With Melbourne mourning the tragic loss of life on the roads of Mill Park it does make me wonder. Where are the true deterrents and what can be put in place to keep our novice drivers safe?

Although this road safety report from Western Australia states that restricting the power-to-weight ratio is not proven to have a statistical effect on road fatalities involving the “yoof”, you’d be fooling yourself if you believed that hoon cars don’t beget hoons. Nanna drivers don’t usually drive Godzillas, XR6s, SSs, or 200SXs. They drive 1979 ‘Rollas or 92 Pulsars. So what should be done – in my humblest of opinions?

I agree with the new P-plate licensing including the passenger and alcohol restrictions. They’re logical. But to truly deter the rapscallions I think the devilish details should read something like this:

• <10km/hr over limit – $ fine.
• >10km/hr <20km/hr – $$ fine.
• >20km/hr <30km/hr – Car impounded for 1 month + $$$ fine + loss of license for 1 month.
• >30km/hr – Car sold by Police at auction if roadworthy + $$$ fine + loss of license for 6 months.
• >30km/hr – Car crushed and sold as scrap if not roadworthy + $$$ fine + loss of license for 6 months.

Simple to understand and would act as a deterrent. These fools of drivers really need to understand that actions have consequences. Time for them to grow up I reckon and get out from behind mummies skirt.

And a quick message to those parents out there that buy little Johnnies first car – and make it a “go faster” expensive one. This habit does not teach little Johnny to value the privilege of driving. Get him to save up his K-Mart wages and buy something himself.

The 1990 Barina ain’t so bad.

I’ll leave you with a couple of thoughts.

The first is with regards to the recent tragedy and comes from a paramedic on the scene. Paramedic Ron McLeod stated – “It was just carnage everywhere”, and that it was the worst he’d seen in 30 years. Those images will haunt Ron and the other attending emergency services personnel for the rest of their lives. That is not fair to them or their families.

And lastly – to the families of those affected by this and other tragedies. Try not to dwell on what has past (it goes without saying that this disaster will stay with you forever) – instead use those feelings as a catalyst for change. Educate anyone you meet. You can and will make a difference.

Well, Victorian Paramedics have eventually agreed upon AV’s “pay cut” EBA.

Despite Ambulance Victoria (AV) running an ambulance service propped up by paramedic goodwill (overtime), AV has managed to secure a 20% pay cut on this goodwill.

It’s remarkable that paramedics were threatened by Fair Work Australia and Ambulance Victoria for even thinking about withdrawing from voluntary overtime (due to fears for public safety) – yet on the other hand Ambulance Victoria allegedly dropped over 20 ambulances from service the other night (allegedly commonplace too). With no repercussions.

Viva La Pay Cuts – except for the boss’ $30,000 pay rise.

Nice.

Call us anti-money chasers but ambos tend to take on a lot of new skills and don’t take anything in return.

With the new EBA happening and paramedics likely to experience a pay cut overall, we’re still willing to tackle new skills like Intranasal Fentanyl, IV Dextrose, new burns dressings, and MDI Salbutamol. All of which benefit Joe Public but increases the expectations on the Paramedic in Victoria.

On the other hand, firemen gained allowances for things like CPR. Is it paramedics goodwill or the proactive fire union that made the difference?

Don’t get me wrong, firies rock – especially when they turn up at cardiac arrests to do compressions for us. Good on ‘em for getting the cashola.

Anyhoo – it’s all food for thought. I’m leaning towards feeling that our union has dropped the ball. We’re looking at a capped 2.5% raise while Alfred hospital physio’s, etc are looking at 5+%. good on ‘em too I say. They earned it after falling behind.

Maybe next time for us?

The state of play, with regards to Ambulance Victoria, is that on AFL Grand Final night Melbourne is missing over 20 ambulances from our streets.

Frightening to say the least!

Is this because of union/eba issues, disillusioned ambos, people “chucking sickies”, or what?

Any way you paint it – don’t get sick.

Such is human nature.

Solidarity. Mutual goals. And then it all crumbles. Or has it?

So the Ambulance Victoria enterprise bargaining melodrama continues. This time in a more surreptitious manner. Ambulance Victoria has struck an agreement of sorts with the Victorian Ambulance Union (AEAV), a last minute face saving exercise, apparently.

Next came the MICA mass resignations and another last minute agreement between the MICA paramedics and Ambulance Victoria. This assured an improved package for MICA paramedics.

En masse there has been a collective “fair enough too”. But this has left the Victorian work-horse paramedic in an unenviable position.

They can now accept an agreement that has been universally seen as  degrading  pay and conditions or they can say no and go to arbitration.

There are three major problems with arbitration. Number one is that it puts in jeopardy the gains made by MICA paramedics. Secondly the arbitrator could strip the hard earned and required benefits that all paramedics enjoy. And thirdly paramedics could be seen, by Joe Public, as being greedy and ungrateful.

These are interesting and confusing times.

Greed, human nature, comradeship, and so on. A true melodrama is playing out.