Victorian public hospital doctors to strike for four hours on 1 October,2026
Thousands of Victorian public hospital doctors are set to strike for four hours on Thursday, with emergency departments and emergency surgery to continue operating during the planned industrial action. The strike will take place across Victoria’s public hospital system on 1 October and will be the first statewide doctors’ strike in the state in 20 years, according to the Australian Medical Association Victoria.
Emergency departments and emergency surgery will continue to operate, with hospitals preparing staffing levels above those used on Saturdays. Doctors are seeking higher pay and changes to working conditions, including a maximum shift length of 12.5 hours, at least three guaranteed days off every fortnight and a reduction in consecutive night shifts from seven to four.
The dispute follows 14 months of negotiations over a new enterprise bargaining agreement. AMA Victoria president Simon Judkins said nearly 60 meetings had been held during that period, but doctors had not received a written offer from the state government.
“The union has not received a single written offer,” Dr Judkins said.
AMA Victoria secretary Kevin Shi said doctors and hospitals had identified what was needed to improve working conditions and patient safety.”Doctors know what they want, hospitals know what will keep patients safe, but the government isn’t willing to write the offer that will make that happen,” Mr Shi said.
Victorian Health Minister Ingrid Stitt said the government was continuing to work through the union’s demands. “Patient care remains the priority, and hospitals are ready,” Ms Stitt said.
The strike follows a planned 24-hour stoppage on 15 September that was stopped after the Victorian Government applied to the Fair Work Commission, citing concerns about patient safety.
Source
Doctors to walk out as fears over patients’ safety grow, AAP, 29 September 2026
Victorian public hospital doctors’ EBA 2026, AMA Victoria
