Wednesday, 29 October 2025

 Michael GALEA (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:51): I am pleased to rise to share a few remarks on the report of the Legal and Social Issues committee’s inquiry into Ambulance Victoria. Along with Mr Batchelor, Mr Tarlamis and other members on this side, it was a great privilege to take part in this inquiry, looking at one of the most important service aspects that is covered by state administration.

Paramedics and the support officers within Ambulance Victoria (AV) do such important work, and I wish to once again reiterate the heartfelt appreciation from members on this side, and I am quite sure across the aisle too, of the work that they do. I note that whilst this report in some areas does make some sharper criticisms, that should be in no way taken as any attempt to undermine the very important work that they do or our appreciation of that work.

It is an important report that covers a few various different aspects of the ambulance service in Victoria, providing some historical context as well and including two areas in particular. On the culture, we did receive a lot of evidence, both in submission form and in witness hearings, be it from current or former paramedics – some very difficult testimony in some cases as well. We very much appreciated them bravely coming forward and speaking about some of the issues that they had faced. We also heard from agencies such as the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, which has undertaken by far the most comprehensive review into AV’s cultural issues. Indeed it was very good to have that report back, as our report was a snapshot in time, looking at what has been improved as a result of the VEOHRC report and where there is still some work to be done.

We also heard evidence from representatives of the current and former executive, and we were able to put some of these challenges to them, be it broader workplace cultural issues or things as simple as rostering faults or other issues in the payroll or HR systems that were causing grievance to workers. It was also very good to have the new CEO Jordan Emery appear before the committee. Whilst, given the timeframe of the committee, it was a very short part of the hearing and limited in scope, certainly on the cause of it, which was the guards of honour issue, the proactive nature Mr Emery showed in reaching out to the committee to advise us of an error in some evidence that other members of AV had given to the inquiry was certainly appreciated. Whilst that evidence was certainly disappointing to have put before us, I note, as per the minority report’s contextualising remarks, the government members believe that IBAC would be the appropriate channel for that, but the committee has resolved to refer that to the Ombudsman. But it was nevertheless good to hear directly from Mr Emery and certainly encouraging to see that proactive attitude, which I sincerely hope will be reflected through broader, more cultural changes in the organisation.

We also heard extensive evidence on performance, and we know that on several metrics, AV and the professionalism of their staff are contributing to Victoria having some of the strongest results in the nation. We have seen the data from the performance indicator targets showing that, on almost every measure, AV is consistently exceeding those targets, including on pain management, on transport performance, on cardiac survival and on infection prevention and control. These are all very encouraging signs. Indeed, whilst some members of the committee were not too excited to be incorporating some of the details of the additional funding that this government has been providing to Ambulance Victoria as recently as in this year’s budget, there is certainly some more context that can be found both in that minority report and in the extracts of proceedings as well.

This is a government that has continued to and will continue to heavily invest in our ambulance services. In my own electorate. I can draw on the example of the brand new Clyde North ambulance branch, which has opened and is currently serving our south-east community, a community with many members who will remember, not so long ago, the Cranbourne ambulance branch being privatised by the Liberal Party back in the 1990s.

Nick McGowan: How’s the ramping going?

Michael GALEA: We are a long way from that, Mr McGowan, and thanks to you lot not being anywhere near government, they are all the better for it, especially with the provision of local ambulance services. There will be much more to say at other opportunities, but I will conclude my remarks there.