Baillieu's cousin sorry for rude finger to protesting nurses

Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu's second cousin has apologised 'unreservedly' for making a rude gesture to striking nurses.

Former federal Liberal MP Marshall Baillieu was caught red handed by a newspaper photographer giving the finger to a group of vocal nurses protesting outside a Baillieu family book launch yesterday.

This afternoon, Marshall Baillieu issued a written apology, calling his actions abnormal, discourteous and spontaneous.

"In response to repeated and disruptive activity I made inappropriate gestures in the general direction of a group of demonstrators," he said.

"This was as discourteous as it was spontaneous. It is not my normal way of behaving towards others as anyone who knows me would attest.

"I recognise that my actions merit an apology and I give it unreservedly."

The Premier declined to tick off his cousin, saying he had not spoken to him, nor did he want to get involved.

"I think there was some inelegant exchanges yesterday and I'm not going to comment any further on it," he said.

Opposition leader Daniel Andrews called it disgusting.

"It reflects very poorly on that particular person," he told the ABC .

"I wouldn't seek to impugn the Premier for the behaviour of his cousin.

"A person flipping the bird like that, acting in that way, towards the people who care for the most vulnerable people in our community, is a pretty ordinary Victorian."

A few hours after the photographs were taken, nurses called off their strike action when the government agreed to resume talks.

The breakthrough comes after four months of industrial warfare.

However, the Premier denied his cousin's handy work sparked the breakthrough.

"There are positive signs and we look forward to a resolution," he said.

The employers, the Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association (VHIA), and the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) have committed to resolve all outstanding issues by March 16.

Health Minister David Davis welcomed the ANF calling off its industrial action saying it paved the way for both parties to resume conciliation.

Nurses had continued rolling work stoppages at up to 15 public hospitals in defiance of a Federal Court ruling to stop the action and return to work. The matter had been due to go back to the court on Friday.

Nurses rallying out of The Alfred hospital in Melbourne this morning were jubilant, cheering ANF state secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick, as she announced that nurses would cease industrial action and lock into negotiations with the government at Fair Work Australia.

Ms Fitzpatrick said the union would not leave the negotiating table until it had an outcome.

"We will remain at that negotiating table until there is an outcome and there will be an outcome by the 16th of March, no one will leave that table until it is fixed," Ms Fitzpatrick told the cheering crowd.

"Critically for us the independent umpire will resolve our issues and as a result of that we will cease the action."

Ms Fitzpatrick thanked nurses for their commitment to what had been a "very, very long campaign".

"We knew it wasn't going to be a sprint. We said all along it was going to be a marathon. I think it's been about three or four marathons," she said.

"We don't have an outcome yet but I am very confident that the next time we meet ... that we will come armed with an agreement that protects our patients, protects you and delivers good things for the nurses of Victoria."

All parties have agreed to halt legal action while the discussions are underway.