Tuesday, 16 August 2022

Ambulance services

Ms KEALY (Lowan) (14:09): My question is to the Minister for Ambulance Services. There have been multiple reports into Victoria’s ambulance services and 000 dating back to 2016 with recommendations on how to fix the system. Today Victorians learned that an Ambulance Victoria report states that 18 Victorians have tragically died and, further, more than 350 have suffered cardiac arrest and will suffer long-term health issues as a result of Victoria’s ambulance crisis. These people might still be alive today had the government acted on those reports. What is it going to take for the Andrews government to finally do something to stop Victorians dying?

Ms THOMAS (Macedon—Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:10): Obviously I want to express my sympathy and condolences to those who have lost loved ones as a consequence of the global pandemic.

Mr Edbrooke interjected.

The SPEAKER: The member for Frankston is warned.

Ms THOMAS: Our ambulance services, our emergency services and our health services—none of them has been immune from the impact of the pandemic. The pandemic has had a real and significant impact on the capacity to deliver services. That is why the Minister for Emergency Services in the other place commissioned the Ashton review. It is why we have put $333 million into our paramedic services. It is why we are focused on implementing the outcomes of the Ashton review. Our government has always had the backs of our paramedics, and we always will, because we know how critical they are to delivering the first-class healthcare system that we aim to deliver for all Victorians.

Ms KEALY (Lowan) (14:11): Will the government guarantee that this report will be released before the state election, or will this report join the long list of reports into other fatalities of Victorians hidden by the Andrews government?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: I did not hear the second part of the question, member for Lowan.

Ms KEALY: Thank you very much, Speaker. Will the government guarantee that this report will be released before the state election, or will this report join the long list of reports into other fatalities of Victorians hidden by the Andrews government?

Ms THOMAS (Macedon—Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:12): I make the point once again that this is a report that is under the purview of the Minister for Emergency Services, and my understanding is that it will be received and considered by that minister. I will make this point, though, also: it is the coroner who will determine the causes of death, and I will leave it to the coroner to make those decisions and not take advice from those on the other side.