Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Leader
Today the Tasmanian Greens have tabled the motion we will move in Parliament to establish a Parliamentary Inquiry into ambulance ramping. This motion includes the Terms of Reference the inquiry would operate under if our motion passes as presented.
Ambulance ramping has spiralled out of control under nearly a decade of Liberal government. A Parliamentary Inquiry would expose the terrible state of ramping and the patient and workforce harms it is causing. It would allow patients and healthcare staff to give voice to their experiences.
By making strong recommendations for change, we believe an inquiry would help force the Rockliff Government – and any future government – to finally take action on both the causes and effects of ramping.
It is encouraging to hear that MPs from across the Parliament are open to supporting our move for an inquiry into ambulance ramping. We are hopeful this can be an example of the House working together towards some positive action.
As we move towards establishing an inquiry, we are open to constructive suggestions to ensure the inquiry is as robust as possible. It’s important, though, that amendments are not made to the Terms of Reference that would see the inquiry delayed for long periods, or used as a finger-pointing exercise at the federal government.
This is a deeply serious issue, and we would be very sorry to see it co-opted for political point-scoring.
We acknowledge the complexity of the health system pressures. The aim of the inquiry is to focus specifically on the issues related to ramping and the specific solutions the state government can implement.
If this inquiry goes ahead, our motion as tabled would allow it to consider the full range of both the causes and effect of ambulance ramping.
This inquiry process would be run by the Tasmanian Parliament, and should therefore focus first and foremost on what the Tasmanian Government can do to tackle this issue.
The Terms of Reference are available here: https://bit.ly/ramping-TOR