The Greens were proud to stand with the Health and Community Services Union and Tasmanian paramedics today to launch our policy for a safe and reliable ambulance service.
It’s no exaggeration to say the lives of Tasmanians are being put at risk because people can’t get an ambulance when they need it. This dire situation is also impacting ambulance staff, who are suffering terribly under the increasing strain.
Nearly a year ago the government received a crucial expert report showing the investment required to create an ambulance service that meets the needs of Tasmanians and keeps our community safe. But rather than taking immediate action, the only response has been a deafening silence.
While Liberal politicians have been pulling out all stops to build a billion-dollar stadium, they’ve not even lifted a finger to make sure Tasmanians can get the lifesaving help they need in an emergency. Something needs to change.
Tassie’s health system is a bit of a mess, but this election is a real opportunity to turn things around. With a new government and the Greens in the balance of power we’ll fight to stop the stadium and invest instead in critical community needs – like a safe and reliable ambulance service.
Our policy invests $73.9 million in ambulance services over the forward estimates and will:
- Immediately hire 87 new full-time paramedics – as per expert recommendations made to government
- Ensure all Tasmanians can get an ambulance when they need it by recruiting a further 30 ambulance staff per year from July 2025 to 2030 (on top of the 87 paramedics above)
- By 2030 we will hire 187 new paramedics in total, along with 50 other staff – including dispatchers, support staff, and expanded secondary triage
- Fund the creation of six new ambulance stations, upgrade 13 others to expand coverage, and increase the size of the ambulance fleet
KEY FACTS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF AMBULANCE SERVICES IN TASMANIA HERE.
