Get Involved - Parliament

Essential Workers

Published on: May 2024

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-140319

Essential Workers

Dr DAVID SALIBA (Fairfield) (17:29:29):

I move:

That this House:

(1)Commends and thanks the State's essential workers for their bravery and professionalism in response to recent tragedies and emergencies.

(2)Recognises that our essential workers are critical to keeping our community safe.

I see our State, our nation, as one of the shining lights of this world. Many families from across the Middle East and every other continent look to our State as a place where they can settle, be protected and be enabled to thrive and achieve their dreams. To deliver that, the Government relies on essential workers. They are the fabric of our society in that regard. They are the very best of us. They sacrifice so much to ensure that we are safe, healthy, educated and get every opportunity to thrive.

My own upbringing in Cabramatta was indicative of that. I grew up at a time in the '90s when drug and gang crime was rampant. I grew up in a public housing commission unit. Every day on my way to school I would open the door, walk along the corridors and see people using heroin. I would see knife crime. I would see robberies. All of that was normalised for me as a kid, and that was not fair. That is not right. I also saw the work that the police did with the Government in terms of cleaning up Cabramatta. They worked with the community to do great things and give a boy like me every chance to be here today.

In terms of ambulance workers, a memory comes to mind. As a kid in Cabramatta, I saw people overdosing. I vividly remember going to a payphone, dialling 000 and speaking to an emergency worker and advising them of the circumstances. I remember saying at the end, "This is not a prank call." They replied, "We believe you." Shortly after I saw the police and the ambulance go to treat that person. Needless to say, the police do an absolutely amazing job. Our essential workers and our healthcare workers do an amazing job as well. That, along with other factors, inspired me to go to university and to eventually join the Australian Federal Police. I wanted to be there and contribute to the community just as much as I saw the police contribute to my family and me.

I had the opportunity to work with many NSW Police Force officers in various joint operations, and I can attest to their professionalism, their dedication and their sacrifice. They do that not for their own individual glory, but to contribute to the community and to our State, and to look after their colleagues when times are tough. They are truly inspirational. They are our modern-day heroes. That was reflected in the tragedies that recently occurred, namely, firstly, the stabbings that occurred at Bondi Junction on 13 April. I offer my sincerest and deepest condolences to the family and friends of those who tragically lost their lives. It is truly heartbreaking. I know that emergency services and essential workers were also traumatised by it.

I commend the police for their response, especially Inspector Amy Scott. It is not easy to run towards danger. It is not easy to run towards a person with a knife. Her actions—her dedication and her sacrifice in putting herself forward to deal with that incident—truly saved lives. I know that the police do not usually like to pat themselves on the back, but Amy is a true hero. Obviously the work of the ambulance services to treat people saved lives that day as well. Members of the public like Damien, Silas and others treated the injured and accompanied Amy Scott on her pursuit of the offender. I saw that on the video cameras and I thought to myself, "That's bravery in essence." I thank the hospital staff and the mental health workers. I know that there will be work to do in terms of healing as we move forward, but the hospital staff truly saved lives and the mental health staff made a difference as well.

Just days later, the Wakeley incident happened. Bondi, I watched on TV; Wakeley, I saw. I went there shortly after the bishop was stabbed and I saw some truly confronting behaviour. No-one deserves to be attacked and the police should be able to do their jobs without interference. Violence has no place in our society. Despite the bad, I also saw the very best of us there. I saw the police risk their safety to protect the public. They were not wearing protective equipment because they were reacting to a very volatile and fast-moving situation, but they risked their safety in order to protect people. I also saw young police officers who would have recently graduated from the academy. They probably would have learnt about riots in textbooks, but they reacted. I saw police officers from different stations. Officers were injured and police vehicles were damaged. It is a testament to the police that they handled that with exemplary conduct, and for that I commend them.

