NO SIGN OF SOLUTION TO CRISIS IN
NSW MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM
The state’s mental health system is on the brink of disaster and there is no immediate end in sight to the NSW Government’s long running dispute with the state’s staff specialist psychiatrists, following a directions hearing in the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW (IRC) today.
After 15 months of failed negotiations, the mass resignations of the state’s staff specialist psychiatrists began to take effect from today.
Following today’s directions hearing, the IRC has listed the matter for a full bench determination from 17 to 21 March 2025. Both parties have been requested to go back to the negotiating table and report back to the IRC on 3 February 2025.
With around 30% of staff specialist psychiatrists’ positions currently unfilled and 80% of the state’s trainee psychiatrists indicating they plan to leave the NSW health system, the IRC arbitration could be too late to stem the exodus of psychiatrists.
NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the Minns Labor Government’s inability to resolve the dispute has left the state’s mental health system so depleted it will take a long time to fix the damage that’s been done.
“What’s clear from today’s hearing is that the Government is in no hurry to work constructively with the psychiatrists or to be transparent about its plan of action.
“We have a public health system that is already suffering under the Minns Labor Government’s budget cuts, record waiting times in hospital emergency departments, elective surgery waiting times blowing out and industrial chaos all round,” Mr Speakman said.
“The Minns Government’s failure to resolve this growing crisis in the mental health system will impact the most vulnerable in our community including our young people, families, veterans and the elderly. The impact will be felt for years to come.”
Shadow Minister for Mental Health Robyn Preston said the staffing shortages in the state’s mental health system will escalate rapidly in coming days as the resignations are processed.
“What we need now is for the Labor Government to disclose the true impact these shortages will have on every hospital in NSW,” Ms Preston said.
“The community has a right to know this.
“The human cost of this crisis is unconscionable. The Minns Labor Government needs to stop looking at band-aid solutions, such as paying contractors more than $3,050 per contractor, per day plus expenses.
“They need to go back to the negotiating table and deliver a long-term solution.”
