A political fight has erupted in Victoria a week after Melbourne was hit by an unprecedented thunderstorm asthma event that's claimed six lives so far.
The state opposition says the government has failed to answer key questions about last Monday's asthma storm which overwhelmed ambulance services and hospitals.
"Why was there no emergency alerts sent to media on (last) Monday night to inform the public about the serious event and how best to respond," opposition health spokeswoman Mary Wooldridge said in a statement on Monday.
"Why were family members not told to drive directly to an emergency department when extended ambulance delays had the potential to be fatal?"
Ms Wooldridge acknowledged the "significant work" of paramedics and doctors in trying circumstances. They faced an unprecedented 1900 emergency calls in five hours.
But she said Labor Premier Daniel Andrews and Health Minister Jill Hennessy had failed to answer basic questions about what occurred.
Six people have died so far from the asthma storm.
Five people remain in intensive care with three in a critical condition fighting for their lives.
The Inspector-General for Emergency Management is leading an overarching review that will examine how Ambulance Victoria and emergency services responded and how the community was notified.
The review will also investigate the deaths.
Ms Wooldridge said the state's health emergency plan was not followed by all hospitals.
She said it was "unacceptable" Victorians wouldn't receive answers for five months. The review's final report isn't due until late April.
But Emergency Services Minister James Merlino says a comprehensive review is exactly what's needed.
"There are many learnings and one of them will obviously be in regards to warnings," he told reporters on Monday.
The most recent fatality occurred when a critically ill patient died in hospital on Saturday night as a result of thunderstorm asthma causing other "medical complications".
News of the sixth death came as Labor announced $500 million in additional funding over five years for the state's ambulance services.
