28 October 2025
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (16:39): I also rise to indicate my support for this bill on behalf of the Greens. Isn't it nice when we all agree. It is good to hear everybody in this chamber indicating their support for this reform, which I think is an important step forward for our hospitals.
The legislation before us today will provide the minimum safe number of nurses and midwives required to care for patients across key clinical areas in our public hospital system, ensuring safe workloads and quality patient care. We know that understaffing is dangerous for patients and dangerous for nurses and for midwives. When each nurse or midwife has too many patients, they cannot monitor each one closely. This increases the risk of complications, missed signs of deterioration, medical errors, falls, infections and even death.
One review by the Royal College of Nursing found that increasing a registered nurse's workload by one additional patient raised the odds of a patient dying by about 7 per cent—7 per cent. When staffing levels are poor and there are too many patients per nurse and midwife, it not only reduces safety for patients but also leads to high workload, stress, fatigue and burnout for nurses and midwives. High turnover further contributes to staffing shortfalls, something that our health system simply cannot afford. Better ratios help retention and lead to a healthier workforce.
In recent years, other jurisdictions around Australia have moved to implement nurse and midwife ratios, including Queensland and Victoria. I note that the model outlined in this bill is based on the model that has been successfully implemented in Victoria. The results interstate speak for themselves. In Queensland, the establishment of nurse and midwife to patient ratios has not only saved lives but also reduced costs, with patients receiving better care and being less likely to be readmitted.
A study by The Lancet found that, with the introduction of nurse to patient ratios in Queensland between 2016 and 2018, ratios had saved $69 million in two years, more than twice the cost of hiring new staff. They had reduced 30-day mortality rates by 7 per cent. They had reduced readmissions within seven days by 7 per cent and they had seen patients leave hospitals 3 per cent faster, so pretty strong results. Lower patient ratios also allow for more individualised care, including through thorough assessment, rapport, education and emotional support. This improved patient satisfaction allowed for better continuity of care and has resulted in better outcomes for patients.
I also note that the state government has collaborated closely with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation to develop this legislation. I commend the union for their advocacy and might I also commend the health minister, Chris Picton, for his leadership on this issue. I also acknowledge the ANMF's persistent advocacy over many years, which I think has been critical to achieving this outcome.
Appropriate nurse and midwife to patient ratios lead to safer care, faster recovery times and improved job satisfaction for frontline staff. It is also an important recognition of the vital role nurses and midwives play in safeguarding the health of South Australians, and it is vital that South Australian governments continue to improve their pay and conditions. I see this as being a significant step in the right direction. I believe it was part of an election commitment that the Malinauskas government made. Indeed, it was something the Greens also committed to during the last election, and so I am very pleased to see that being implemented during this term of parliament. With that, I conclude my remarks.