“As paramedics we are very hopeful and it sounds very encouraging,” local paramedic Scott Duffy said.

 “At the same time we know that it’s not said and done until it’s signed off.”

In 2016 the then premier Mike Baird gave a guarantee to paramedics that he would restore income protection to previous conditions under the death and disability insurance scheme which was established in 2008.

Local paramedic Scott Duffy said he and his colleagues were given the end of January for those changes to become implemented. 

Mr Duffy said when Mike Baird resigned a week before that date ‘it was very much up in the air’ and ‘we didn’t know what was going to happen’.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that paramedics who work so hard to support ‘all of us during our toughest times’ get the protection and support they need in their workplace.

“We remain committed to providing increased death and disability cover to paramedics,” she said. 

“I have spoken to the HSU to reassure them of this commitment. 

“Discussions are continuing but it is expected that we will be able to present options to paramedics in the near future.”

Mr Duffy said paramedics are not asking for more money. 

“All we’re asking for is to keep what we had which was adequate insurance cover so that when we are hurt we can pay the bills, the mortgage and put shoes on our children’s feet,” he said. 

Paramedics have been running a campaign for the last six months to highlight their plight. 

They have been calling for the same conditions as the police. 

Under the current scheme ambulance officers receive a maximum two years of compensation while police officers can claim up to seven.

Mr Duffy said the Local Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams has not publically supported their campaign despite having a meeting with paramedics in October.  

He said the public and other MPs around the state have rallied behind their campaign and he thanked them for ongoing support. 

Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams said on February 14 that she remains committed to supporting local paramedics and looks forward to an outcome in the near future.

Mr Duffy said unfortunately the dangerous conditions that paramedics work within have not changed. 

“Paramedics are seven times more likely to be injured than any other worker,” he said. 

Mr Duffy said the most common injury is post traumatic stress disorder. 

“Things haven’t changed so we really need adequate insurance,” he said. 

“It’s not a case of if we’re going to get injured it’s a matter of when it’s going to happen.” 

Mr Duffy and paramedics said they will keep fighting if they don’t receive the appropriate cover.