A Latrobe Valley paramedic has backed Labor’s promise to end the two-year long industrial dispute if elected.
Moe branch MICA paramedic Tony Davis was one of many paramedics to attend a meeting with Opposition leader Daniel Andrews on Monday, during which Mr Andrews announced his intention to resolve the pay and wages dispute among other measures to “end the ambulance crisis”.
Mr Davis said although Mr Andrews’ pledge was similar to the agreement currently offered by the Coalition, unlike the current government, Labor would not change conditions.
“Labor won’t touch any conditions… Daniel Andrews said he will sign a document to take our wage claim to Fair Work Australia, on wages only, to see if we can get a wage parody with other states,” Mr Davis said.
Labor also promised to establish a $60 million Response Time Rescue, work with paramedics through the Ambulance Performance and Policy Consultative, review triple zero call procedures, invest $20 million to upgrade ambulance stations and $20 million to upgrade vehicles and equipment.
However, Health Minister David Davis said only a re-elected Coalition Government would recruit an additional 150 paramedics, with Labor promising no new staff.
He said the Coalition would invest $92.7 million to further increase ambulance resources, services and stations across Victoria, with various sites to benefit, including Bairnsdale and Warragul.
Mr Andrews also vowed to remove the Ambulance Victoria board.
