The ambulance union in South Australia has launched industrial action against the state government over a resourcing brawl.
As of this afternoon, union members will stop charging patients for ambulances if they arrive later than medical timeframes.
Secretary of the Ambulance Employees association Phil Palmer says lives are significantly at risk due to a shortage of ambulances.
"We'll be escalating [the action] over time if we don't get the outcome we want.
"We don't bargain — we're fighting for the community's safety."
The union is demanding more resources for the state's ambulance service to help relieve over-worked staff and improve chronic ramping outside public hospital emergency departments.
"Again, last night, lives were significantly at risk because there weren't enough ambulances to meet the workload," Mr Palmer said today.