Western Australian nurses have been offered a $3000 bonus and a pay bump as part of a proposed new industrial agreement.
The deal also comes with a commitment from the government to introduce nurse-to-patient ratios over a three-year period.
Such a commitment would be a historic reform and one sought by nurses for many years, Premier Mark McGowan said.
"But that's obviously something that needs detailed work," he told reporters on Tuesday.
"We're a large state, a large workforce and lots of work needs to be done to make it work effectively."
The government's pay offer includes a three per cent annual, or $60-a-week, rise this year and the same next year.
Nurses will get whichever amount is higher, meaning some of the lowest paid could get more than a three per cent increase.
The premier urged the nursing workforce to accept the new pay deal.
"There's no need for industrial action. We want to make sure that, as soon as we possibly can, we pay our nurses more," Mr McGowan said.
"We're making an offer that provides a big pay increase and also resolves the issue of nurse-to-patient ratios for the long term."
The premier said the pay rises were consistent with those offered to other public sector workers and sought to give the lowest paid the biggest increases.
The promise on patient ratios commits the government to beginning discussions with the Australian Nursing Federation to develop a WA model.
An audit of all in-patient wards and units will also be conducted.
The first phase will then include minimum ratios of one nurse to four patients on a day shift, one-to-four on an afternoon shift and one-to-seven on a night shift in acute medical and surgical settings.
There will also be a dispute resolution framework if there is a failure to meet ratio requirements.
The government said a one-off $3000 bonus would be paid "as soon as reasonably practicable" following approval of the new industrial agreement.
The Australian Nursing Federation said it would comment on the government's offer later on Tuesday.
