Qld budget contains $212m for more nurses

The Queensland Labor government's first budget on Tuesday will include more than $210 million to improve the state's nursing workforce, the premier says.

Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Sunday that $101.6 million over four years would be invested in expanding the workforce, while $110.7 million over four years would go towards 4000 new nursing graduate places - all with the view of legislating nurse to patient ratios.

Health Minister Cameron Dick said: "These ratios of 1:4, 1:4 and 1:7 respectively for morning, afternoon and night shifts will ensure that when a patient presses the bedside buzzer, they will promptly get the caring attention they need."