Broken Promises – Paramedics Feel the Sting of Betrayal

In a developing industrial dispute, the government is under fire from the Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) for allegedly walking away from an agreement to provide backpay to specialist paramedics.

The conflict centers on a deal that was intended to resolve longstanding unpaid salaries for paramedics working in specialised roles, including Community Paramedics, Police Ambulance Clinician Early Response, and Secondary Triage Paramedics. The government’s decision, which has been described by the union as unprecedented, has led to the immediate commencement of industrial action by the affected workforce, raising concerns about the future of key healthcare programs.

Media release – Health and Community Services Union, 10 September 2025

Government walks away from an agreement with its own Paramedic workforce

Industrial action has commenced across Ambulance Tasmania as a result of the Tasmanian government walking away from a deal with its own Paramedics.

An agreement was reached in April this year to start remunerating Community Paramedics, Police Ambulance Clinician Early Response and Secondary Triage Paramedics after they, in some cases, worked years in their role without any additional pay recognising the increased level of skill and responsibility associated with those roles.

At the eleventh hour, when staff were to be told their backpay figures, the government started walking away from the agreement. Last night, HACSU was advised that the government has indeed walked away from the deal to backpay staff.

Robbie Moore, HACSU State Secretary, said,

“We don’t ever walk away from agreements reached with governments. This is the first government in modern Tasmanian history to do so with its own workforce. To be clear, we know that it is the Rockliff government who is walking away, not the Department of Health or Ambulance Tasmania.”

In addition to bans that have been put in place by the affected employees, HACSU’s Ambulance Executive last night passed a resolution banning any involvement or participation in the rollout or expansion of any Integrated Care activities across Tasmania, including, but not limited to, the further expansion of Community Paramedics into rural Tasmania – except where an employee’s role.

HACSU Ambulance members are furious at the government’s decision. An extract from the resolution endorsed by the Union Executive last night sums up members’ feelings about what has just happened.

“The HACSU Ambulance Employees Sub-Branch Executive is disappointed in the broken trust which has now occurred between the Tasmanian government and its Ambulance workforce.

Our members save the lives of Tasmanians on a daily basis, often under the most difficult of circumstances. To be betrayed by our own employer, who owes so much to us, is a devastating blow. When we reach an agreement, we expect it to be honoured, as this government would.”

Members will meet again to discuss further action should the dispute remain unresolved.

Media release – Health and Community Services Union, 6 September 2025

Paramedic workforce deal under threat from government U-turn

In a completely unprecedented move, the Department of Health yesterday outright refused to confirm to HACSU that the government will honour the agreement to resolve longstanding unpaid salaries for specialist Paramedics employed by Ambulance Tasmania, a clear signal that Jeremy Rockliff is gearing up to abandon the deal entirely.

The government established the specialist programs (Community Paramedics, Police Ambulance Clinician Early Response and Secondary Triage Paramedics) in response to ramping issues at our major hospitals several years ago, with a promise that they would resolve the salary relating to each of the positions as soon as practicable.

About twelve months ago, Ambulance Tasmania attempted to delay resolving the issue until the next round of bargaining negotiations, even though they had committed to addressing it in the previous agreement. The Department of Health and Ambulance Tasmania later agreed on an interim payment arrangement, including resolving backpay for workers.

The backpay calculations were meant to be provided to each employee – some of whom have been working in these specialist roles for several years – by the end of August. This deadline was set to fall approximately four months after the agreement to implement the interim pay arrangement. However, as of yesterday, the Department refused to confirm whether the government would uphold the backpay agreement, leaving its future in doubt.

Robbie Moore, HACSU State Secretary said, “Never before have we seen a government refuse to confirm whether it will stand by an agreement like this. An agreement with its own Paramedics to pay them for years of specialist work they’ve done without proper compensation. Failing to honour this deal would be a callous, cheap, and deeply insulting decision by Jeremy Rockliff.”

Jan Pur, Paramedic and HACSU Ambulance Executive Member said, “This is one of the most disgraceful and insulting moments I’ve witnessed in all my years as a Paramedic. Does this government not understand how hard we work every day to support the programs they want implemented? The refusal to commit to this agreement is a complete slap in the face to our workforce.”

These workers know all too well how important the work they perform is in ensuring the patients they see do not end up languishing in hospital waiting rooms. Clearly the government does not.

Low level industrial action is already in place across the three areas as a result of the delays in providing the backpay figures. HACSU will be meeting with members next week to discuss yesterday’s refusal by the Department, and escalation of industrial action is likely.