PREMIER Denis Napthine made a back-door getaway to avoid speaking with paramedics gathered outside a Werribee function, angering the ambulance union which says he views them as “just bums on a seat” whose opinions don’t matter.
Twelve western suburbs paramedics gathered outside Liberal MP Andrew Elsbury’s Watton Street office, which was being officially opened by Dr Napthine on Thursday.
They had hoped to speak to the premier about cardiac arrest response times, after Health Minister David Davis claimed it was appropriate for patients to wait up to 18 minutes for an ambulance.
DICING WITH DEATH: A daily reality for paramedics
But Dr Napthine arrived and left through a back door to avoid the paramedics.
Two plain-clothed police officers, who were stationed beside a government car parked near the front door, tried to convince paramedics that Dr Napthine was not inside.
Werribee paramedic and union spokesman Danny Hill said the group was “not there to chant, harass or ambush” anyone.
“For him to duck out the back because he doesn’t want to talk to a small group of paramedics, it makes you wonder how he’s in his job,” Mr Hill said.
“It’s an indicator of this government’s view towards paramedics who work on our roads. We urge him to hear from people who know this stuff, who deal with it everyday, but they’d rather hear from bureaucrats.”
Paramedics have been calling on the government to improve resources and reduce ramping times so they can get back on the road faster. They have also asked the government for a 30 per cent pay rise in line with paramedics in other states.
Dr Napthine’s spokesman Mark Lee said the premier did not want to participate in a “union media stunt”.
“The premier has met with paramedics on a number of occasions … he has done a few shifts with paramedics,” Mr Lee said.
Mr Hill said the local paramedics or the union had not contacted Wyndham Weekly (which was there for the opening of Mr Elsbury’s office) and simply wanted to talk about response times.
Western suburbs paramedic Lea Tucker said she was disappointed with Dr Napthine’s refusal to speak to the group.
“We are the most trusted profession, and the least-trusted profession just runs away.”
Passersby and people leaving the function wished the group of paramedics well in their ongoing industrial dispute.
Dawn Richardson, 69, of Werribee, thanked paramedics who had rushed her to hospital last Sunday after she became dizzy, began vomiting and presenting symptoms of stroke.
