Tuesday 5 May 2009
AMBULANCE INQUIRY: DELLA BOSCA FAILS TO SUPPORT 44 OUT OF 45 RECOMMENDATIONS
Health Minister John Della Bosca has failed to support all but one of the recommendations made by the Upper House inquiry into the Ambulance Service handed down on 20 October last year, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner and inquiry Chair Robyn Parker MLC said today.
The Inquiry, chaired by Liberal MLC Robyn Parker, found the State Labor Government had neglected issues like bullying, harassment, low morale and the lack of confidence in ambulance management.
“Mr Della Bosca claims he is ‘already addressing the issues’, but fails to support 44 out of the 45 recommendations,” Mrs Skinner said.
“The only recommendation he has supported (No. 4) asks a review of the governments progress against the recommendations be undertaken later this year,” she said.
“Health Minister Della Bosca is ducking, weaving, spinning and pulling out all the weasel words he can, including that he is ‘already addressing the issues’, but nothing can disguise the fact that he has failed to support 44 of the 45 recommendations.
“John Della Bosca has turned his back on all the brave ambulance officers who gave evidence at this inquiry, who spoke out against the bullying and risked their careers to set the record straight.
“The Rees Labor Government is out of touch and more focused on spin, rather than real solutions. John Della Bosca just isn’t listening to what ambulance officers told him through this inquiry.”
Committee Chair Robyn Parker said the Rees Labor Government failed to address the concerns raised by Ambulance Officers, particularly suicide, bullying and harassment, the lengthy grievances processes, complaints handling and the lack of confidence in the upper management.
"I think officers will be very disappointed with the Rees Labor Government's response,” she said.
“The current system is not working, so unless there is a massive cultural change starting from the very top of the service, how can officers trust the Rees Government when it says it will review some policies. We've heard it all before,” Ms Parker said.