Another illegal Ambulance Victoria Covid-era funeral revealed

Senior Ambulance Victoria executives attended two illegal gatherings to farewell former colleagues at the height of the pandemic – and the organisation has dismissed calls to make its investigation findings public.

Ambulance Victoria has doubled down on its refusal to make public findings from an investigation into secret funeral gatherings held at the height of the Covid pandemic.

The Herald Sun this week revealed paramedics and senior Ambulance Victoria executives attended two illegal gatherings to farewell former colleagues at a time when millions of Victorians were under strict lockdowns in September 2021.

The events were reported to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission and subsequently investigated by Ambulance Victoria who has refused to make public finds from the probe.

Ambulance Victoria executive director, Danielle North, said on Wednesday it would be inappropriate to discuss the investigation because it centred on a single individual.

The illegal gatherings have been reported to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission. Picture: Stephen Harman

Sources familiar with the contents of a final report said the individual had been wrongly blamed for organising the events when they were merely following the orders of senior executives.

Multiple sources have told the Herald Sun former CEO Tony Walker had direct knowledge of the funeral events and made no attempt to block them but instead sanctioned them.

Whistleblowers have accused the agency of trying to cover up the secret gatherings which interim CEO Andrew Crisp this week conceded were organised and approved by senior management.

It comes as the organisation is expected to announce the appointment of a new CEO this week, eight months after the resignation of Jane Miller.

Andrew Crisp said the secret gatherings were organised and approved by senior management. Picture: Sarah Matray

Ms Miller quit after paramedics passed a vote of no-confidence in the agency’s executive citing concerns around the direction of the organisation.

Senior Ambulance Victoria sources said systemic issues were now deeply entrenched in the organisation.

“These events should not have happened,” Ms North said on Wednesday.

“We absolutely share the concerns of the community … this is a regrettable circumstance.”

Ms North said she was not aware of any further illegal gatherings but said she could not rule it out.

Ambulance sources say systemic issues are deeply entrenched in the organisation.

The Herald Sun has been told at least one further complaint was lodged about a senior employee breaching Covid rules during the pandemic.

The complaint referred to an employee travelling interstate to visit family.

Premier Jacinta Allan said she had been kept in the dark about the latest illegal funeral gathering.

“At the time, which I think was last week … I was not aware of the one that is being reported today,” she said.

Jacinta Allan says she has been kept in the dark about the latest illegal funeral gathering. Picture: David Crosling

Pressed over whether she should have been told, Ms Allan said Ambulance Victoria had failed to provide information about the second incident to government.

“I do not have advice that there was further information provided to government about anything else,” she said.

Asked whether the investigations should be made public, the Premier said “that is a question for Ambulance Victoria”.

“It is important to note that the decision makers involved at the time are no longer part of the leadership of Ambulance Victoria,” she said.

Shadow health spokeswoman, Georgie Crozier, demanded the report be made public.

“The government has got a history of being secretive and not transparent on really important issues,” she said.

“This report, in the interest of transparency for all Victorians, needs to be released.

“The government’s consistent secrecy around Covid and what happened in Covid is not good enough.

“The government needs to demand the report be released immediately,” she said.

It is understood the second illegal funeral gathering took place at an inner metropolitan station where Ambulance Victoria employees gathered to honour a former paramedic.

“Members of the executive team involved in organising these events are no longer at Ambulance Victoria and our current leadership team does not support these actions,” he said.

“These events should not have happened, and we regret the impact of these historic events on our people and the broader community.

“These actions do not reflect the dedication of our highly skilled paramedics and first responders, and Victorians can have the confidence in the remarkable job they do to provide the best care to their communities, each and every day.”