Ms TRISH DOYLE: I move:
That this House:
(1)Acknowledges the importance of the frontline health workers and allied health staff, including but not limited to our doctors, nurses, paramedics and cleaners.
(2)Recognises the commitment and dedication provided by our frontline health workers and allied health staff across New South Wales, particularly those working in and for the Blue Mountains.
(3)Thanks our frontline healthcare workers and allied health staff for their work throughout the festive season and beyond to ensure that communities receive the care and support that they need and deserve.
Mr NATHAN HAGARTY: I speak in debate on the motion. Paragraph (3) of the motion states:
(3)Thanks our frontline healthcare workers and allied health staff for their work throughout the festive season …
If one wants to see how members opposite thank them, it is there on the opposite side of the Chamber. It is their time to speak, and no-one from the Opposition has turned up to speak about this important issue. It is a scathing example of what Liberal-Nationals Opposition members, if that is what you want to call them, think about frontline health workers. They could not be bothered to speak in debate on the motion. They stand condemned today. We should get the word out as soon as possible and let our frontline health workers know, let our allied health workers know, that that is what they think about them.
I thank the member for Blue Mountains for the motion today. I was not planning on speaking in debate on it, but here we are. No-one from the Opposition could be bothered to turn up and thank our frontline health workers for the work that they have done throughout the festive season and beyond. I give my personal thanks to the frontline health workers in my part of the world. My area was one of the most heavily impacted parts of the world during COVID. Those workers put their lives at risk day in, day out, and I cannot thank them enough. They have gone over and above despite the way they were treated by the previous Government. I give my thanks for what they have done throughout the festive season, but also well beyond that. I say a special thanks to the community health team at Hoxton Park in my electorate. I was out there on "Thank a Nurse Day", I think it was called.
Ms Charishma Kaliyanda: International Nurses Day.
Mr NATHAN HAGARTY: International Nurses Day. I am calling it "Thank a Nurse Day". I am renaming it. I gave those workers cakes and flowers and said, "Thank you for the important work you do." I know that when my firstborn was born some 16, 17 years ago, the workers from that particular facility came out to visit my wife and I to see how things were going because my daughter had a low Apgar score. Thankfully, she has come good and is thriving, but she probably would not have without the support provided by those frontline and allied health workers at Hoxton Park.
I also recognise the commitment of frontline health workers across the State. Once again, they put their lives on the line to save our lives, to make sure that we have a great health system and that we are being taken care of. No doubt, they would have noticed a dramatic change in the way that they are being treated by the Government in the past 12 months. After 12 long years of neglect, they finally have a government that will back them in, support them and make sure they are able to do the best job they possibly can. In closing, I reiterate my opening words and draw all members' attention to the benches on the opposite side of the Chamber. It is empty, with the exception of the member for Vaucluse.
Mr Edmond Atalla: On House duty.
Mr NATHAN HAGARTY: On House duty. Again, it is scathing. Members opposite stand condemned today. That is how they thank our frontline health workers: They do not turn up and, frankly, they do not care. It is disgraceful.
