Attempted murder charge for alleged paramedic stabber

A man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing an on-duty paramedic, prompting the state leader to pledge stronger protections for emergency workers.

The paramedic was allegedly stabbed in the neck and face in an unprovoked attack while waiting for coffee outside a cafe in Reservoir, north of Melbourne, 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.

About two hours later, a 32-year-old man was arrested nearby at the Winter Crescent property in Reservoir.

He was charged with attempted murder and was ordered to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.

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 gaps in the law, potentially undermining the protection that emergency workers deserve,” Ms Allan said on Thursday.

“We are committed to fixing this.”

Ms Allan said the government would ask the Victorian Law Reform Commission to review the definition of “on duty” to close loopholes.

Victoria introduced laws in October 2018 mandating a six-month prison sentence for those who injure emergency workers unless there are “special reasons”.

The laws were later tightened after James Haberfield, 22, escaped a prison sentence despite admitting assaulting a paramedic while drinking a cocktail of drugs at a music festival.

Haberfield was ordered to serve an 18-month community punishment order and receive treatment for the schizophrenia he was suffering from at the time of the attack.

According to the tightened laws, if the person’s mental state was affected by alcohol or drugs during an attack on an emergency worker, the “special reasons” provision could not be relied on.

On Thursday, Ambulance Victoria general manager Jordan Emery said the paramedic suffered stab wounds to his face and neck but was in a stable condition.

He thanked those around him who intervened during the attack.

“I thank that person from the bottom of my heart for having the courage to intervene, take action and take care of our paramedic,” Mr. Emery said.