Mr GREG WARREN (Campbelltown) (17:08): I am delighted to lead for the Government in debate on the important issue of the New South Wales psychiatry workforce. I thank the member for Hawkesbury for bringing it to the House. I agree with the member for Hawkesbury on one point she made—we have found common ground. She is really confused. There is no doubt about that.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery): The Clerk will stop the clock. Opposition members will cease interjecting. The member for Campbelltown has the call.
Mr GREG WARREN: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I appreciate your intervention. The pay dispute is currently in arbitration. It is before the Industrial Relations Commission, which is examining the matter on a fast-tracked timeline. It will determine what is a fair and reasonable pay increase. The member for Hawkesbury referenced the Premier's comments during question time yesterday. I will forever be delighted to speak on behalf of a Premier who is honest. He will not apologise for saying we cannot afford the pay rise. There is an element of irony because members opposite were in government for 12 years.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery): The Clerk will stop the clock. The member for Terrigal and the member for Oatley will be called to order if they continue to interject. The member for Campbelltown will be heard in silence.
Mr GREG WARREN: The member for Hawkesbury said that no-one in the Government will sit down and talk. That is grossly untrue. The Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health the Hon. Rose Jackson, her team and the Premier have paid astute attention to this very serious issue, which was ignored every year that the Liberal-Nationals Coalition was in power. The former Government capped psychiatrists' wages. Coalition members do not like including facts in the story, but I will talk about the facts. Yesterday in question time, the Premier did what good Premiers—which he is—do. He told the truth. Why is there an enormous cost issue that we are trying to challenge our way through? Why do we unfortunately find ourselves before the commission?
I have met with a couple of local psychiatrists, and they are wonderful, amazing people. The conversation I had with them was about their care for their patients and them being able to provide clinical support for people in desperate need, many of whom cannot afford to go to the private sector. The Government is very committed to the cause. It is committed to achieving a resolution. Yesterday, the Premier said he will accept any rulings. But he was real when he said we do not have the money to pay for it. The reason we do not have the money to pay for the claim is that wages were capped under the former Coalition Government. From 2018-19, the average wage increase for psychiatry staff specialists was 2.5 per cent. From 2019-20, the average wage increase was 0.3 per cent. From 2020-21, there was a rise of 2.04 per cent. From 2021-22, there was a rise of 2.53 per cent.
Following the election of the Minns Labor Government in March 2023, there was a 4.5 per cent increase—almost double any increase provided by the former Government. For 2024-27, there is a 10.5 per cent increase on the table. That is currently in dispute. The reality is that this Government once again has to be honest with the people of New South Wales. Everyone is coming to us because of the previous conservative reign. People fled to the prosperous States of Queensland and Victoria, where Labor Governments were in power and workers were looked after. In 2025 the Minns Government is dealing with those 12 years of conservative reign. The former Government had no respect for our workers and no respect for our psychiatrists. Its budget blew out to more than $180 billion in deficit while it capped the wages of everyone in the community who was caring for us. The reality is the Minns Labor Government, the Premier and all of my colleagues are committed to doing everything we can. We cannot do it overnight, but we will continue to fight for workers.
