Inquiry to look at concerns over Ambulance Victoria’s workplace culture and working conditions

Premier Jacinta Allan has been slammed for her decision to not attend a parliamentary probe into the issues plaguing Victoria’s crisis-riddled Ambulance service.

Issues with dispatch and hospital ramping will be discussed in the inquiry. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Jacinta Allan says she will refuse to appear before a parliamentary inquiry into the state’s crisis-riddled ambulance service.

The Victorian upper house this week voted to have the Legal and Social Issues Committee investigate core issues impacting Ambulance Victoria including major concerns over workplace culture, paramedics working conditions, issues with dispatch and hospital ramping.

The inquiry is not expected to start for some months.

However asked during Question Time on Thursday whether she would appear before the inquiry, Ms Allan said she would not.

As a lower house MP the Premier can’t be compelled to attend the upper house inquiry, but leave has previously been granted for lower house MPs to do so.

Premier Jacinta Allan will refuse to appear at the inquiry. Picture: David Crosling

In 2007 Minister for Consumer Affairs, Anthony Robinson, testified at an upper house Legislation Committee probing the Liquor Control Reform Amendment.

Between 2003 and 2006, leave was granted for any Minister of the Assembly to attend meetings of the same committee which was new and being trialled.

Opposition leader John Pesutto slammed the Premier’s refusal to appear before the inquiry an act of “hypocrisy”.

Ms Allan has also refused repeated requests to appear before the parliamentary inquiry probing the cancelled Commonwealth Games bid.

Former premier Daniel Andrews and former major events minister Martin Pakula also refused to testify before the inquiry.

On Wednesday, the Legislative Council overwhelmingly supported a probe, after it was put forward by Opposition spokeswoman for health Georgie Crozier.

All of the cross bench, including the Victorian Greens and Legalise Cannabis supported the parliamentary inquiry.

Opposition spokeswoman for health Georgie Crozier called for the parliamentary inquiry. Picture: Nicki Connolly

However, Allan Government MPs opposed an inquiry.

In a desperate attempt to derail the inquiry Ryan Batchelor, Labor MP for the Southern Metropolitan, tried to narrow the scope of the probe with a last-minute amendment, which failed.

Before the vote, Ms Crozier revealed that overnight ongoing ramping issues had gotten so bad that just 1 per cent of ambulance vehicles were available for emergency response.

“It is extraordinary,” Ms Crozier said.

Only 1 per cent of ambulance vehicles were available for emergency response on Tuesday night. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake

“It is a continual pattern, and there is no recognition from the government around the seriousness of this issue, and there is no warnings to the public around the seriousness of this issue on Friday night.”

The Herald Sun revealed the push for a probe in parliament after Ms Crozier’s motion raised concerns about “core issues impacting the management and functions of Ambulance Victoria, including, but not limited to issues involving call taking, dispatch, ambulance ramping, working conditions and workloads of paramedics, procurement practices, including contract management and oversight and their adequacy in ensuring transparency, fairness and value for public funds.”

The move also comes after Managers at Ambulance Victoria have taken the unprecedented step to vote in support of a no-confidence motion against the agency’s under-fire executive.

All of the cross bench supported the motion put forward by Liberal MP Georgie Crozier.

Ryan Batchelor, Labor MP for the Southern Metropolitan, tried to narrow the scope of the probe but the amendment was voted down.