The Liberal government’s failure to address increasingly
untenable working conditions has pushed Tasmania’s paramedics into taking unprecedented
industrial action.
Paramedics will not attend Priority 3, Priority
4 or Low Priority jobs between 1 pm and 4 pm today – something they have never
done before and a decision that has not been taken lightly.
Our dedicated paramedics are taking this
unprecedented action because they are under unprecedented pressure.
Workloads are unbearable, overtime is the norm,
ramping is out of control and ambulance response times have blown out since the
Liberals came to office.
Yet, the Liberals’ “final offer” to
over-worked, under-resourced and under-paid workers ignores the solutions paramedics
have put on the table.
As the government has been told over and over,
today’s industrial action is not just about wages – it is also about addressing
unsustainable working conditions.
These workplace pressures can no longer be ignored – the Premier owes it to our overworked and dedicated paramedics to listen to their concerns and prioritise taking the action needed to provide a safe and sustainable workplace.
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Health Minister