I also commend the ambulance workers who were there. There were at least six of them and I chatted to them briefly on the night. They were there to respond to the incident, to treat people and to risk their own safety. Our healthcare workers at the hospitals and the members of the public also did their thing. I have a brief point to make—I know that time will escape me. I doorknocked in the days after the event, and people were very appreciative of the police. I must mention the domestic violence support workers and volunteers as well, and the SES and RFS members for their work on floods and fires. The work of our essential services is tough, and mental health support is important, particularly for PTSD. This boy from Fairfield City thanks all of our essential workers for keeping us safe.

Mr PAUL TOOLE (Bathurst) (17:36:13):

I thank the member for Fairfield for moving this motion. Our communities have seen quite a number of tragedies and disasters across the State, but the frontline workers continue to be out there to deal with the situations that we see from time to time. There is no doubt that New South Wales has experienced a tumultuous few months. Because of the recent tragedies and emergency situations, we have seen all the news items, bulletins, social media feeds and front pages of newspapers telling us of the bad news that occurs in so many communities. From Bondi to Forbes, our communities have been shocked by the actions of others.

A sentiment that has been resonating in conversations I have had with community members is, "How could this happen? How could people do that to another human being? It just doesn't make sense." In the aftermath of an event it is easy to feel overwhelmed by grief and sorrow, but it is often the courage and dedication of everyday heroes that shines the brightest. Those everyday heroes are our essential workers in fields like policing, paramedicine and firefighting. In situations like Bondi, retail assistants and security guards also became everyday heroes who stepped up. In the face of recent tragedies and emergencies, those remarkable individuals have stood tall, confronting adversity head-on with resilience and determination. Their sacrifices have not gone unnoticed, and their contributions have been nothing short of heroic.

It takes a certain type of person to enter into a selfless career of looking after others. Police officers, for example, run towards danger when the natural instinct for anyone is to run in the opposite direction. Our police officers continue to display bravery and courage in the face of danger to protect the communities they serve. Their integrity and empathy are unmatched. They make quick and sound decisions in complex and rapidly changing situations. I take my hat off to Inspector Amy Scott. She embodied her years of training and experience and acted with dutiful calmness when confronting the armed attacker at Bondi. If not for her professionalism, adaptability and courage, that event could have been worse.

I thank every single officer and first responder who attended that critical incident. Whilst it might be part of their job, no-one wakes up in the morning and goes to work anticipating that they will see horrific scenes like those of Saturday 13 April. The courage and professionalism displayed by each person during that challenging and chaotic situation is commendable. The attack signified a new scar on the State that will forever be remembered. Those who attended, whether they were essential workers or bystanders, will never see that shopping centre in the same way.

As we navigate through these challenging times, let us never forget the invaluable contributions of our essential workers. Let us honour their bravery, support their efforts and stand in solidarity with them as they continue to serve and protect us all. All members would agree that our State is suffering from tragedy fatigue. It has been a constant jump from fires to floods to pandemic, back to floods to protests to riots to road crashes. Escalating crime rates, road deaths and incidents speak for themselves. Some nights I catch myself second‑guessing whether or not to turn the news on, wondering how much more tragedy we can take. There is not a resident of this State that has not been affected.

I thank our essential workers. Their unwavering commitment to protecting and serving the community was evident as they bravely confronted danger head on, risking their own safety to ensure the safety of others. Amidst the darkness that has hung over New South Wales over the past few months, their selfless dedication and unwavering resolve has served as a beacon of hope and strength for us all. Their quick response and decisive actions undoubtedly helped to mitigate the impact of those tragedies. Words cannot adequately express the depth of our gratitude for their service and sacrifice. They are true heroes, and their bravery will be remembered and appreciated by the community for generations to come. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed, and their commitment to protecting and serving others is deeply admired and respected.

As we mourn the loss of those senselessly taken from us, I take a moment to honour and pay tribute to the courageous men and women who work in law enforcement, in health and in Fire and Rescue who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. We thank them, from the bottom of our hearts, for their service, sacrifice and unwavering dedication to protecting and serving the community.

