Doctors Condemn Unpaid Labour and Unsafe Conditions

Doctors in New South Wales are calling for urgent reforms to the Awards system, citing unpaid labour and excessive working hours as major issues. The Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation (ASMOF) will present their case at the NSW Industrial Relations Commission on 25th May.

ASMOF representatives, including Dr Behny Samadi and Dr Stephen Korbel, will hold a media conference outside the Commission’s building at 47 Bridge Street, Sydney. The conference is set to discuss the ongoing challenges faced by doctors under the current Award system.

ASMOF NSW President Dr Nicholas Spooner explained that the current Awards do not accurately reflect the hours worked or the complexity of the tasks handled by doctors. He remarked, “The health system would not function without the excessive unpaid labour provided by doctors.”

Calls for System Overhaul

The union argues that the outdated Awards system incentivises overworking doctors rather than hiring additional staff. Dr Spooner highlighted the absence of proper time tracking as a significant safety concern. Without it, managing fatigue and workload is impossible, he noted.

Since doctors have reported shifts lasting up to 17 hours, often with minimal rest before the next shift, ASMOF claims that the combination of unsafe hours, poor conditions, and uncompetitive pay is driving healthcare professionals away from public hospitals in NSW.

Following 30 days of hearings in the largest wage case in the Commission’s history, ASMOF’s submission aims to expose the structural issues in the Award system. The union’s evidence shows that doctors are among the lowest-paid and most overworked in Australia.

ASMOF is advocating for modernised Awards that offer competitive wages and better conditions to address excessive hours, fatigue, and unpaid labour. Dr Spooner emphasised, “NSW needs a system that truly values its public hospital doctors.”

The media conference will take place at 10am on Monday, 25th May, ahead of the closing submissions hearing. ASMOF hopes their presentation will lead to significant changes in the Awards system to better support doctors and ensure patient safety.

Last updated: 29 June 2026, 12:00 pm