NSW: Ambulance paperwork bans to begin today

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2001
NSW: Ambulance paperwork bans to begin today

SYDNEY, April 26 AAP - Ambulance workers will today impose a 24-hour ban on paperwork
in the latest protest against the New South Wales government's proposed workers' compensation
legislation.

The bans are part of a rolling campaign of industrial action spearheaded by the NSW
Labor Council against the proposed changes to existing laws.

Members of the Health and Research Employees Association (HREA) announced on Tuesday
they would enforce the bans from 8am today to 8am tomorrow.

"Ambulance officers in NSW won't be processing any paperwork ... what that means is
there'll be no revenue being collected in relation to the work ambulance officers do in
NSW," HREA secretary Craig Thomson said.

"The clinical notes that the ambulance officers take will go to the hospital with the
patient ... what won't go is the billing paper that can generate the revenue."

Mr Thomson said the bans would not affect ambulance services, but would cost the Carr
government about half-a-million dollars.

NSW Labor Council secretary Michael Costa said unions would continue their action until
the workers' compensation bill was withdrawn or amendments were approved.

Further action by the unions is expected to be announced over coming days.

AAP jh/jjs/was

KEYWORD: WORKERSCOMP BANS

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