The Queensland Government must ensure efficient border crossings for all health and hospital workers by setting up dedicated checkpoints and deeming the entire health workforce as essential workers, the HSU said today.
The hasty border closure announced by the Queensland Government has caused huge delays in getting to work for all manner of hospital workers, including paramedics, warsdpeople, security officers and allied health professionals.
HSU Secretary, Gerard Hayes said the Queensland Government had to avoid the mistakes of the last border closure.
"At the moment, our members are waiting hours at border checkpoints just to do their job or get home to their family at night. This is unacceptable and unworkable," said Gerard Hayes, HSU NSW-Queensland Secretary.
"Having overlooked the broader hospital workforce previously, we sincerely hope the Queensland Government deems all hospital workers essential this time around.
"Paramedics, wardspeople, security, cleaning and allied health are absolutely critical to the proper running of a hospital. This needs to be recognised by the Queensland Government.
"We are prepared to be reasonable and accept that these are trying and difficult circumstances. However we are now five days into the border closure and health workers in border communities want to spend time with their families at Christmas. This shouldn't be too hard to get right."
Pete Kelly 0437 421 040
