Mater record $4 billion income and assets – but refuse nurses a fair wage
Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union Media Release 13th March 2026
PRIVATE health giant Mater Group have recorded almost $4 billion in income and assets – yet refuse to pay their Queensland nurses and midwives a fair wage. Mater 2024 Annual Report.
Mater own 20 private Queensland facilities that treat a total of around 700,000 private and public patients state-wide each year.
However, Mater nurses and midwives are currently paid less than their Queensland Health (QH) colleagues.
They also receive reduced conditions and less overtime, penalty rates, allowances and paid parental and professional development leave than QH nurses and midwives. Under Mater’s current Enterprise Agreement offer, around 5000 Queensland nurses and midwives would receive less pay and entitlements than those employed with QH. This includes zero paid reproductive leave compared to the ten days available in the public health system.
Mater recently offered QH pay parity to their doctors. Yet they have steadfastly refused to provide a similar offer to their predominantly female nurse and midwife workforce.
Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) Assistant Secretary – Nursing Grant Burton said Mater must do better.
“Mater recently reported almost $4 billion in income and assets. Yet they refuse to pay their nurses and midwives a fair wage,” Mr Burton said.
“Mater nurses and midwives are simply seeking pay and condition parity with their Queensland Health colleagues. This parity has been provided to Mater doctors – but not their predominantly female nurse and midwife workforce.
“Discrimination against and failure to appropriately pay skilled nurses and midwives could force them out of the private system. This could also see Mater patients, currently paying top dollar for private health insurance, receive reduced care.
“Mater must do better, for both their staff and patients.”
For the first time since 2013, Mater nurses and midwives will today rally outside Mater facilities in Brisbane and Townsville. The protected industrial activity will continue state-wide until a fair offer has been received.
Mater’s current offer to nurses and midwives is a two-year agreement – with 3% for 2025, 2.5% for 2026 – and 0% for 2027. The QNMU are seeking a three-year agreement to match the length and increases guaranteed to QH nurses. EB12 QH Nurse and Midwife Outcomes.
In all, the current Mater offer is a far cry from the 8% pay increase (in line with QH doctors) and other increases being offered to Mater doctors over three years. It is also considerably less than the QH nurses and midwives total of 11% over three years, including 5.5% worth of uplifts in 2027 under their recent EB agreement.
“The QNMU will continue to highlight Mater’s pay disparities until their hardworking nurses and midwives receive the pay and conditions they deserve,” Mr Burton said.
“This week we released Facebook and Instagram ads highlighting Mater’s disturbing attempts to shortchange their nurses and midwives,” Mr Burton said.
“The public are asked to sign a petition calling on Mater CEO Julia Bellamy-Strickland to do better – for nurses, midwives and the around 700,000 patients who receive care from Mater each year.”
In 2024, the Mater Foundation reported more than $22M in donations. Many of these donations came from hard-working, middle-class Queenslanders unaware of Mater’s near $4 billion in revenue and assets – or their refusal to fairly pay hard working nurses and midwives. Mater Foundation ACNC.
It is important to note Mater also does not apply the nurse-to-patient safety ratios public patients receive in prescribed QH wards. Midwifery ratios also do not apply.
Nurses spend more time with patients than any other staff. Queenslanders are urged to sign a petition calling for change at Do Better Mater. Next steps will be announced in coming days.
