The Nationals Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad told Parliament this week that Victorian lives are at risk, due to the ongoing crisis within Ambulance Victoria.
Just after 5am on 23 January 2024 a patient with severe abdominal pain was told to take a taxi to hospital as there was a five hour wait for an ambulance in Bendigo, Ms Broad said.
“In pain and feeling faint and concerned she would pass out in the taxi, the lady declined to go in a taxi and her son took her to hospital.
“This lady has paid her ambulance service fees for years and when she needed one, it wasn’t there.”
Ms Broad told Parliament that she was alarmed by media reports that Ambulance Victoria was considering removing single-responder MICA units from regional areas including Swan Hill, Shepparton, Wodonga and Wangaratta in Northern Victoria.
Larger areas like Bendigo – which are served by two-member MICA ambulances – would also be affected by the reallocation of resources.
Ms Broad said the Government was cutting resources across the state because Victoria is broke, but is still tunnelling ahead with the Suburban Rail Loop and digging our state further into debt.
“The Premier Jacinta Allan called the first stage of the Suburban Rail Loop a ‘milestone’, I call it a ‘millstone’ around Victoria’s neck.”
“Victorians are paying $15 million every day in interest because of Labor’s massive debt. By the end of 2027 we will be paying $24 million every day!
“The Labor Government priorities are all wrong. They continue to spend big in Melbourne, and cut services in regional areas. It’s clear that the Allan Labor Government can’t manage money and can’t manage projects.”
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
