Nurses drive campaign

BUNDABERG residents are being urged to email Treasurer Wayne Swan to ask him to make aged care the centrepiece of the 2010 federal budget.

The Queensland Nurses’ Union is asking for the help as part of the national “Because we care: quality care for older Australians” campaign.

QNU secretary Gay Hawksworth said the email campaign would run in conjunction with a letterbox drop and TV and newspaper advertising.

“We cannot tolerate a system that can leave one registered nurse responsible for as many as 100 residents. We cannot tolerate a system that then pays that same nurse up to $300 per week less than their colleagues working in hospitals,” she said.

To send a message to Mr Swan, visit www.qnu.org.au.