Fears Gold Coasters put at risk after government slashes paramedics’ penalty rates

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GOLD Coast paramedics who work up to 12 hours without a break will have their penalty rates slashed following a Newman Government push to get them scrapped.

The union fears the move will put the community at risk, with the Gold Coast considered one of the busiest regions in the ambulance network.

Previously, paramedics working 12-hour shifts were entitled to two 30-minute breaks within selected 2.5 hour “meal windows”.

Those too busy to take a break in the meal window were paid double time until they got a break.

In May, the Government took the issue to the Queensland Industrial Relations ­Commission, which decided to increase the meal window and effectively reduce the amount of overtime paid to paramedics.

The changes were set to come into effect on July 28 but haven’t been introduced due to administration issues.

But United Voice, the union representing paramedics, fears the move will discourage the Queensland Ambulance Service from giving adequate breaks.

United Voice senior organiser Geoff Sharpe said paramedics were fuming over the changes.

“It’s about a 70 to 80 per cent reduction in their allowance pay, which gives you a rough idea of how many times these paramedics do a whole shift without a break,” he said.

“You’re talking about people who save lives and administer drugs so if they go without taking a break, it’s putting the community at risk.”

Australian Paramedics Association Queensland president Prebs Sathiaseelan said if paramedics weren’t so overworked the meal overtime rates wouldn’t be so high.

“We need to have our breaks and the money is an incentive for making sure they actually give us a meal or get more staff. If we’re not in demand there’s no meal overtime so it’s a cost neutral thing.”

Mr Sathiaseelan said the changes would affect paramedics on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane the most.

QAS Commissioner Russell Bowles said overtime penalty payments had increased from $8.5 million in 2011/2012 to $11.7 million in 2013/2014.

Mr Bowles said another 100 staff would be allocated this financial year, about 25 per cent of which would go to the Gold Coast.

Source: Gold Coast Bulletin