ACT Labor has committed to hire 800 more healthcare workers, Chief Minister Andrew Barr and health minister / spokesperson Rachel Stephen-Smith have announced: nurses, doctors, specialists, midwives, physiotherapists and other allied health professionals to provide free healthcare across Canberra, and support staff including admin workers, wards people, and allied health assistants.

In 2020, ACT Labor committed to hiring 400 more nurses, midwives, doctors and allied health professionals. Over this term of Government, the politicians state they have funded more than 580 additional full-time equivalent healthcare worker jobs across these professions.

“As Canberra’s population nears half a million people, we are getting on with the job of building our city’s future and growing our public health services,” Mr Barr said.

“We know that Canberrans want to see more free public healthcare, closer to home. That’s why we are continuing to invest in better health facilities right across the city.

“But our hospitals and walk-in centres are only as good as the people working in them. And that’s why our first commitment of the 2024 election campaign is to hire the workers our future healthcare system will need.

“Because only Labor invests in our healthcare system. And only Labor looks after those who work in it, and the Canberrans who rely on it.”

Ms Stephen-Smith said: “Health workers are our public health system’s greatest asset.

“As Health Minister, I’ve met and listened to hundreds of dedicated doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and support staff.

“These skilled workers are committed to providing the best possible care to Canberrans.

“ACT Labor is helping them do that by hiring more staff to take the pressure off, reducing barriers to collaboration and making sure they have the infrastructure and equipment they need.

“We are building bigger and better public hospitals, delivering new health centres, and expanding services in our nurse-led Walk-in Centres. Because ACT Labor will always invest in public health services for you and your family.”