Man who lost father due to Victoria’s Triple-0 crisis reacts to damning report

A man who lost his father on the front lawn of his house due to Victoria’s Triple-0 crisis says he’s “disgusted, dismayed, but not surprised” by a damning report that found multiple issues with the state’s emergency hotline.

David Edwards and his family could not get through to a Triple-0 operator after his dad suffered a suspected heart attack on January 5.

Former police commissioner Graham Ashton conducted the review and found ESTA had displayed “continued and systematic underperformance”.

Mr Edwards told Neil Mitchell the findings were hardly a shock to him and his family.

“I’m disgusted, dismayed, but I’m not surprised,” he said.

He said government was trying to “lie their way out” of responsibility.

“Does the government think we are stupid, or something?” he said.

Press PLAY below to hear his reaction

Danny Hill from the ambulance union said the issues identified in the report had been problems the union had been demanding action on for over a decade.

But they were ignored.

Press PLAY below to hear Danny Hill’s reaction

 

Danny Hill, Secretary of the Victorian Ambulance Union. The Emergency Services and Telecommunications Authority has released their report. The review made 20 recommendations, five of which have already been implemented. The review found ESTA was unable to meet demand during surge periods such as the storm events in 2021 and throughout the COVID peak

929 – David Edwards from Swan Hill. His father died on the front lawn of his house because an ambulance was unavailable. He and his wife could not get through to a triple zero-call operator.