The Rockliff-Ferguson Government is doing the bare minimum to understand why so many of Tasmania's frontline first responders are unable to work, with the shocking number of police officers forced off the job revealed today.
Police Minister Jacquie Petrusma has confirmed almost 10 per cent of the entire Tasmanian police force is receiving workers compensation after taking leave for either psychological or physical injury.
Additionally, 4.2 per cent of the total police workforce is totally incapacitated.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Mrs Petrusma have a mountain of evidence before them to show that Tasmania's frontline responders are beyond breaking point but they have failed to do the work to understand the reasons why.
These are the frontline responders we ask to walk toward danger and the Liberal Government need to be ensuring they are supported.
At the same time as almost one tenth of the police force has been forced to take leave due to the frontline pressure, the Rockliff-Ferguson Government has done nothing to address pressures faced by others, outlined in the resilience scan of Ambulance Tasmania staff undertaken in 2021.
Three years ago a Federal Senate Inquiry into the mental health of first responders released 14 recommendations but only a few have been implemented by the government.
It's beyond time for Mrs Petrusma and Mr Rockliff to understand the important job first responders undertake and work to keep them safe.
| Michelle O'Byrne MP Shadow Police, Fire and Emergency Management Minister |
