Victoria’s ambulance code red reporting referred to state’s anti-corruption agency
In the lead up to Victoria’s election, 1200 emergency calls a day were made for 11 straight days, with no code red declared.
The Andrews government could be facing yet another corruption investigation — this time over potential inconsistencies in its ambulance code red reporting occurring in the lead up to Victoria’s state election last year.
The Victorian Ombudsman has referred Ambulance Victoria’s code red reporting to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), which could mean a formal investigation is launched against key ministers and staff.
The referral concerns data in the month leading up to the November election, where Ambulance Victoria received more than 1200 emergency calls a day for 11 consecutive days.
During this period, the state government agency did not issue a code red — used at times of maximum demand to call in additional off-duty staff, perform rapid offloading of patients at hospitals, and send non-emergency ambulances to respond to cases.
After the election, a code red was declared when Ambulance Victoria experienced more than 1250 emergency calls on December 2.
The code is called when there is increased pressure on ambulance services and people are asked to make their way to hospital and contact nurses on call for medical assistance.
Premier Daniel Andrews on Wednesday said declaring ambulance codes was not up to ministers or department officials.
“It’s been very clear that the government has no involvement in code calls that are made by Ambulance Victoria,” he said.
“And the department and Minister are informed of those calls after they’ve happened, not during. It’s a deeply operational matter.
“To suggest otherwise is simply wrong, it’s simply wrong.”
The Premier said the nature of emergency calls and the number of calls made over the space of the day also factored into whether a code red is issued.
He confirmed he was “absolutely confident” Ambulance Victoria was not influenced by what the agency may have perceived his government would want.
“There was never a suggestion that’s happened in my experience … That’s not how Ambulance Victoria works.”
“And I think it’s wrong to suggest that paramedics are focused on anything other than the welfare and safety and care of their patients.”
Victorian Ambulance Services shadow minister Georgie Crozier referred the matter to the state Ombudsman and said that the case had been referred to IBAC after an initial assessment.
“Vital health data must always be accurate and never used for political gains,” Ms Crozier said.
“Victorians deserve to know if ambulance emergencies were deliberately covered up in the weeks prior to the state election.”
The Victorian Ombudsman’s office said it was unable to conform or deny a referral on the matter.
Should IBAC launch an investigation into the state’s ambulance reporting, it would be the fifth probe into the Andrews government.
Operation Daintree last month found ‘‘evidence of misconduct and improper influence’’ among senior Andrews government staff, ministers and public servants.
The Premier has previously been interviewed as part of Operation Richmond, which examined negotiations between the United Firefighters Union and the government over firefighter pay; Operation Sandon, centred on allegations of corrupt property development deals in Melbourne’s southeast; and Operation Watts, which looked into branch stacking allegations within the Labor Party.
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