Ambulance Victoria release statement on Premier Daniel Andrews’ fall after ‘cover-up’ comments

Ambulance Victoria has released a statement on Premier Daniel Andrews after the state opposition inferred there was a “cover up” surrounding the circumstances in which he suffered a back injury.

Andrews broke several ribs and suffered an acute compression fracture of the T7 vertebra after slipping at a holiday home on the Mornington Peninsula on March 9. The 48-year-old was released from hospital on March 15 and has been recovering at home since.

Shadow Treasurer Louise Staley on Monday released a list of questions she wanted the premier to answer before he returns to work later this month, including whether he was “interviewed either formally or informally by the police in relation to anything that occurred over that long weekend”.

“Victorians need honesty and transparency from Daniel Andrews about the circumstances of his injury,” Staley said in a statement.

But a day later, Ambulance Victoria said they had sought permission from the Victorian Premier to release a statement about his fall.

Daniel Andrews is set to return to work, assuming medical clearance, in June. Credit: @DanielAndrewsMP/Twitter

“Ambulance Victoria received a triple zero call for an ambulance at 6.36am on Monday March 9 for a patient who had fall on steps at a house in Sorrento,” it read.

“Based on information provided during the call, the case did not require and immediate lights and sirens (life-threatening emergency response) and the call underwent secondary triage.

“The triage determined that the case was appropriate for ambulance response, and as ambulance was dispatched from the nearest ambulance branch in Sorrento under normal road conditions at 6.47am. The ambulance arrived at 7.01am.

“The patient was assessed by treating paramedics as having suspected fractured ribs and pain relief was provided.

“The patient requested to attend a local hospital in order for the attending crew to remain within the area once cleared from the case.”

During Tuesday’s health press conference, Acting Premier James Merlino said there has been “no decency or respect” and the Opposition “should be ashamed of themselves”.

“You can’t put to bed conspiracy nutters and if the Liberal Party want to act disgracefully, that is a matter for them,” he said.

“For the Liberal Party to act as they have, reflects on them, reflects on how they treat people, no decency, no respect and I really don’t want to talk any further on this issue.”

Victorian Shadow Treasurer Louise Staley. Credit: JAMES ROSS/AAPIMAGE

On Monday, Staley questioned why Andrews continues to be paid as premier “despite not doing the job”.

Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien echoed Staley’s sentiments at a press conference on Monday afternoon.

“It’s extraordinary to have a leader of the state to have been away from office for such a long period of time,” he told reporters.

“I wish him very well on a personal level but clearly I think there are some questions that are in the public interest to be cleared up at some point.”

Labor MPs swiftly took to Twitter to defend their leader.

“This is the most vile and disgusting gutter politics we’re seeing in Victoria,” Mordialloc MP Tim Richardson wrote.

“Instead of working to support the efforts of Victorians to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic, the Victorian Liberals are spreading conspiracies about Premier.”

– with AAP