Indefinite industrial action starts on 29 June 2026
Hazard pay is at the centre of indefinite protected industrial action that began at 12:01 am on Monday, 29 June 2026, for forensic scientists, medical physicists, pharmacists and other ACT public sector professionals.
The dispute also covers a pay offer of 3% a year over three years, delayed superannuation improvements and no backpay.
Professionals Australia says forensic scientists at the ACT Government Analytical Laboratory enter Canberra’s clandestine drug labs and handle methamphetamine, fentanyl and other toxic chemicals in volatile, contaminated environments.
Comparable frontline roles receive a hazard allowance, but Analytical Laboratory staff do not.
Ashley Sutherland, Professionals Australia Lead Organiser, said: “These are the people who walk into the most dangerous environments in Canberra, then handle substances that can kill in trace amounts.”
Ashley Sutherland’s hazard allowance claim
Months ago, Professionals Australia tabled an allowance to recognise that danger, but the ACT Government has not responded to the claim.
Ms Sutherland said: “We asked the ACT Government to recognise that hazard. They did not reject the claim. They didn’t even bother to respond to it.”
At Canberra Hospital, medical physicists who keep radiation treatment safe for cancer patients are withdrawing from non-urgent radiation oncology and out-of-hours work.
However, they will still respond to any immediate danger to patients or staff, and patient welfare will not be put at risk.
Meanwhile, pharmacists at Canberra Health Services and technical and professional staff in other ACT directorates are taking parallel action.
All face the same offer, which the union says sits below inflation.
According to Professionals Australia, members did not take the decision lightly and acted after the government’s silence on their claims.
Across 2026, teachers, doctors, and administrative, health and housing staff have also taken ACT public sector industrial action over the same below-inflation offer.
The union wants any pay rise backdated to 1 June 2026, agreement on the outstanding Analytical Laboratory, Pharmacy and Medical Physics claims, a response to Technical and Other Professional claims, and a revised pay and superannuation offer above inflation.
Ms Sutherland said: “Our action will continue indefinitely, and our members are prepared to escalate their industrial action if the government does not come back to the bargaining table with a serious offer.”
