Victorian doctors strike over pay and unsafe working conditions
Victorian doctors struck for the first time in 25 years, demanding 30 per cent pay rise and 12.5-hour shift limits.
On 1 October, Victorian doctors walked off the job for four hours, their first strike in more than 25 years, demanding a 30 per cent pay rise over four years, a 12.5-hour shift cap, and three consecutive days off each fortnight.
One doctor worked 120 hours in a fortnight without overtime while pregnant, including a 15-hour shift. A longer strike scheduled for 21 October was cancelled after members narrowly voted to accept a revised interim offer from the Victorian government.
In 2025-26, more than 10,000 patients spent over 24 hours waiting in Victorian emergency departments. At 16 hospitals, average ED stay for admitted patients exceeded 12 hours.
Research shows that length of stay increases death risk by more than 67 per cent.
Why it mattersExhausted doctors make errors that harm patients, and understaffed hospitals delay critical care. The strike signals that Victoria's health system is at a breaking point.
AustraliaVictorians face longer waits for emergency care and increased risk of hospital-acquired complications due to overcrowding and doctor fatigue. The issue will shape the state's health outcomes for years.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 11 h ago
