The Premier’s main re-election pitch is to give up to $400 of free money to every well-off child in NSW under the age of 12.

This cash splash to the electorate is ultimately funded by the 2.5% wages cap, and the Premier stealing 50% of health workers’ individual salary packaging benefits.

Mr. Perrottet is hoping the public supports free money to well-off kids more than the further reforms to paramedicine that the Professional Pay Taskforce formulated late last year. Yes, paramedic reforms will cost the budget by way of professional pay, but the reforms will also save the state significant money in the back end, they will reduce bed block, while also improving health outcomes in every corner of the state.

ADHSU delegates believe the public will side with us on election day, and it’s every member’s job to ensure that happens. There are petitions being handed out, campaign stickers and corflutes being displayed across the state, TV and print ads – plus 1000s of campaign cards are being sent to members to distribute to suitable patients, and thousands of ADHSU Paramedic shields are being distributed by delegates for paramedic members to wear in place of the NSWA issued badges. Chalking continues and is getting stronger, and the artwork looks amazing.

Outcome of yesterday’s stop work

Members held a stop-work meeting on Tuesday morning and endorsed the continuation of chalking, P5 bans (this is not technically industrial action because paramedics have never been paid to for the skills or risk associated with the protocol), and refusing unpaid upskills. Control Centre Officers will voice support for ADHSU actions at the beginning of each shift. 

On top of the ongoing actions, members endorsed a significant escalation of action starting next Tuesday through to Sunday morning. On road, staff will offload suitable, low acuity patients at the 30-minute mark. The Premier has no plan to reduce bed block so ADHSU members will take matters into their own hands by ensuring they are clear to respond to high-acuity emergency patients. Control Centre members will refuse to monitor Grade of Service.

Trainee paramedics will be more effectively teamed up with their preceptors by being three up on a car. This action will improve patient safety and enhance P1T training. Trainees deserve more support than they are currently getting, and qualified paramedics aren’t getting paid as professionals, so why should they be required to deal with the extra stress of supporting trainees on their own?

Keep up the fight. All endorsed actions and campaign material can be found here (bookmark the page). You can print a flyer with a QR code to the page at this link.