Health Dept Demands Ambulance Workers Return $1000 COVID Allowance

Media release – Health and Community Services Union, 1 June 2023

Government robs injured paramedics of $1000 COVID allowance

At 7pm last night the Department of Health sent letters of demand to swathes of ambulance workers – including emergency communications officers and injured paramedics who sustained their injuries at work saving people’s lives – effectively billing them $1000 for the return of a COVID allowance payment which the government knowingly made.

“This is an act of utmost cruelty and demonstrates nothing but contempt for health workers who kept our ambulance service running throughout the pandemic,” said HACSU Industrial Manager Robbie Moore. “It shows just how much words like ‘heroes of the pandemic’ really mean to the people in charge of our state.”

“The government recognised that paramedics deserved the allowance last year, but now they want to fine those same paramedics $1000 if they’ve been injured at work trying to save others’ lives. ‘Adding insult to injury’ does not even begin to cover it. It’s despicable.”

The DoH and the government persist in undervaluing support roles by discounting Ambulance Tasmania communications centre workers whilst rightfully rewarding the people they work beside every day.

“There’s no doubt this was extraordinary work for the communications centre. Every one of these ambulance workers went above and beyond to keep our ambulances on the road and responding. They deserve to be rewarded for that, but instead the Government wants to rob them of an allowance that the person working next to them gets to keep. It’s miserly and it’s cruel.”

“We were gobsmacked when we got the letters after-hours,” said Ambulance Tasmania communications centre dispatcher and HACSU member Toby Rowallan. “They paid us the allowance months and months ago and now they’re demanding we pay them $1000 in just a few weeks. Where are we meant to come up with that money?”

Paramedic and HACSU member Cam Johnson said, “These guys were in the thick of it just like the rest of us. We wouldn’t be on the road without them so it’s pretty galling that they’re being ripped off like this with no warning. So much for valuing the entire ambulance service.”

HACSU has consistently raised concerns about the government’s administration of the COVID allowance and the government have continually shown that they do not understand how to administer a simple payment, and they do not care about their incompetence affects their workers’ wellbeing.

The government are demanding the money back by 30 June.

Media release – Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Health spokesperson, 1 June 2023

Rockliff Refuses to Reverse Covid Repayment Demand

All staff working at Ambulance Tasmania’s State Operation Centre got a letter last night, demanding they pay back a $1000 Covid appreciation payment.

This is devastating for those staff who turned up everyday of the Covid peak. These staff tried every day, every shift to get Tasmanians in desperate need an ambulance in time to save their life.

When the Greens asked the Premier and Minister for Health in Question Time to reverse this direction, he would not. Nor would he apologise for his government’s rank penny pinching, targeting Tasmania’s frontline health workers.

Who decided Ambulance Tasmania staff don’t meet the frontline worker definition? Anyone who has ever called 000 and waited for an ambulance would find that difficult to believe.

This is a stark contrast to the Victorian Government, who are giving their staff a $3000 bonus for the same work. Times couldn’t be tougher, yet the Tasmanian Liberals are demanding repayments from essential workers.

With $300 million dollar public sector cuts, through effciency dividend, in the Budget, is this an example of the way Jeremy Rockliff is planning to scrape together the money for his unwanted stadium? It’s revolting.