Professional Pharmacists Australia (PPA) is calling on cross bench senators to oppose the federal government’s Omnibus Industrial Relations Bill on the basis it will hurt Australia’s pharmacists and undermine the industry’s capacity to provide community healthcare.
PPA President Dr Geoff March says that after the important role the nation’s pharmacists had played in protecting community health during the Covid-19 pandemic, it was astonishing that they now faced cuts to their wages and workplace rights.
“Australia’s pharmacists, often with risk to their personal health, worked long hours throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure our community was provided with the vital medications and services they required.
“Now, instead of the praise and support they rightly deserve, pharmacists face the biggest attack on their working conditions in two decades.
“The Morrison Government’s IR laws hurt Australia’s pharmacists.
“They will take away rights of those employed on a casual or part time basis, make harmful emergency JobKeeper provisions permanent and reduce workers’ ability to bargain collectively for higher pay and conditions.
“After the enormous sacrifices pharmacists have made to protect the community’s health throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, they deserve better.”
Dr March also expressed concerns on the impact the passing of the federal government’s IR laws would have on the sustainability of the pharmacy sector.
“The starting salary for graduate pharmacists is already the lowest of every profession in Australia.
“If the Morrison Government’s workplace laws are passed and wages and conditions are cut further, the capacity of our industry to attract the talented graduates we need to protect the community’s health will be further jeopardised.
“It’s absolutely critical that cross bench senators reject the Morrison Government’s workplace laws, which will hurt Australia’s pharmacists and undermine our capacity to provide the quality care our community requires into the future.”
