Tuesday, 12 May 2026

 Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Ambulance Services, Minister for Health, Minister for Water) (12:24): Violence against any worker is unacceptable, and violence against any paramedic is inexcusable. Every single day thousands of Victorian paramedics put their lives on the line to provide world-class care and expertise to people in their hours of greatest need and when they are at their most vulnerable. We will keep investing in a range of initiatives and supports, partnering with Ambulance Victoria, paramedics and their union to make sure that we understand the risks, needs, resources and supports that paramedics deserve to help them to do their work every day. Their world-class care and expertise deserve respect. So when you call for help and when you let them into your home and into your life because you need their help, please provide them with this respect.

Our laws must be as strong as possible to make sure our hardworking paramedics get home safely every single day.

Victorians know that the coalition has no interest in protecting emergency care workers. They voted against industrial manslaughter legislation, they cut emergency services, they took a billion dollars out of our health system and they have no interest in helping workers to return home safely. It was the coalition that introduced laws in 2014 that were riddled with holes. We began fixing them in 2018 and 2020; it is 2026, and we are still finding loopholes. We are not going to keep playing legislative whack-a-mole. That is why we are sending this to the Victorian Law Reform Commission to get comprehensive advice on the changes that are needed, the definition of ‘on duty’ that demands clarification.

Unlike those opposite, we actually speak to our workforce, and the message is clear: our paramedics deserve to be supported every single day, beyond the law. That is why this budget builds on a range of measures to support our system to alleviate pressures. The Victorian Virtual Emergency Department’s standards and $50.7 million – (Time expired)

The PRESIDENT: I acknowledge in the gallery a former member of this chamber Mr Cliff Hayes.