Quotes attributable to Labor Leader Rebecca White:
Labor’s Paramedics Plan for a Better Future will ensure Tasmanians can access emergency care when they need it, by implementing the Ambulance Expert Review in full by 2032.
As part of this, we will employ 168 permanent paramedics across the state, including 88 by mid-2025.
Since the Liberals came to office 10 years ago, ambulance ramping has more than doubled, meaning our dedicated paramedics are unable to help people in their time of need.
Under the Liberals, ambulance response times have blown out from 11.4 minutes in 2014 to 14.9 minutes in 2024. And we know this is worse for people living in regional areas.
Quotes attributable to Shadow Health Minister Anita Dow:
To ensure paramedics have a seat at the table, Labor will establish a Chief Paramedic position as part of the health leadership team.
We will keep our graduate paramedics in the state by fixing the challenging recruitment practices that make us lose talent to the mainland.
And we will invest $45 million to upgrade ambulance stations across the state.
After 10 years of the Liberals, our ambulance service has been run into the ground and any remaining goodwill with our paramedic workforce is all but exhausted.
If the Liberals haven’t fixed these issues in 10 years they never will. Don’t give them 14.
It’s time for a better future for Tasmania’s ambulance service.
Key Facts of Labor’s Paramedic Plan:
- Employ 168 new paramedic staff
- Provide a $45 million infrastructure fund for upgrading stations and vehicles
- Increase community paramedics to 8 new locations, 3 within the first year
- Create a Chief Paramedic Position
Rebecca White MP
Tasmanian Labor Leader
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing
