Nicholls’ pledge to support older workers rings hollow

I WRITE in response to LNP Leader Tim Nicholls’ claim at the campaign launch that he would help middle-aged Queenslanders find work if they lot their jobs.

Between 2012-2014, the LNP sacked more than 1800 Queensland nurses and midwives – many of them middle aged.

In total, more than 4800 Queensland workers were fired from their positions within the state’s public hospitals and health services. These massive job cuts devastated the lives of thousands of hard-working Queenslanders and put patients at risk.

I believe 14,000 public servants were sacked in total, while Mr Nicholls was Treasurer.

At that time, he was happy to cut and forget these older, experienced workers. He did not think about the impacts on their lives, their family finances, their concerns for Queensland patients or their sense of worth in the community. Some are yet to recover from the devastation of cuts made under the LNP.

Mr Nicholls’ suggestion he will now champion these workers is offensive. I ask Queenslanders to remember what happened under the LNP just a few years ago.

Frontline workers including nurses, midwives, fire fighters, ambulance officers, teachers, child safety officers, police and the many, many other Queenslanders who spend their lives helping others deserve job security and the dignity associated with being securely employed.

BETH MOHLE SECRETARY QUEENSLAND NURSES AND MIDWIVES’ UNION