A man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing an on-duty paramedic, prompting a state leader to commit to stronger protections for emergency workers.
Details of the Attack
The paramedic was allegedly stabbed in the neck and face in an unprovoked attack as he waited for a coffee outside a cafe in Reservoir in Melbourne's north just after 11am on Thursday. Police allege a man got out of a small, red car and stabbed the paramedic in the upper body before fleeing in the vehicle. The paramedic, who recently became a father, was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Arrest and Charges
A 32-year-old man was arrested nearby, at a Winter Crescent property in Reservoir, about two hours later. He was charged with attempted murder and remanded to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday.
Government Response
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has committed to strengthening laws surrounding attacks on emergency workers in response to the incident. 'Victims and union representatives have raised the issue of loopholes in the law, potentially undermining the protections emergency workers deserve,' Ms Allan said in a statement on Thursday. 'We commit to fixing it.' The government will ask the Victorian Law Reform Commission to review the definition of 'on duty' to close any loopholes, Ms Allan said.
Context of Existing Laws
Victoria implemented laws in October 2018 to mandate a six-month jail term for injuring emergency workers, unless there were 'special reasons'. The laws were later tightened after James Haberfield, 22, avoided a prison term despite admitting to attacking a paramedic at a musical festival while on a cocktail of drugs. Haberfield was ordered to serve an 18-month community corrections order and undergo treatment for schizophrenia, which he suffered at the time of the attack. Under the tightened laws, if a person's mental state was affected by alcohol or drugs during an attack on an emergency worker, they could not rely on the 'special reasons' clause.
Ambulance Victoria Statement
On Thursday, Ambulance Victoria chief executive Jordan Emery said the paramedic received a stab wound to his face and neck but was in a stable condition. He thanked a bystander who intervened during the attack. 'I thank that person from the bottom of my heart for having the courage to step in and take action and care for our paramedic,' Mr Emery said.
