As we move closer to December 15, it is understandable some people in the community might be feeling a little anxious or unsure about our borders reopening.
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I want to reassure Tasmanians that we have a comprehensive plan in place to safely and responsibly reopen and reconnect Tasmanians, and this plan pays particular attention to our health system. Ambulance Tasmania has a $5.2 million plan for the state's ambulance service, which has been carefully developed with focused strategies.
These strategies will ensure our paramedics and volunteer ambulance officers are able to provide additional support to the community where necessary, noting the majority of Tasmanians who test positive to COVID-19 will be able to be treated at home, without the need for emergency transport.
Ambulance Tasmania is fast-tracking the hiring and induction of 60 staff for emergency operations and the State Operations Centre, including secondary triage. Recruitment is currently under way and I'm advised is progressing well.
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In the event of a COVID outbreak, 12 fully stocked ambulances will be on standby and ready for deployment as needed.
Ambulance Tasmania is also appointing nine extended care paramedics - three in each region, along with three additional primary care vehicles. This will increase capacity to respond to low acuity cases within the community, and reduce hospital transports where safe to do so.
This comprehensive plan that Ambulance Tasmania has in place also includes the management of warehouse supplies, including PPE.
The Tasmanian Government has invested strongly in Ambulance Tasmania since coming to office in 2014, with an increase of 69 per cent in full-time equivalent staff, when you include our recent election commitment of an additional 48 paramedics.
In terms of actual Ambulance Tasmania numbers, we have seen an additional 231 FTE employed between March 2014 and September 2021.
But this is only one part of the plan, and as well as investing in staff, we are also providing an additional $9 million for new vehicles and upgrading and replacing critical equipment to support our paramedics. As part of this investment, Ambulance Tasmania will have about 30 new state-of-the-art ambulance vehicles.
Our borders are opening, our health system is prepared, and the best way to protect yourself, your loved ones and the community is to be vaccinated.
Jeremy Rockliff is Tasmania's Health Minister
TOURISM HYPOCRISY
GREAT to see the Greens and the left faction of the Tourism Industry Council get called out for their hypocrisy.
How can you possibly operate an "ecotourism business" that uses timber everywhere to make the very point that you are environmentally friendly and then chastise the source of these products.
Just have a look at a few of the signatories' Facebook pages and you will see Tasmanian timber proudly displayed literally everywhere. Not in my backyard at its best.
Rachel Best, Legana.
TAKE TO THE STREETS
WEB WORDS (The Examiner, November 5) reported four comments on Extinction Rebellion's (XR) recent actions in Launceston. Two were supportive and focused on the XR message that we are on the brink of a climate catastrophe and must act immediately to stop all fossil fuel extraction and carbon emissions.
The other two were negative and focused on the inconvenience to the police.
By attending XR protests I can say that XR works to maximise their message to the public and do not deliberately inconvenience the police for the sake of doing so.
XR respects the police for doing their job and protests peacefully.
For example, only one police person was needed to end the first protest on November 3, arresting two people.
Because our governments continue to expand fossil fuel extraction and log carbon-dense old growth forests, the 80 per cent-plus of Australians who want stronger action on climate should be out on the streets too, if they want a future for themselves and their children. That is the only way we are going to get meaningful change.
Steve Saunders, West Launceston.
IN LEAGUE WITH VFL
THE comment "the next logical level for the state could, and in many ways should, be a VFL team" attributed to Wynyard president Kent Jackson in Alex Fair's editorial (The Advocate, November 10), is food for thought, particularly if the health of the Tasmanian football ecosystem is front and centre.
A VFL team supporting an AFL team in Tasmania would be a mixture of interstate draftees not playing AFL, some permanent Tasmanians, and occasional regional league players acting as "fillers" depending on injuries/unavailability to the AFL team.
How much public buy-in and value to grassroots football would that team provide?
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Alternatively, a state league of eight teams, (including East Devonport, the North-West team) with those draftees not playing AFL feeding down proportionately to the eight clubs each weekend (a la WAFL and SANFL) would add an instant injection of quality, raise the standing of the league, and importantly, provide long-established, connected clubs passionate about improving their own offering - and Tasmanian football in general - some reward.
Ultimately, which model would generate and hold more tribal interest to the punters?
