14 September 2005
Nurses’ Organisation Welcomes Cullen Commitment to Aged Care Funding
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation has joined Healthcare Providers NZ in welcoming Finance Minister Michael Cullen’s
commitment to a significant increase in aged care funding.
“Like the providers, we are encouraged to hear this commitment to dramatically increased funding and to ensuring funding
does not fall behind inflation,” said NZNO spokeswoman Cee Payne-Harker today.
“NZNO is also calling for increased funding to be specifically targeted to increasing pay for nurse, caregivers and
support workers in aged care and to ensure the aged care workforce is properly trained with adequate staffing levels.”
Cee Payne Harker said small amounts of money would simply be a drop in the bucket and would not fix the issues in aged
care, created by historical underfunding.
“During the 1990s the National government ran down aged care funding,’ she said.
“The serious underfunding, coupled with the massive impact of the Employment Contracts Act devastated pay and conditions
of the aged care workforce. “
“While Labour hasn’t done enough to turn back the clock to pre-1990, funding for the sector has increased by $131
million over the past two years and, under the Employment Relations Act, workers have the right to organise in unions
and bargain collectively,” said Cee Payne-Harker.
ENDS