We value and acknowledge the dedication of all of our health professionals, including our paramedics.
The case currently before the Supreme Court is not a pay claim, it is a work value claim which is being treated through normal industrial processes.
Appealing to the Supreme Court is a legitimate part of that process. We're prepared to accept the outcome of that process, it's disappointing HACSU apparently isn't.
The Government wages policy is two per cent per annum, and if paramedics would like to negotiate a new wages deal based on that we are happy to do so. We wrote to HACSU offering to commence negotiations on a new agreement in May last year, but received no response. It is hard to reconcile this with their campaign and their demands that we work with them.
We agreed to the increase for doctors because they had been on a freeze for three years, making their pay rise broadly in line with our wages policy. Quite obviously, a 14 per cent increase is a very different story. The former Labor-Green Government also knew this, which is why they challenged the same claim.
Everyone knows that we have a tough budget situation and we simply cannot afford to pay any more.