Wednesday, 27 August 2025

 Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:23): I want to acknowledge the extraordinary work of Victorian healthcare workers in responding to the tragedy in Porepunkah. Our healthcare workers are there for us on our darkest days. Yesterday was one of those days, and we mourn the loss of two Victorian police officers. Our thoughts are with their families, the officer who was seriously injured and all of those who are impacted by this terrible event.

Earlier today I spoke to Ambulance Victoria CEO Jordan Emery to pass on the gratitude of all in this place to Ambulance Victoria staff who were first on scene and to all those who are delivering care during this time. This includes our helicopter emergency medical service, the MICA paramedics, including those embedded with Victoria Police, advanced life support paramedics, ambulance community officers, the regional incident management team and of course those in the AV comms and wellbeing teams. I would also like to thank Susan Plath, acting CEO of Alpine Health, and her team for the immediate assistance that they provided under very difficult circumstances. I would also like to acknowledge hospital staff across the region who have been there to provide assistance, including those at Beechworth Health, Albury Wodonga Health and Northeast Health Wangaratta. As fellow frontline workers, our healthcare staff extend their deepest sympathies to all members of Victoria Police and their family members.

As the house knows, our paramedics and our health service staff are also responding to a bus rollover out of Geelong earlier today. It is a difficult reminder that the work of our frontline healthcare workers never stops, and for that we are eternally grateful.