NSW Labor's 3-point Plan for Coal Mine Workers

BY JARROD MELMETH

NSW Labor has announced a 3-point plan for coal mine workers, including those in the Hunter in an effort to improve job security and working conditions.

The plan includes a cap for contracted, labour-hire and casual coal mining of 20 percent which means at least 80 percent of workers on land subject to approval must be directly employed by the approval holder or any other entity that operates the mine.

A new licensing scheme for labour-hire companies would also be introduced which would require those operating in the mining industry to comply with laws regarding workplace safety, pay, and conditions - including providing the same pay and conditions as those enjoyed by directly employed workers.

Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Industry, and Resources Adam Searle said the plan will halt the creeping insecurity and the erosion of pay and conditions for workers in NSW.

"A Daley Labor Government wants well paid, secure and locally-based mining jobs in the coal mining industry. We know that many disputes arise because big mining companies want to casualise and contract out their work. This is bad for workers and the resulting disputes have disrupted the NSW coal supply.

"There has been too much contracting out of jobs in the industry, undermining the economic security of local workers. That has to stop, and Labor has a positive plan to work with companies and workers to ensure, decently paid jobs and a resilient industry," Mr Searle said.

Mr Searle went on to call on the National Party to sign on to the plan, accusing the party of desperate empty promises when it came to protecting workers.

Incumbent Upper Hunter Nationals MP Michael Johnsen said mandating how businesses run their business is ridiculous.

"It is a 3-point plan which is effectively going to shut the coal industry down even quicker than Labor want to do it by 2030.

The best thing Labor can do is, actually at a federal level, to support the Nationals legislation which is on the table and has already had its second read. All it is waiting on is a debate and a vote. That is what Labor need to support if they want to support workers in the mining industry," Mr Johnsen said.

Under the Nationals new legislation, all employees in the national system will have access to a minimum standard of right to request casual conversion which cannot be traded away, irrespective of whether their terms and conditions of employment are set by a modern award, enterprise agreement or any other targets.

CFMEU Northern Mining and NSW Energy District President Peter Jordan is applauding Labors plan describing it as "a practical initiative to address job insecurity in the industry and the Hunter region." Mr Jordan said.

Hunter Nurses And Midwives Call For Nurse-To-Patient Ratios

BY JARROD MELMETH

Nurses and Midwives are rallying today at Maitland and Singleton hospitals calling on candidates in the New South Wales election to commit to nurse-to-patient ratios.

The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association is calling for surgical and medical wards to have a one-to-four ratio in the morning and afternoon and a one-to-seven ration on the night shift as well as a 24/7 one-to-three ratio in the emergency department, pediatric and maternity wards

The action from the Association follows fresh statistics released from the Bureau of Health Information's Quarterly Report showing a 6 per cent increase in emergency department patient presentations at Maitland Hospital between October and December, compared to this time last year.

Singleton Hospital saw a 2 per cent increase in patients in its emergency department during the same period.

Singleton Hospital Midwife Janine Moffat said the current situation is not good enough for staff or patients.

"Currently in Singleton, we can work anywhere from one nurse to eight, nine or ten patients and if you are the midwife on and you have got a lady in the birthing unit and you have got one or two postnatal women, those postnatal women miss out on care because you are the only midwife on.

"We are not asking for money, we are asking for safe nurse-to-patient ratios so that people get the health care they deserve and nurses can go home knowing that they did a good job," Ms Moffat said.

Maitland Hospital Nurse Jane Burr said nurse-to-patient ratios are the only way to provide a safe environment.

Maitland Hospital. Photo: The Newcastle Herald.

Singleton Hospital. Photo: The Singleton Argus.

NSW Government Urged To Release Costings On Promises

BY JARROD MELMETH

The state opposition is calling on the NSW Government to come clean about how it plans to pay for their promises leading up to the state election.

Labor says the Government's Pre-election Budget Update confirmed that the state net worth has fallen by $2.4 billion, the surplus has fallen by $273 million and the Berejiklian Government has not announced a single savings or revenue measure.

Shadow Minister for Finance and Member for Cessnock Clayton Barr said the government are making promises which cannot be funded by the existing budget.

"For the last 8 years, the way that the government has balanced the books has essentially been to sell the farm; you sell the kitchen sink, sell the caravan, sell the boat, sell the trailer.

"They have sold everything in New South Wales to, what they call to balance the books. It is a furphy. Eventually, you run out of things to sell.

"Going forward they're continuing to make promises they cannot afford which means they have to keep on selling stuff," Mr Barr said.

Labor says they have had all of their policies and promises costed by the parliamentary budget office and Mr Barr says he "challenges the government to do the same."