Ms CHARISHMA KALIYANDA (Liverpool) (17:41:55):

I thank the member for Fairfield for moving this public interest debate motion. As the Speaker mentioned this morning, the State has experienced significant and recurring trauma since we last sat in this place. From the tragic killing of six innocent shoppers at Bondi Junction to the shocking stabbing of a bishop in Wakeley to the tragic death of Molly Ticehurst at the hands of the man she thought loved her in Forbes, none have been through more in the past few weeks than our frontline and essential workers. That is why it is my pleasure and my duty to acknowledge their service and convey in this place the gratitude of my community.

Much has been said about the incredible bravery of the first responders in Bondi Junction. I, too, pay tribute to Inspector Amy Scott, whose bravery and professionalism likely saved many lives, as well as the many other brave first responders in that incident. In Wakeley, several frontline responders attended Christ the Good Shepherd Church in the wake of the violent assault of a prominent bishop and priest in the south-west Sydney community. The ensuing riot at the scene injured dozens of police and paramedics. What happened on the night of 15 April was unacceptable. Police and paramedics, just like any other worker, deserve to feel safe when they are on duty. I thank all of the first responders who were there that night for their continuing professionalism and for doing their duty in the face of such scenes.

Too often, tragedies like those in Bondi Junction and Wakeley have been coopted by those who seek to prod at our multicultural fabric and weaken our social cohesion. It is done without any regard for those affected by the tragedies, who are only just beginning to deal with their trauma and grief. The intervening hours between the awful tragedy in Bondi Junction and the identification of the offender saw harmful misinformation spread across the world as to the identity and motive of the perpetrator. In the immediate aftermath, several prominent verified online accounts speculated, without evidence, that the offender was motivated by the Islamic faith or by the tragedies in Gaza. At least two people were falsely named as the attacker on social media, one of which was picked up by a mainstream news outlet.

British radio presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer wasted no time in claiming that the attacker must have been an Islamic terrorist. British television presenter Rachel Riley tried to connect the horrible tragedy with those who have been calling for a ceasefire in Gaza for over six months. Hartley-Brewer and Riley have followings of almost 500,000 and 700,000 people, respectively, to which they broadcast their kneejerk reactions while our city was processing the shocking tragedy that had unfolded hours previously. A video of the stabbing in Wakeley quickly went viral. Misinformation was being filtered through WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms. Those messages included allegations that churchgoers were holding the alleged offender, that he was himself assaulted or that the clergy had severed his finger. None of those allegations were true. Other messages claimed that threats had been made against mosques in the area, including the mosque at Green Valley in the Liverpool electorate. In the days after, I spoke with the president of the mosque, who was shaken but grateful for the consideration and support of the broader community, regardless of faith or cultural background.

In the face of that, I thank the police for providing timely and up-to-date information about those two emergencies. I acknowledge that it is often not easy to fight the misinformation that proliferated in the immediate aftermath in both instances. Our essential workers are doing everything they can to ensure community calm and cohesion at a time when many try to destabilise it. I also thank those working in the mental health sector. I know from my time at headspace that this work is often confronting and difficult. In the aftermath of the past few weeks, they would be under considerable pressure. Many people across our State have been considerably affected by what they have witnessed. Many workers may experience vicarious or second‑hand trauma from providing much‑needed support. That will direct more people to mental health resources for psychological support and advice. I put on record my thanks to those working in that space.

We will never know how many lives were saved by our treasured essential workforce in the immediate aftermath, in the weeks since and in the months to come. Essential workers do it because they love and believe in our community. They are the silver lining of hope that we have been proud to acknowledge and celebrate within the broader community since. I thank them on behalf of my community in Liverpool and everyone across the State and the country who is proud that they are the face of New South Wales.

Mr ALEX GREENWICH (Sydney) (17:47:06):

I make a brief contribution to this important public interest debate motion, and thank the member for Fairfield for bringing it to the House. It commends and thanks the State's essential workers for their bravery and professionalism in response to recent tragedies and emergencies, and recognises the ongoing work that essential workers do to keep the community safe. In the days that followed the attack at Westfield Bondi Junction, I spoke with a number of police officers and people who work at St Vincent's Hospital who responded to the attack at the front line. A number of essential workers in the Sydney electorate travel long distances to work and keep our global city safe and running.

