Australian emergency workers begin protest against changes to working conditions

BRISBANE, Australia, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of firefighters and ambulance officers have marched to Queensland Parliament House in Australia's Brisbane to protest against proposed changes to their working conditions, local media reported on Tuesday.

The Queensland State Emergency Services staff gathered at Southbank in Brisbane before heading to Parliament House on Tuesday.

They are protesting against a 2.2 percent pay rise offer for the paramedics and a loss of their allowances, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reports.

Paramedic Alan Mountford told ABC that the changes were unreasonable.

"They're forcing us to work 12 hour shifts without a break. Nobody can sustain a 12 hour shift without a break, impossible," he said.

"You know you're getting towards the end of a 12 hour shift on a night shift and you're expected to work out drug calculations for children, it's very dangerous."