Tanya Thompson, Member for Myall Lakes, challenged the Minns Labor Government during Question Time in the Legislative Assembly, demanding answers over the failure to maintain taxpayer-funded paramedic rosters in regional New South Wales.
Addressing the Premier directly, Mrs Thompson shared a recent case in Taree where a Type 1 diabetic was left waiting for an ambulance for three hours after suffering a seizure. With local ambulance crews stationed an hour away in Port Macquarie, the delay placed the patient at severe risk.
“Premier, will your government commit to directing NSW Ambulance to keep taxpayer-funded paramedic crews in their allocated regions?” Mrs Thompson asked.
The Premier refused to answer the question instead referring it to the Minister for Health and Regional Health, Ryan Park. While stating that conversations with the Health Services Union (HSU) and NSW Ambulance were ongoing, he failed to provide a clear commitment to fixing the crisis.
Mrs Thompson said that discussions alone would not resolve the dangerous shortages impacting regional communities.
“Regional communities like the Manning Great Lakes don’t need more meetings – they need immediate action to ensure ambulances arrive when they’re needed.
“We don’t have a T1 trauma hospital or a cardiac cath lab, so when paramedics are pulled out of the area, it puts lives at risk.
“The solution is simple: maintain the fully funded paramedic rosters as promised, without stripping resources from one community to cover shortfalls in another.”
Mrs Thompson reaffirmed her commitment to working with the Health Services Union and local paramedics to make sure the Labor Government provide the ambulance coverage our community expects.