It has been a challenging year for many people in the community, but those at the front line keeping us safe, both physically and emotionally, are the essential workers. Whether it is police, health staff, teachers and education staff or council workers, a range of essential workers have been at the front line of community safety and wellbeing. Many people have been challenged this year—essential workers the most. Motions like this are so important because they allow us to come together and recognise the way in which essential workers play a critical role in the safety of our communities and in keeping them running. Even more important was the decision of the Minns Labor Government to lift the wages cap to ensure that they can continue to receive fairer pay and conditions in their workplaces. For too long, essential workers have gone underpaid and under-recognised for their contribution in this State, and we need to keep that going. Recently all of the Legislative Assembly Independent members joined with Unions NSW to write to the Premier to request a select committee into housing for essential workers in New South Wales. Conversations with the Government towards establishing that committee are ongoing, and I appreciate the engagement.

Many of the police who were at Westfield live on the Central Coast because that is the closest place they can afford to live. Many of the nurses and cleaners at St Vincent's Hospital live hours away from the hospital. If we are so grateful for the safety that essential workers provide us, we have to provide them the basic safety of being able to live closer to where they work. Just as the Government showed leadership in lifting the wages cap, we need to also work together in this State to ensure that essential workers have access to housing close to their work. Too many police who keep the City of Sydney safe are sleeping in their cars overnight because it is too far for them to get home and back. Too many nurses are leaving work tired because they have not had a proper night's sleep because they have had to travel so far to work—let alone allowing them to enjoy having a life. I thank the member for Fairfield for bringing the motion, and I thank the Government for its ongoing commitment to essential workers. The Legislative Assembly Independents look forward to working with the Government to ensure that essential workers have housing close to the essential roles which they perform to keep our community safe.

Ms TRISH DOYLE (Blue Mountains) (17:51:31):

Whether it is for an accident, an injury called in to 000, a murder, public emergency, domestic violence incident or some unfolding horror that we are yet to understand, this House commends and thanks our State's essential workers for their bravery and professionalism not only in response to recent tragedies and emergencies but also every day. We recognise that our essential workers are critical to keeping our community safe. I echo the words of the member for Fairfield, the mover of this motion, that the essential workers are the very best of us. I thank our law enforcement personnel, our first responders, paramedics, police, mental health workers, emergency department staff, doctors, nurses, specialist clinicians, mental health services, firefighters and SES personnel.

Whereas the natural human tendency is to run away from danger, emergency service workers run towards danger every day. Our essential emergency services workers are constantly faced with unpredictable and volatile situations. They must approach those situations quickly and decisively, but also with caution. That takes a significant emotional and psychological toll. Making decisions around life or death, at speed, can be extremely taxing. It is especially true when those they are meant to protect and serve are themselves a potential source of danger and aggression. First responders are constantly dealing with people hurt and in a heightened emotional state. In an emergency, many are at their most vulnerable and distressed. Others are at their most hostile and unreasonable. It is easy to become burnt out if constantly exposed to tragedy and stress. Emergency service workers front up to deal with unacceptable behaviour—and that needs to be called out as well.

The Health Services Union Ambulance Division has said paramedics and health workers have enough to worry about and they deserve to feel safe as they tend to patients. As Minister for Health Ryan Park has said, we are thankful for the work of our New South Wales paramedics and ambulance staff every day, and we acknowledge those who go above and beyond for their patients. We have heard so many stories of unwavering commitment to duty—from performing life-saving medical interventions to acts of bravery, often at risk to their own safety. I acknowledge in particular the fear our paramedics would have felt at the Wakeley incident. For me, it is not just a professional or political statement; it is deeply personal, as my son is a paramedic. It does not matter that he is 24-years old; he is still my little boy. Every time he goes off to work I worry whether he is going to come home, especially with the escalating level of violence in our community and the sorts of situations that our essential workers are faced with—our police and paramedics in particular.

