Thousands of doctors in New South Wales (NSW) public hospitals are threatening a three-day strike that began on April 1, 2025, demanding a pay rise of up to 30%.

The Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation (ASMOF), representing over 9,000 salaried doctors, has defied an order from the NSW Industrial Relations Commission to refrain from organizing action for three months.

The strike is expected to pause elective surgeries, close outpatient clinics, and reschedule non-urgent medical procedures, although emergency departments will remain operational.

Health Minister Ryan Park has warned that the strike will likely lead to significant cancellations of elective surgeries, highlighting the serious implications for patient care.

ASMOF describes the strike as a last resort to prompt the Premier to address the ongoing healthcare crisis in the state.

Chronic understaffing and unsafe working conditions have been cited as key reasons for the strike, marking the first such action by doctors in NSW since 1998.

Doctors in NSW are facing severe staff shortages, resulting in long hours and burnout, with some working shifts of up to 16 hours.

The government acknowledges that doctors have faced wage suppression due to a previous 2.5% wage cap, and meeting their demands could cost the state an estimated $11 billion.

This potential strike follows over a year of negotiations and is part of ongoing industrial disputes in the health sector, including recent pay increases for paramedics and negotiations with nurses.

Hospitals affected by the threatened strike include major facilities such as Royal Prince Alfred and Westmead Children's Hospital, with many doctors planning to walk off the job.

Currently, public hospital doctors in NSW earn an average annual salary of $222,017, with junior doctors earning about $78,000, which is less than their counterparts in Queensland.

Doctors who defy the commission's orders face the risk of heavy fines, as confirmed by a spokesperson for NSW Health.