The importance of penalty rates to our health workforce

Following on from the McKell Institute’s report on the economic impact of penalty rate cuts in Australia’s retail and hospitality industries, this report looks at the economic and health impacts of cutting penalty rates for nurses, midwives and aged care workers. This report highlights the importance of penalty rates to the health of patients, the incomes of nurses, midwives and aged care workers and local economies around Australia. Any reduction in penalty rates risks worsening forecast shortages in the nursing profession