Victorian doctors to walk off the job amid ongoing pay dispute

Victorian doctors are set to walk off the job for four hours on Thursday, joining a dispute over pay and working conditions that has already led to two previous strikes in the past two months. The Australian Medical Association (AMA) Victorian president, Simon Judkins, stated that doctors are working under increasingly stressful conditions, including shifts that can last up to 16 hours.

The strike is expected to affect up to 10,000 doctors at Victoria's public hospitals, with critical care areas such as emergency departments and intensive care units remaining unaffected. AMA president Judkins expressed disappointment that negotiations with the state government had not resulted in a pay offer after 14 months of discussions.

The Industrial Action, planned for Thursday afternoon, marks the third such action in the past two months and is being pushed for improvements in working conditions, including a 12.5-hour cap on shifts, a limit of four consecutive night shifts, and a 28% pay rise over four years. AMA Victorian president Judkins warned that the systemic fatigue presented an unacceptable risk to patient safety.