Archived Media Releases: 03 July 2007
Australian nurses vote in favour of health reform and initiatives to prevent ill health
Nurses surveyed by the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) in recent months identified health reform, the provision of universal health care and Medicare funded dental services as key issues in the lead up to the 2007 federal election.
The survey of more than 450 nurses found:
- 87% said Australia’s health care system is in need of reform,
- 97% support comprehensive funding for national preventative and primary health services,
- 93% support the provision of a universal health care system through Medicare with access based on need rather than ability to pay,
- 92% supported a federal government commitment to the adoption of effective nursing workload measures,
- 94% supported the provision of dental health services through Medicare, and
- 76 % of nurses said their voting decisions will be influenced by the political parties industrial relations policies.
ANF Assistant Federal Secretary, Ms Gerardine (Ged) Kearney, said the ANF will use the data to highlight key issues during the ANF’s 2007 federal election campaign.
Ms Kearney said the ANF wants to work with a national government that is prepared to listen to nurses and take their issues of concern seriously.
Ms Kearney said: “Nurses are strongly in favour of health reform, initiatives to prevent ill health and publicly provided dental care - amongst other things - and the ANF will be asking the major political parties what their policies are in these areas.”
“Despite the fact that this government has declared that nurses shouldn’t be political, the reality is that nurses know the issues in health that need to be addressed and the ANF will be actively representing the interests of our members and the general public in the lead up to the federal election later this year.”
Click here to view the health survey report in its entirety.
Media Contacts
Ged Kearney, Assistant Federal Secretary, 0417 053 322
Libby Muir, ANF Communications Manager 0413 834 979
The ANF, representing 150,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives in Australia