Victorian Liberals to commit extra $125m to ESTA under election pledge

Victoria’s assistant treasurer says the Liberals “can’t be believed” after Matt Guy revealed a plan to fix the emergency call-taking system.

Assistant Treasurer Danny Pearson has shot back at the opposition over a pledge to invest $450m into triple-0, claiming they cannot be trusted.

On Friday, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy announced if elected into power he would deliver a major funding boost to the embattled Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority.

The Andrews government has committed $333m in their last budget but a Coalition government would deliver an additional $125 to repair the service.

But Mr Pearson accused the Liberals and Nationals of privatising triple-0 and of slashing services in the past.

“They cannot be believed,” he said.

When asked if he had an issue with an extra $125m going to the ESTA, Mr Pearson said the government had listened to the authorities when providing their funding.

“What we’ve done as a government is we’ve worked with ESTA every step of the way to give them the support that they need,” he said.

“We’ve indicated that we’re going to adopt and accept every one of the Inspector General of Emergency Management’s recommendations.

“So we’ve got a short-term plan, we’ve got a long-term plan for ESTA.”

Victorian Assistant Treasurer Danny Pearson. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Labor MPs have upped their attacks on the record of previous Coalition governments after Mr Guy announced he would shelve the Suburban Rail Loop to spend more cash on the health crisis if he becomes premier in November.

The opposition have sought to wedge the government on health, typically a strength for Labor, as the state’s services have struggled under heavy pressure.

In response, the Andrews Government has tried to point to any historical cuts introduced during the terms of the Kennett and Baillieu/Napthine governments as evidence the Coalition could go down a similar path.

Mr Guy’s announcement comes less than a fortnight after a damning report found 33 Victorians died because of issues with the triple-0 service.

The report, by the Inspector-General for Emergency Management, also criticised the Andrews government for rejecting requests a more permanent funding model.

Under the agency’s enterprise agreement with the United Firefighters’ Union – which covers fire call-takers – and Ambulance Employees Australia – which covers paramedic dispatchers – call-takers who respond to fires cannot be made to dispatch ambulances even though the training course only takes five weeks.

Victorian Liberal Party leader Matthew Guy will commit an extra $125 million in funding to ESTA under the election promise. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Just 16 per cent of staff being are trained across multiple services. 

Under the opposition plan, ESTA would be equipped with an updated computer assisted dispatch program and 50 per cent of staff would be trained to answer calls from any service. 

Mr Guy said there would also be a refocus of staff recruitment to frontline call taking and dispatch roles, not corporate positions, and the guarantee of a sustainable ongoing funding model.

“Every Victorian deserves to have confidence that when they call triple-0, someone will answer and help will be on the way,” he said.

“Daniel Andrews ignored the warnings for years and now we are seeing the tragic consequences. Only a change of government will fix the health crisis.

“This November Victorians have a clear choice. A triple-0 service that works, or a train line from Cheltenham to Box Hill in 13 years’ time.”

Mr Guy has vowed to stall works on the government’s multi-billion dollar Suburban Rail Loop project and commit any available state funds to pump billions of dollars into Victoria’s health system.

Victoria’s health system has been stretched to the brink in recent years. Picture: Ian Currie

Opposition Emergency Services spokesman, Brad Battin, said he was confident the comprehensive plan would fix the service.

“After eight years of mismanagement by Daniel Andrews, triple-0 has failed and left too many Victorians fending for themselves,” he said.

“Only the Liberals and Nationals have real solutions to deliver an effective, sustainable and reliable emergency health system that is there for Victorians in need. 

“Our comprehensive plan will get triple-0 working again and restore community confidence that help will be there in an emergency.”

In May the government announced ESTA would be overhauled and rebranded to become “triple-0 Victoria”.

The overhaul will be supported by a $333m funding package, announced in this year’s budget, to hire more staff and upgrade outdated IT systems.

Originally published as Victorian Liberals to commit extra $125m to ESTA under election pledge