Page 611 - Week 02 - Thursday, 14 February 2013
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These are all indicators of Labor’s support for the work of our paramedics and the need to continue to resource them to meet growing demand for emergency ambulance services in the community.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Berry.
MS BERRY: Is there ongoing investment in the ACT Ambulance Service from the ACT government to see these impressive results continue?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Berry for the supplementary. Delivering further funding to our ambulance service is part of the government’s agenda. In the 2012-13 budget we saw an additional $42.4 million in additional funding being provided across our emergency services. The ACT Ambulance Service’s frontline capacity was boosted by 15 new staff and two new vehicles, utilising $9½ million in funding in the most recent budget.
This $9½ million injection over four years is direct recognition by the government of the ongoing demands faced by our ambulance service personnel. This will allow the service to recruit an additional 15 frontline staff, including graduates, qualified paramedics and intensive care paramedics, as well as one support officer. It also includes a capital allocation of half a million dollars for two extra new intensive care ambulances to increase the ambulance fleet to meet demand and provide the vehicles that come with the additional recruitment of staff.
This budget allocation further boosts ACTAS’s capability after the significant boosts that I have already outlined and is further evidence of the government’s commitment to supporting and boosting the capacity of our ambulance service to do their vital and lifesaving work.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Congratulations on the number, minister, but there have been reports in the Canberra Times recently of inappropriate practices in the ACT Ambulance Service workplace. What have you done to assure yourself that proper workplace behaviour is always adhered to inside the ambulance service of the ACT?
MR CORBELL: These are matters that I pay close attention to and discuss on a regular basis with the chief ambulance officer. I am confident that the Ambulance Service is putting in place through its management the processes and procedures required to deal with these matters as they arise.
Lake Tuggeranong—target area grant
MR SESELJA: My question is to the minister for the environment. Representations from the Southern ACT Catchment Group in Tuggeranong have noted that Tuggeranong is not listed as a target area in the commonwealth government’s urban waterways section and as such may not be eligible to receive a target area grant. Minister, you are aware of the problems with Lake Tuggeranong. What discussions have you had with your federal counterparts to include Lake Tuggeranong on the list?
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