By LAURA WAKELY
A SUNSHINE paramedic has backed plans to increase sentences for offenders who attack emergency workers, with figures revealing 285 paramedics were assaulted, threatened or abused last year.
Last week, the Baillieu Government vowed to legislate for longer sentences for people who attack police officers, paramedics, fire-fighters, protective service officers, SES workers or lifesavers, as well as emergency department staff.
Attorney-General Robert Clark said anyone who caused serious injury to an emergency worker would be jailed for an additional 12 months on their regular sentence, while assaults causing less serious injuries would attract a minimum of six months imprisonment.
Anyone convicted of murdering an emergency worker would face an additional five years in jail.
Each of the additional penalties will apply as non-parole periods for the offender.
Mr Clark said an attack on a police officer or an emergency worker was an attack on the “whole community” and that emergency workers deserved protection and support.
Sunshine paramedic Gemma McEgan, who was kicked in the neck and stomach repeatedly during a call in the city last year, said increasing attacks on paramedics were “quite frightening”.
She suffers ongoing neck pain and headaches as a result of the incident, which she said left her “shaken” for several months.
“When I had similar situations in the back of the ambulance it brought it up again,” Ms McEgan said.
“You know, it’s a little bit of a kick in the pants when you go to work and help someone, you’ve, you know, saved their life and then they assault you in the back of the ambulance.”
She hoped the new penalties would help educate and deter people from assaulting workers in the emergency services.
Ambulance Victoria CEO Greg Sassella revealed 128 paramedics had been physically assaulted last year, while 88 had been threatened or verbally abused and in 15 incidents weapons or other objects were used against a paramedic.
But Mr Sassella said just 12 people were prosecuted for attacks on paramedics in the past two years.
“Anything that sends a signal that it is not ok to hinder a paramedic, to assault a paramedic, or in any way jeopardise a paramedic in helping the patients is something we think is a good thing,” he said.
“We’re there to try and help, as are the other emergency services, and it’s just not good enough that people will get in their way.”
