· In December 2015 the LNP launched and sponsored a community petition calling for a public awareness campaign on ambulance officer violence
· The Queensland Government announcement that they will adopt this idea is welcomed
· The LNP is also calling for a trial of body cameras for paramedics and the expansion of Ambulance Violence Taskforce to all health workers
The LNP Opposition is glad Health Minister Cameron Dick will finally take action to prevent attacks on paramedics and health workers, after calling for a public awareness campaign since December last year.
Shadow Health Minister Mark McArdle said an awareness campaign was vital to educate the public on the important role of ambulance officers and paramedics in the community and he welcomed the government’s adoption of the LNP’s idea.
“It is simply unacceptable for people to threaten the safety of our frontline paramedics and ambulance officers,” Mr McArdle said.
“These men and women are out there risking their own safety to save the lives of other Queenslanders.
“That’s why the LNP launched and sponsored a community petition calling for a trial of body cameras for paramedics and the launch of a campaign to bring the issue of violence and aggression towards health workers to the public’s attention.
“It’s encouraging that after months of pressure from the opposition, the state government will embark on this public campaign.
“Our health workers deserve to have the government exploring every avenue to ensure that they can work in a safe environment.”
Key facts:
· From June 2014 to June 2015 there was a 36 per cent increase to the number of health staff being kicked, hit and injured
· The LNP Government doubled the penalty for assaulting health workers in 2014 to a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment.