Kevin Rudd stopped by Mater hospital in Brisbane today to announce Labor's plan to boost nurse numbers by more than 9000.
Rudd said Labor would provide $81 million over five years to help produce an extra 1500 nursing graduates, and offer $6000 cash bonuses to lure an estimated 7,750 trained nurses back to work.
"This is a significant first step in Labor's long term plan to meet the large nursing shortfall that currently exists under the Howard government," he said.
"Australia's public and private hospitals desperately need more nurses."