Media release – Health and Community Services Union, 19 October 2023
“Privilege and hypocrisy”: Health Minister endangers ambos’ safety, may force industrial action, warns paramedic
Ambulance Tasmania paramedics have today warned that tensions over Ambulance car parking look set to boil over into industrial action if the Health Minister continues to negligently endanger ambos’ safety.
The part-time Health Minister, who is driven by a chauffer and is given free car parking outside his workplace, has stolen safe parking from paramedics and emergency dispatchers and has so far ignored concerns from workers and their union, flouting a written request to meet yesterday to discuss solutions.
“We’ve raised some really serious safety concerns with the Health Minister about this and he’s outright ignored them,” said paramedic and HACSU delegate Cam Johnson. “It reeks of privilege and hypocrisy. I’m sure he’s not giving up his guaranteed parking spot any time soon.”
Workers had been using car parks in the Tasmanian Fire Service area as a stop-gap measure whilst seeking for the Health Minister to resolve the issue, but the Minister has not only refused to speak to workers; the Government has also threated action against ambos for taking this measure to protect their safety, even going so far as threatening further risks to safety by attempting to block a fire exit in efforts to stop workers accessing alternative safe parking.
Without safe car parks at Ambulance Tasmania, fatigued workers now have to carry heavy bags containing essential work equipment and uniforms through the CBD in the middle of the night to return to their cars.
“We finish work at all hours. Unlike the Minister with his chauffer, we actually have to drive and park our cars somewhere,” said Cam Johnson. “When you’re a paramedic knocking off at 2am after a brutal 20-hour shift you shouldn’t have to worry about whether you’re going to make it back to your car safely.”
If Ambulance workers cannot be guaranteed safe parking at work, Cam Johnson warns that the Health Minister’s refusal to engage may force paramedics and emergency dispatchers to take industrial action.
“Of course we’re considering industrial action,” said Cam Johnson. “Someone has to worry about our safety. If we have to take it into our own hands to make the Minister listen, we’re going to stand up for ourselves. We know our colleagues around the state have our backs too.”
Paramedics are considering putting a ban on staying on the ramp beyond finish times, amongst other possible action.
HACSU State Secretary Robbie Moore and paramedic Cam Johnson will be holding a media conference at 12.50pm today on Parliament Lawns, below the carpark provided to all Tasmanian politicians for free.
Cam Johnson will be carrying the bag the Health Minister expects him to carry back to his car.
Media release – David O’Byrne MP, Member for Franklin, 19 October 2023
Government delivers cruel blow to paramedics as essential workers stripped of parking access
Hard-working paramedics working around the clock to keep Tasmanians safe have been delivered a cruel blow by the State Government after losing access to the safe, on-site parking they need.
Franklin MP David O’Byrne said the Health Minister didn’t seem to know that Ambulance Tasmania paramedics in Hobart had unfairly be given less than 24 hours’ notice that the parking they have relied on for years was being revoked by the government.
“Paramedics go to work not knowing when their shifts will finish, and often work extended hours of overtime in our buckling health system to keep Tasmanians safe,” said Mr O’Byrne.
“Due to the extended, late and unpredictable hours these hard-working paramedics work, it’s impossible for these staff to use public transport or park in public carparks.
“Paramedics are some of the most over-stretched and exhausted workers in Tasmania who actually need parking at their workplace.
“Today in Parliament in response to my question, Health Minister Guy Barnett didn’t offer any solution for these paramedics at all. In fact, he didn’t seem to be aware of the issue at all.
“Workers are rightly fed up. Last week, HACSU wrote to the Minister seeking an urgent meeting to resolve these issues, but the Minister hasn’t yet bothered to respond.
“Health Minister Guy Barnett must immediately meet with paramedics and other Ambulance Tasmania staff to find a solution and fix this problem.”
Media release – Anita Dow MP, Shadow Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, 19 October 2023
Minister Barnett has duty of care to ensure paramedics are safe
The Rockliff Government must stop neglecting the needs of our hardworking paramedics.
Any goodwill the Health Minister Guy Barnett has with our paramedics is fast evaporating as they contend with limited resources, which is seeing a number of shifts go unfilled while our paramedics are rostered to the ramp.
The removal of parking spaces with only 24-hours’ notice, in which there was no consultation or consideration for the safety of workers, is really disrespectful.
Our hardworking paramedics turn up to work each day not knowing when their shift will finish or what to expect. They cannot rely on public transport to get them home safely.
Workers only take industrial action when all other options have been exhausted and they feel their needs have been ignored.
The decent thing Minister Barnett could do is talk to our paramedics about their concerns and find a solution that puts the safety of paramedics first.
Since the minority Liberal Government came to office 10 years ago, ambulance response times have worsened by almost 10 minutes, ramping is rife and paramedics are burnt out.
Minister Barnett is doing little to instil confidence in our paramedic workforce. He must as a matter of urgency meet with impacted workers and ensure their safety is put first.
