The union representing Tasmania’s ambulance officers says many of its members will look for work interstate if the Government changes the road accident rescue arrangements. The Health and Community Services Union claims the Government has ordered a review into road rescue arrangements in urban areas to rubber stamp its decision to transfer the service to firefighters.
Assistant secretary Tim Jacobson says all the senior officers within the Ambulance Service are nearing retirement and many of them will resign if the change is implemented.
Mr Jacobson says officers would also lose the pay parity they have just achieved with other states, which could encourage many of them to look for work elsewhere.
“The removal of this function will result in the removal in allowances for ambulance services providing rescue, which in some cases will mean a decrease in salary of around $8,000 per year … undoing all that good work the Government’s already put into resolving issues around salaries for our ambulance officers,” he said.
Deputy Premier David Llewellyn says a decision will be made after the review team reports to him next month.
