Tuesday, 28 July 2026

 Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Ambulance Services, Minister for Health, Minister for Water) (12:13): Victoria has some of the best and most highly skilled paramedics in Australia and around the world.

Members interjecting.

Harriet SHING: President, can I take this from the top?

The PRESIDENT: Reset the clock. I ask all sides of the chamber to let the minister do her statement in silence.

Harriet SHING: As I was saying, Victoria has got some of the best and brightest and most dedicated paramedics in Australia and indeed around the world, and we are so proud of them. Everyone deserves access to life-saving care when and as they need it. That takes a variety of forms, and our paramedics are right there at the heart of the delivery of that care. That is why I was so proud to join with the CEO of Ambulance Victoria and so many others to welcome the 53 newest paramedics to induction before they hit the road on 17 August. They will learn clinical education, the way in which they engage with people, de-escalation and the sorts of things that will help people when they most need care, comfort and expertise. These paramedics have chosen to be with Victorians on their days of greatest need, and they join more than 5600 paramedics across the board.

Last week it was Thank a Paramedic Day. It was really wonderful to head to another ambulance station to talk with paramedics, but more importantly, to hear their experiences and to extend gratitude and respect to them for everything that they do. I have already visited more than eight ambulance branches and spoken with paramedics about the things that matter most to them, including the care, the resources and the support they get and the importance of a safe working environment.

Only Labor has invested more than $2 billion in paramedics across the board. We have increased the workforce by 53 per cent, and we are building and upgrading more than 51 ambulance stations. Under a Liberal–One Nation coalition we will see that slashed, because the Liberals and One Nation, last time they were in government, went to war with paramedics and were very happy to make sure that paramedics were labelled as militants and stooges – that was at the same time that services were being slashed. Make no mistake: if they are given the chance, they will do it again, so which initiative are they going to cut first?