Legislative Council Thursday 24 June, 2021

Ms RATTRAY, on behalf of Ms FORREST, question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

Questions:

Regarding paramedics working in rural areas such as Circular Head and the West Coast who don’t live in the area and may have significant travel time between home and work, between 1-3 hours:

1. Does the paramedics shift time commence and end at their home or at the station they are working in;

2. Is the Minister aware of any occasions where paramedics are leaving the workplace prior to the relieving paramedic arriving, so as to arrive home at the completion of their allocated shift, therefore leaving their station reliant on volunteers;
a. If so,
i. how often does this occur; and
ii. is this practice deemed acceptable to provide appropriate ambulance cover to our regional communities?

Answers:

1 In accordance with the Tasmanian Ambulance Service Award, a paramedic commences and ends their shift at the station to which they are assigned to work from.

2 I understand there is currently industrial action in the North-West regarding travel arrangements, Ambulance Tasmania is negotiating with HACSU to resolve this matter which has resulted from a historical misinterpretation of the award.

Ambulance Tasmania has a legal obligation, as a Government agency, to ensure all payments comply with award conditions. Employees are expected to abide by the conditions of their employment.