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“No Say. No Seat. No Way.” – Why Queensland Nurses Vote NO on the EB12 Deal

By: NPAQ on Apr 28, 2025 12:08:30 PM

Nursing & Midwifery

The current EB12 proposal from Queensland Health isn’t just a low-ball offer—it’s a breaking point. It challenges the limits of how much nurses can endure before they feel compelled to take action.

We’re being asked to accept:

Just 8% over three years, despite inflation exceeding salary growth
A “capped” inflation adjustment that guarantees real wage cuts
No recovery of the financial ground we’ve already lost in EB11

The truth is stark: Queensland nurses are becoming the working poor.

We’re hearing from our members that they are being forced to choose between groceries and fuel. We know of other members working overtime just to cover their rent. This is not the future any of us signed up for—and yet, this is the future being offered.

What’s Wrong With the Offer?

It’s a Pay Cut in Disguise: With inflation projected to exceed the offer, nurses will earn less in real terms every year.
No Cost-of-Living Relief: The deal ignores the housing crisis, fuel prices, and basic financial stress affecting nurses across the state.
No Seat at the Table: NPAQ and our new representative body, QNCH—speaking for over 12,000 nurses and midwives—have been locked out of negotiations.

NPAQ now represents close to 20% of Queensland’s nursing workforce, and the government requires 50% + 1 of all votes for EB12 to pass.

It’s time to be heard. Your vote counts!

We submitted a detailed 25-page Log of Claims (Insert LOC)to the Director-General and the Health Minister at the invitation of the Deputy Premier.

This Isn’t Just a Bargaining Dispute – It’s a Human Rights Fight

Since 2022, changes to the Industrial Relations Act have deliberately excluded new associations like QNCH from participating in negotiations. This strips nurses of their fundamental right to choose who represents them—a breach of international labour conventions.

It’s beyond inequitable, It undermines basic democratic principles.

The monopoly on representation has blocked accountability, ignored member feedback, and left thousands of professionals silenced in the most crucial workforce decision of the decade.

What We’ve Proposed

The NPAQ and QNCH Log of Claims puts forward practical, achievable reforms, including:

Real wage increases that keep pace with inflation and restores our financial standing
Retention, equity and incentives for rural and remote nursing and midwifery staff
Safe staffing ratios based on acuity and fatigue management protection
Recognition of our professional value—not political gamesmanship

We didn’t just criticise—we led with solutions. But those solutions are not being heard!

What We’re Asking Now

We’re not asking for luxury. We’re asking for survival. For dignity. For fairness.For equality

We’re calling on every Queensland nurse to Vote NO when this deal is put to ballot.

Your NO vote says:

Nurses deserve real wage growth
Representation should be by choice, not compulsion
The healthcare system must value—not exploit—its nursing and midwifery workforce