No pay rise for paramedics despite$1.76b ambulance rescue package
NSW will hire more than 1800 new paramedics and create dozens of new ambulance stations amid a State Budget cash splash— but ambos won’t get the pay rise they have been asking for.
NSW
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Paramedic numbers will be boosted by more than 1800 while 30 new ambulance stations will be built around the State as part of a record $1.76 billion State government Budget package.
More than 50 extra nurses, eight doctors and 210 ambulance supported staff will also be hired as the Government moves to deal with a record volume of calls.
However, the Government has stopped short at delivering paramedics a wage increase with unions representing the workforce to join teachers, nurses and other frontline workers in a meeting on Sunday to discuss possible industrial action.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the recruitment of 2,128 new staff as part of the record investment will mean NSW Ambulance will have the largest paramedic workforce in Australia.
“Ambulance services across Australia are experiencing unprecedented demand but this funding will ensure NSW is well placed for the challenges ahead,” he said.
“The investment will help increase capacity both in terms of available paramedics to respond to patients, and available staff to help answer the record volume of calls.
“Our strong economic management means we can deliver a brighter future for NSW families by giving them confidence emergency support will be there in their time of need.’’
The four-year spend will provide NSW with 1,858 extra paramedics along with new ambulance stations at locations such as Warilla, Kincumber, Lisarow, Gateshead, Swansea, Cherrybrook, Raby and Narellan in the coming year, with 22 more at sites to be announced in the following years.
NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said the pandemic has made it clear continued investment in frontline healthcare workers was crucial.
“We are always thankful for the outstanding commitment, compassion and tireless efforts of our ambulance staff but especially throughout the pandemic,” Mr Kean said.
“This announcement shows we are continuing to provide record levels of investment in these frontline healthcare workers and the critical services they provide.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the Government had worked with NSW Ambulance and the Health Services Union (HSU) to ensure the right number of paramedics “in the right places when and where needed”.
While the HSU – which had been lobbying for paramedic numbers to be increased – is expected to welcome the boost to the workforce, it is pushing ahead with its wages demands with a $1 million advertising campaign to be rolled out in the lead-up to the March state election should a pay increase not be forthcoming.
The public sector worker meeting comes as a new report reveals they will be up to $6,516 worse off over the next three years if the NSW government does not lift the wages cap.
The report from Griffith University Professor David Peetz says incomes will shrink between $1,000 and $1,800 per year if inflation continues as forecast and the 2.5 per cent wage cap is maintained.
It calculates a registered nurse will lose $1,986 this financial year, a year 2 paramedic $2,015 while a qualified firefighter will be $2,216 worse off.
Teachers on a band 2 salary will also lose $2,509 while a NSW Police Senior Constable will lose $2,624.
The report, called Wage norms and the link to public sector salary caps, found the single largest pay-boosting measure the NSW Government could take for both public and private sector workers was to abolish the public sector pay cap.
Unions NSW Secretary Mark Morey said it is disgraceful the NSW government was punishing some of the most important workers in the State.
Any wage movement below inflation was a pay cut, he said.
“Our essential workers saved countless lives and kept the state running throughout the most difficult two years in recent memory,” Mr Morey said.
And despite working with limited protective equipment and before vaccines were rolled out, they received a paltry 0.3 per cent, he said.
With the cost of living surging 5.1 per cent and higher, essential workers were now effectively being asked to accept a pay cut, he said.
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Originally published as No pay rise for paramedics despite$1.76b ambulance rescue package
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