The Labor Party’s use of an ambulance as a “political prop” during the election campaign has drawn harsh criticism from the Liberals.
Lyons candidate Guy Barnett is accusing Rebecca White of breaching caretaker regulations by using the state government ambulance for a campaign announcement, saying it was “diverting vital health resources”.
“It says everything that Ms White would tie up an ambulance that should be on the road saving lives for her political stunt,” Barnett said.
“Her callous action not only shows she will do anything for a cheap political TV image, but are also in clear breach of election caretaker provisions.”
Labor used the ambulance as a backdrop to announce their ‘Paramedics Plan for a Better Future’ policy, promising to employ an extra 168 paramedic staff across the state and invest $45 million in infrastructure, including more ambulance trucks.
But the ‘Use of Agency Resources and Premises’ section of the ‘Guidance on Caretaker Conventions’ document states: “Agency employees and others must not use agency resources or their positions to support particular issues or parties during the election campaign.”
Barnett said his party would be writing to the Head of the State Service asking that the matter be investigated “as a matter of urgency”.
“Vital health resources are not Labor playthings. It’s a shame Ms White needs to be reminded of that,” he said.