To all essential workers I give our deepest thanks and gratitude. It is unacceptable that their lives are put in danger when they attend incidents and are confronted with senseless acts of violence as they utilise their skills, training and professionalism to help save others. Today we acknowledge that, as our essential workers turn up to work, it is no less confronting or horrific when they are faced with unimaginable tragedies. Therefore, in expressing our thanks as a Parliament to those essential workers, acknowledging that they keep us safe, I also express the fear and unimaginable horror that they face from the very people that they seek to assist. I commend the motion of the member for Fairfield.

Mr RORY AMON (Pittwater) (17:56:22):

Today I stand before the House not just as a representative of Pittwater but trying to be a voice for the unsung heroes who form the backbone and shield of our community and our State. I speak of our essential workers whose tireless dedication and bravery not only support day-to-day life but are critical in times of crises and emergencies. Let us reflect on recent events that have tested the mettle of our communities—floods, storms, the Bondi tragedy, the stabbing of a bishop in a place of worship and the ongoing epidemic of family and domestic violence. In each instance our essential workers, whether they be police, SES, volunteer firefighters, professional firefighters, paramedics or nurses, have stood fast as a bulwark against chaos. Those workers and volunteers' roles are crucial and yet often taken for granted. In light of recent tragedies and events, it is evident that we expect far too much of and pay far too little to our professional emergency services workers.

This House extends its deepest gratitude to and commends those brave people. They work in conditions that most would often flee from, driven by a sense of duty that transcends the mere call of occupation. Their stories of bravery and professionalism are not just tales of personal fortitude but are testament to the robust spirit that characterises the people of New South Wales. Just last month, during the severe storms that hit our region, it was our essential workers who navigated through dangerous conditions to restore power, provide medical aid and ensure public safety. Their actions saved lives and hastened our recovery—a clear demonstration of their indispensable role in our society. It is undeniable that our essential workers are fundamental to maintaining not just the functionality but the safety of our communities. The attack in Wakeley could have seen our State become a tinderbox. Some thought we might lose control of public safety. Our paramedics worked under incredible conditions, and our police ultimately calmed the situation. Our emergency services threaded the needle and community cohesion withstood a significant challenge.

The Bondi tragedy saw the very worst—the senseless murder of six people, 12 physically injured and many more psychologically impacted. Our hearts go out to every single person affected. In that most difficult time we saw the very best of humanity and the very best of our essential workers. Police Inspector Amy Scott is a hero and testament to the very best of our essential workers. We must also recognise the service of our volunteers in Pittwater—whether it is Mark Colwell, unit commander of Warringah Pittwater SES; the 13 Rural Fire Service brigades in Pittwater; Jimmy Arteaga, unit commander of Marine Rescue Broken Bay; or Stuart Manley, unit commander of Marine Rescue Cottage Point. I thank all of those services and their volunteers. It would be remiss of me to not mention my fellow volunteer firefighter at the Davidson RFS, Wayne Stanley, who was awarded the Commissioner's Unit Citation for Bravery on St Florian's Day following his bravery during an eight‑week deployment in Canada. I congratulate and thank Wayne.

Every day our essential workers make sure our children can go to school safely, our sick receive care and our streets are secure. They help us in times of emergency and great need. The seamlessness of the services often belies the complexity and risks involved in providing them. In recognising their critical role, we must also acknowledge the challenges essential workers face: long hours, mental and physical strain, and, all too often, insufficient resources. As representatives it is our duty to ensure that those challenges are met not with silence but with proactive support. We should recognise our essential workers in not only words but also actions that safeguard their wellbeing and enable them to perform their duties to the best of their abilities.

While we commend and recognise our essential workers, we must also ask ourselves whether we are doing enough. They require real and tangible support. That includes adequate funding for resources, mental health support and policies that actively improve their working conditions. It also includes better pay. Our essential workers are not just employees; they are our neighbours, our friends and our family. They are the ones who step forward when many step back. I assure our essential workers that their bravery, commitment and professionalism do not go unnoticed. We thank them, commend them and stand by them. Their strength inspires ours, and together we will continue to build a safer, stronger and more resilient New South Wales.

