Media Releases

The Nationals Member for Shepparton, Jeanette Powell announced today that if the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition wins the November election it will allocate a new MICA Single Responder Unit in Shepparton.

The Single Responder Unit (SRU) will deliver MICA care through a 24-hour roster, providing life-saving specialist-trained paramedics, significantly boosting ambulatory care in the Shepparton District.
Mrs Powell said the Coalition commitment to allocate ten new MICA SRUs across the state, follows Monday’s announcement of the biggest increase of ambulance staff in Victoria’s history.
“The Coalition’s plan provides for 310 new ambulance paramedics, 210 of which will be based in country Victoria, and an additional 30 patient transport officers allocated to country Victoria,” Mrs Powell said.
“This is great news for residents living in the Shepparton District as they will now have extra highly-trained paramedics to provide much needed care during an emergency.
“This commitment by the Coalition is great news as the Shepparton Ambulance Service has been neglected by the Brumby government.”
Mrs Powell has been calling on the government to provide more staff and ambulances in the district for years.
“Only a month ago I moved a Notice of Motion May condemning the Brumby Government for its continued failure to provide an increase in paramedics and appropriate response vehicles to the Shepparton district,” Mrs Powell said.
“The Shepparton ambulance service is one of the busiest in Victoria and needs extra ambulance officers and an extra ambulance.
“I am pleased to say this Coalition commitment will provide the MICA unit which is so urgently needed to service the people of the Goulburn Valley.
“Labor has had 11 years to fix the crisis in our ambulance service. John Brumby’s announcement today is just another desperate measure to catch up with Coalition policies.
“Every Victorian, no matter where they live, deserves a well-funded and well-resourced ambulance service,” Mrs Powell said.