The NT government has floated the idea of paramedics in the territory carrying pepper spray for their safety at work.
St John Ambulance NT said paramedics in Central Australia have faced 88 instances of serious violence since January this year, while first responders in Darwin say there have been record rates of assault.
While St John are yet to respond to questions about whether they will consider introducing pepper spray, NT Shadow Health Minister Chansey Paech said he'll support paramedics in any decision they make.
On Friday September 11, six paramedics were forced to barricade themselves inside a home while treating a patient in the Alice Springs eastern suburb of Larapinta.
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The NT government has floated the idea of paramedics in the territory carrying pepper spray for their safety at work.
The suggestion comes in response to ongoing high rates of assaults against ambulance officers on the job across the NT.
The Northern Territory government has suggested ambulance officers carry pepper spray and body-worn cameras in an effort to combat violent incidents on the job.
St John Ambulance NT said paramedics in Central Australia have faced 88 instances of serious violence since January this year, while first responders in Darwin say there have been record rates of assault.
The Alice Springs Member for Braitling Joshua Burgoyne said it was "extraordinarily disappointing" to see people attack paramedics and that his government was looking at how it could better support the service and its staff.
While St John are yet to respond to questions about whether they will consider introducing pepper spray, NT Shadow Health Minister Chansey Paech said he'll support paramedics in any decision they make.
Earlier this year, St John Ambulance NT said it was considering introducing body-worn cameras following rioting in Alice Springs and ongoing assaults across the NT.
The government floated the pepper spray idea following a string of violent incidents in Central Australia in the past week.
On Friday September 11, six paramedics were forced to barricade themselves inside a home while treating a patient in the Alice Springs eastern suburb of Larapinta.
St John Ambulance NT southern regional manager Abbey Studley told ABC Radio Alice Springs paramedics were tending to the patient when "a large number of people arrived in a taxi" and "the scene changed really quickly".
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