Queensland's public doctors are expected to agree to a new pay deal negotiated with the state government. However for two other critically important sectors, pay discussions are dragging on.

Queensland

Public sector doctors in Queensland have reached an agreement with the state government for an 8% pay rise to be distributed over three years. The increase will be implemented as a 3% rise in the first year, followed by two increments of 2.5%, with automatic adjustments if inflation outpaces the agreed rates. The deal also enhances retention and attraction allowances for doctors working in rural and remote areas, aiming to address staffing shortages in these regions. 

While the negotiation process was described as amicable, union representatives confirmed that the possibility of industrial action remains if further issues arise. Meanwhile, pay negotiations continue for other public sector workers, including firefighters and nurses, who argue their pay rates are still lagging behind.

Pay disputes continue in Queensland public sectors

A deal done for those we rely on so heavily. We've seen better deals, we've seen worse deals. Drawn out negotiations have won a better pay rate for public sector doctors in Queensland's hospitals and clinics, as well as those in remote areas struggling to attract medicos. So whether you're in Dalby or whether you're in Longreach or whether you're in Mount Morgan, there are increases in relation to the retention allowances and the attraction allowances for those rural generalists. It's an 8% pay hike spread across three years. 3% will flow through in the first year, followed by two lots of 2.5%, with automatic top-ups if CPI increases or inflation swallow up the deal. We already know that our psychiatrists are paid more than NSW. Our rural and remote allowances are also very generous in comparison to other states. While both sides describe the pay negotiation process as amicable and productive, the union has confirmed the threat of industrial action remains very much on the table. There was a critical point where we may have ended up starting industrial action. We were planning for industrial action potentially as early as two weeks' time. That wasn't the sort of Damocles hanging over our head. We had been having good discussions with the doctors, but there were a couple of sticking points. The state government's pay deal revolving door will continue to spin for union delegates representing Queensland's firefighters and nurses, both arguing they're years behind a decent pay rate. I think we're still a long way apart in fire. In terms of that, we are working closely with the professional fire union. These processes are never straightforward. Tim Colletts, 10 News.

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