Rough state of emergency stays buried
There are calls this week for the release of the full report into bullying at the ACT Ambulance Service.
A leaked review document reportedly shows some deep cultural issues in the ACTAS, including bullying, distrust and poor management.
The Government issued a blueprint for change after the reports surfaced, but has refused release the full cultural review.
Liberal MLA Brendan Smyth says it is not good enough.
“Well it's clearly a cover up,” he told the ABC.
“If you're not releasing the report, then you have to question what is it that the Minister is hiding?” Smyth asked.
“The only way that we can make sure that our officers and paramedics get the best ambulance service to work in is to know the extent of the problem.”
The cultural review was put together after surveys, interviews and workshops by consultancy firm O2C.
The review painted a picture of conflict and distrust within the ACTAS, where many workers were afraid to speak out.
Over 90 per cent of staff wanted a major overhaul.
“It is in-bred, mates help mates,” one ACTAS staff account read.
“A rule for one and another rule for others. Boys club. Intimidation and bullying,” another said.
Klaus Pinkas from the Transport Workers Union (TWU) said he was not surprised by the review's findings.
"Our members were raising these issues over a number of years. The review process has exposed those formally," he said.
A letter from the Transport Workers Union (TWU) claimed the report had “been subjected to bureaucratic sanitisation at the request of the Minister”.
Minister for Emergency Services Joy Burch told reporters she had decided not to release the report, but said action was being taken.
“The advice provided to me was that there were problems releasing the O2C report because of the potential for personal and professional damage,” she said.
“Now, is it right and sensible to deal with the so-called claimed toxic culture by putting more harm into the organisation?”
“Make no mistake, we have listened, we have heard, we have not shied away from anything and we will deliver an absolutely nation-leading ambulance service for this community.”