Victorian paramedics are to receive a pay rise of up to $18,000 as part of a $54 million wage upgrade, after the state government accepted the role has become more difficult and complex over the past decade. After winning the 2014 state election, the Andrews government did a deal with the paramedics’ union to end a long-running pay dispute that dogged the Napthine government. Part of the deal was to send the case to the workplace umpire to determine a fair pay rate. On Wednesday the Fair Work Commission ruled that paramedics deserved more pay. Health Minister Jill Hennessy told Parliament that Labor would accept all the recommendations.
