TAMWORTH MP Kevin Anderson has vowed to fight for local paramedics to have access to a seven-year death and disability scheme.
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In a show of force on Friday, 25 paramedics met with the Nationals MP, furious over new death and disability entitlements which the union says would see their entitlements cut by 75 per cent.
The ambulance officers are calling for the same entitlements as police officers which would mean they could be rehabilitated and returned to the workforce within seven years after serious injury rather than their two year scheme which came into effect a week ago.
They have since vowed to take more care on the job and now call for back up to routine manual lifting call outs.
After earlier criticising the lack of local support from NSW government MPs, Health Services Union New England Sub-branch president Dave Lucietto said he was pleased the Tamworth MP came to the table.
“Twenty-five out of a possible 30 paramedics in Tamworth arrived at Mr Anderson’s office, we all basically sat down and enlightened him on what’s going on,” he said.
“We went through what the government and Minister (Jillian) Skinner said and what we have disputed. We told him what life was like as a paramedic in NSW at the moment.”
Mr Lucietto said Mr Anderson agreed to back the paramedics in their fight for a seven year scheme, but until then their peaceful protests and petitions would continue.
Along with their “no risk” approach to the job.
“Until we see fairness and equity and until we are on a seven year scheme we are going to have to protect ourselves in the best way we can, if we think we need additional paramedic assistance for a lift or police for our own protection we will be enabling those resources,” he said.
Speaking to The Leader on Friday, Mr Anderson said he would arrange to meet with health minister Jillian Skinner about the issue.
“I can’t promise anything and I never do, I can’t operate like that,” he said. “At the moment it’s two years until they get back to work and I think if it takes a little longer than maybe it should. I’m supporting them on the seven year death and disability, I would like to take their concerns to the minister and hear what she has to say.
“They outlined their concerns and that we are in a different environment than what it was, five, ten or 15 years ago.
“They get called to jobs where drugs are prevalent and people are impacted by ice – it could be a very dangerous situation. I am happy to take up their concerns.”