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (18:01:31):

I join my colleagues in recognising and thanking all of our emergency and frontline personnel, and I thank the member for Fairfield for bringing this important public interest debate to the House. In times of crisis, when chaos threatens to overwhelm us, a special few step forward with unwavering commitment, boundless bravery and unparalleled professionalism to ensure our safety and wellbeing. Tragedies and emergencies test the resilience of our communities. Throughout them all, the selfless dedication and tireless efforts of our emergency services and essential workers make them beacons of hope. We are fortunate that so many people in our communities, whether volunteers or professionals, are always there for us, ready to answer the call whenever and wherever they are needed. Now more than ever, it is important for us to pause and give thanks to those on the front line. They confront danger head on, often encountering situations that test their physical and emotional limits. Through natural disasters, global pandemics, acts of brutal crime and horror, they are always there for us when we need them.

To the police officers who protect our streets and communities from harm and to the firefighters who rush towards the flames to extinguish the infernos that threaten our homes and our livelihoods, we say thank you. To the paramedics, the nurses and the doctors who race against time to provide life‑saving care to those in need, and to the SES volunteers who are on call 24/7 during extreme weather events—through floods, storms and fire—we say thank you. We thank our marine rescue volunteers who keep us safe and respond to emergencies on the water, and our surf lifesaving volunteers and lifeguards who look after us when we are at the beach. Their work does not end when the sirens fade and the headlines change. Day in, day out, our emergency services continue to stand watch, ready to respond at a moment's notice.

In the face of tragedy our emergency services have shown us the true meaning of heroism. They are the ones who run towards danger when others run away. In particular I thank all of the local emergency services, volunteers and essential workers who have been involved in the recent tragedies that we have faced across our State and in our communities. I acknowledge two people from very different walks of life: Inspector Amy Scott, a career professional within our police service and a true hero of the Westfield Bondi Junction massacre; and the security guard who sadly lost his life that day. Working at the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre after only a few shifts there, he took the brunt of what was a terrible incident of violence in our community. He lost his life but showed significant bravery in trying to defend others.

In thanking all emergency services workers and volunteers across our State who put themselves in harm's way to keep the rest of us safe, I also recognise the local emergency services and volunteer organisations in my community: the North Shore Police Area Command; the crews from our Fire and Rescue stations at Mosman, Neutral Bay and Crows Nest; Marine Rescue Middle Harbour; the paramedic and health services at Royal North Shore Hospital; and the SES volunteers from both the Mosman and North Sydney units. I join my colleagues in this place in thanking our essential workers, from the bottoms of our hearts, for all that they do. Let us recognise them for their courage, their sacrifice and their unwavering dedication to keeping us safe. They are the true heroes of our communities.

Dr DAVID SALIBA (Fairfield) (18:05:15):

In reply: We all agree on the importance of essential workers, and we are all aligned in thanking them for their work. I thank all members who contributed to the debate or, rather, the collective appreciation for our police, healthcare workers, ambulance officers, mental health workers, firefighters, SES, RFS, teachers and so many more essential workers. I reflect upon some members' comments. I agree with the member for Bathurst that in times of crisis essential workers are our everyday heroes and they are a platform for the safety of our society. The member for Liverpool commented that essential workers have not wavered in risking their safety to protect us. The member for Sydney recognised the ongoing work our essential workers do to keep our communities safe, noting their work never pauses and that they do it honourably. The member for Blue Mountains spoke of essential workers' exposure to tragedy and stress. As the parent of a paramedic, the member knows it is tough and stressful. I thank her for raising such a good boy and acknowledge his contributions in protecting others.

The member for Pittwater spoke about an essential worker's sense of duty and about their work being a testament to their robust spirit. I recall from the member's inaugural speech that he was—and he may still be—an RFS volunteer. I thank him for that. I concur with the member for North Shore who noted the bravery of essential workers across a range of incidents and emergencies. I thank all of our essential workers from the bottom of my heart. They represent the very best of us and are deeply respected by the members of this House. They are a credit to their families, their friends and this State.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Ms Stephanie Di Pasqua):

The question is that the motion be agreed to.

Motion agreed to.