Fed govt intervenes in Vic nurses dispute

The federal Labor government has intervened in Victoria’s nurses dispute, saying the matter should be arbitrated by a member of the industrial umpire.

The fight over Victorian nurses’ pay and conditions has been running for more than 100 days.

Federal Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten said the parties had reached a stalemate and it was now time for Fair Work Australia to decide the matter.

“We believe that a private arbitration agreed between the parties would be a circuit-breaker,” he told reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday.

“We certainly don’t want anyone taking any unprotected industrial action. We certainly don’t want this talk of resignations to be anything more than just talk,” Mr Shorten said.

“Victorians want to see a resolution to the nurses dispute.”

The Australian Nursing Federation has said it has the permission of thousands of nurses to resign on their behalf.

Mr Shorten denied his intervention in the dispute between the coalition state government and the union was politically motivated.

“At a certain point enough is enough and smart, intelligent people should be able to get around a table and fix this matter,” he said.

Nurses were holding a mass meeting in Melbourne on Wednesday afternoon.

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