On March 15, 2024, the nurses of Lismore, New South Wales, gathered for a rally to express their anger. They are striking for increased pay, better wages and improved working conditions. The event showcased several nurses, including Mia Casagrande, who held a sign stating, “I can earn 18 percent more in Queensland.” This event is a wake-up call to the growing frustration of medical professionals across the state. Many of them are deciding between a bleak future in New South Wales versus a prosperous one in sunny Queensland.
The Richmond seat has already seen much of that exodus of nurses looking for better pay and working conditions. In part this policy move has led to a very real crisis in staffing at hospitals across New South Wales. The rally served as an uplifting and empowering display of unity and solidarity. More than anything, it was intended as an emergency alert focused on local and federal governments.
Nurses Shift Political Support
The rolling demonstration includes over 700 nurses and health care workers, including Nurse Kim Stanhope (left), Nurse Angie Gittus (right). As of the last federal election, they changed their vote from Labor to the Greens. Stanhope said she was ashamed of Labour, accusing the party of abandoning nurses in their time of need. “When I graduated as a nurse 22 years ago, NSW nurses were some of the highest paid in the country — now we are the lowest,” she remarked, underscoring her concerns about wage stagnation.
It follows then, that these nurses would want the Greens to push for their pay problems at the national level, should they be elected. Gittus, a past registered Greens member, pointed out that this cannot continue. “Particularly in border towns like we are here, we cannot hold on to our qualified nurses,” she said.
Their activism is part of a growing wave of healthcare workers radicalized by being abandoned by the two dominant political parties. Ian Abalos, another nurse who participated in the rally, stated, “It means a lot to me to vote because I know having the right to vote can make a big change.”
Allegations of Intimidation
As the tense political campaign has developed, concerns about intimidation at polling booths have already begun to surface. Gittus has now made an official complaint to the AEC. Labor campaign volunteers are accused by him of using aggressive bullying and intimidation tactics. She stated, “The intimidation tactics are something I have never experienced, and I have found it quite upsetting.”
Gittus shared her reluctance to take the issue up the chain of command, as she was connected to the community. “I’m not comfortable doing that because I live and work in this community and I don’t want to create a problem, but the standard you walk past is the standard you accept,” she explained.
Member for Richmond Justine Elliot, a Labor member, went straight on the attack about the allegations. She shared the fact that her team has faced harassment on several occasions as well. The AEC only took a handful of complaints regarding the behavior during the campaign. They noted that their legal authority to enforce appropriate behavior outside of specific zones is extremely limited.
“We have seen a small number of complaints about behaviour relating to campaign volunteers.” – AEC
The AEC further explained that they always remind all campaign canvassers to engage with the public politely and civilly.
The Struggle for Fair Compensation
Nurses are leading the fight for honest pay. This fight reveals a more systemic issue with New South Wales’ hemorrhaging healthcare infrastructure. A growing exodus of nurses to work in Queensland where pay and conditions are much better. This state-sponsored migration has in turn been blamed for staffing shortages in New South Wales hospitals.
Mandy Nolan, Terranora candidate for the Greens, was delighted to see support for the area’s nurses fight. “I am really honoured that nurses are handing out for me — I know how busy they are, I know how overworked and underpaid they are,” she stated during the rally.
The sentiment among many healthcare professionals is one of urgency, as they seek recognition of their contributions and fair compensation for their work. As the election approaches, it remains to be seen whether their voices will lead to meaningful change within the political landscape.
