On Monday, paramedic John Larter revealed to Fairfax Media that ambos at the three stations were expected to respond to emergencies in the snow-prone areas wearing nothing warmer than the standard uniform. Paramedics in Jindabyne and Perisher Valley are issued alpine equipment including heavy jackets, balaclavas and ski gloves. But their neighbours at Tumut, Batlow and Tumbarumba are entitled to one pair of thermals, cotton pants and shirts and the same jacket that is worn in Sydney, though they respond to emergencies from the Selwyn ski fields to Cabramurra, which is the highest altitude populated town in Australia. An exasperated Mr Larter spoke to Fairfax Media after his request for cold-weather gear to replace their 20-year-old equipment was rebuffed. He said said this indicated a disregard for paramedic safety.

On Tuesday morning, the veteran paramedic received a call from NSW Ambulance telling him he had breached their media policies by speaking with news organisations and posting on social media about the lack of winter uniforms. "Any further comments made to parties outside of NSW Ambulance may also be considered a breach of 'Code of Conduct'," read the email seen by Fairfax Media. "I think it's disgusting. It's so disingenuous," said Mr Larter, who also spoke to 2GB radio's Ben Fordham after receiving the warning. "They pump out all this paraphernalia and rubbish about how they've got your wellbeing at heart and once a year they send you out RUOK coffee mugs and at the end of the day they couldn't give two hoots about you," he said. "Here I am complaining about a genuine safety issue, and now I've got a target on my back."

Mr Larter welcomed Ms Skinner's announcement, saying if NSW Ambulance had supplied the uniforms when he first raised the issue there would have been no media attention. NSW Health Services Union Secretary Gerard Hayes said it was healthy and necessary for workers to speak out about the conditions they saw in the public health system. "This very incident was resolved because someone had the courage to make their voice heard," Mr Hayes said. "The government needs to drop its high-handed approach of silencing dissent." Mr Larter requested cold weather gear on June 2, but southern sector chief superintendent Brian White replied in an email seen by Fairfax Media: "Prior to approving any request for cold weather clothing to the three stations, I will need to know the number of times they have been dispatched to the snowfields over the past three years."

On Monday, Mr Larter said: "We would go there three or four times a week at least. Or we could get called to someone fallen in the Tumut River or a truck accident and spend three or four hours trying to rescue someone out of a wreck."



NSW Ambulance said in a statement: "Like many organisations, NSW Ambulance has a Code of Conduct and Media Policy put in place to support staff and protect patient confidentiality, the Tumut Station officer was reminded of his need to adhere to our policies." The concerns raised by Mr Larter continued to be addressed, and all staff concerns were taken very seriously, NSW Ambulance said. "[Staff] are actively encouraged to raise all concerns via well-established grievance resolution processes in place to ensure that issues raised by staff are dealt with in an appropriate and timely manner," the statement read.