The Guardian 25 January, 2006
NT fire-fighters
and ambulance officers join forces
NT fire-fighters have stepped in to provide a practical solution to the Parap ambulance accommodation crisis. They have agreed to share some facilities while Darwin’s central city ambulance station is being brought up to scratch, NT LHMU (Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers’ Union) Secretary, Irene Monro, said last week. Ambulance union members have moved out of expensive luxury accommodation rented for them by St John’s management at the Parap Village apartments.
"I’m sure we could have avoided this expensive exercise if the repairs that we were seeking had been done some time ago", Ms Monro said. "Fortunately the union members have been able to come to a practical arrangement with the NT Fire Service. The fire-fighters have offered to house our ambulance officers at the Parap Fire Station until work is completed at the ambulance station."
Despite some opposition from St Johns management the Fire Service have said they will provide beds for the ambos who are moving in. They recognise that the physical work demanded of the people in the Fire Service and Ambulance Service also demands proper bedding to be used as necessary.
"It’s a shame that St John are choosing to trivialise the matter and to ignore the fact that they have repeatedly failed to comply with OH&S standards."
St Johns had at first tried to lock out the ambulance workers from the nearby Casuarina ambulance station.
"That lock-out earlier this week lasted several hours with our people threatened with sitting on the side of the road for an entire shift", Ms Monro said.
"It is shocking that the Parap station workers, who service the downtown city centre area of the Northern Territory’s capital Darwin, should be allowed to be treated in such a cavalier manner.
"It is shocking that an ambulance station, based in the electorate of the Chief Minister, should be allowed to deteriorate to these standards."