The announcement today by the Rockliff-Ferguson Government
that it will finally provide around the clock paramedic coverage for the Sorell
area is welcome but comes after years of inadequate funding and resourcing.
Premier and Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff still has a
very long way to go to deliver on the government’s promises to provide proper
resourcing for ambulance stations, paramedics and our wonderful volunteer
ambulance officers who deserve everyone’s thanks for working tirelessly across
Tasmania.
While the Premier has now announced new
ambulance resources over the past two weeks for Huonville and Sorell – on the
eve of the Legislative Council and Federal Elections – he continues to neglect
the needs of our metropolitan and other regional areas.
Additionally, the Liberal Government has failed to deliver
two ambulance super stations at Glenorchy and Burnie – promised four years ago,
with not so much as a sod turned since.
It is no surprise Tasmania’s ambulance response times are
the worst in the nation – blowing out by 30 per cent since the Liberals came to
office.
The Rockliff-Ferguson government needs to deliver and provide additional resourcing to the entire ambulance service before hard working paramedics and volunteer ambulance officers fall over from exhaustion.
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Health Minister
