SA to put nurses to state awards

The South Australian Government says it wants to protect nurses and midwives by pulling them out of the federal award system.

It plans to use legislation to bring them under the state award system, shielding them from the controversial federal industrial relations laws.

South Australia's Health Minister John Hill says he wants to reduce uncertainty for a work force that has swelled to record numbers, with nearly 500 extra nurses recruited in the last year.

"The nurses themselves desperately want that, but it will mean we'll be able to protect their wages and conditions and that's vital if we're going to continue attracting nurses into our public health system," he said.

Article from www.abc.net.au/news