1 June 2023 - Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly
2023-06-01

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 2

Bills

LAW ENFORCEMENT (POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES) AMENDMENT (DIGITAL

EVIDENCE ACCESS ORDERS) BILL 2023

Second Reading Debate

Debate resumed from 24 May 2023.

Mr ALISTER HENSKENS (Wahroonga) (10:20): On behalf of the Opposition, I participate in debate

on the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Amendment (Digital Evidence Access Orders) Bill 2023.

At the outset, I indicate that the Opposition supports the bill. The bill seeks to expand the reach of the amendment

to the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act by the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities)

Amendment (Digital Evidence Access Orders) Bill 2022, introduced in September last year by the former Minister

for Police, the member for Bathurst. That bill was part of a suite of measures that also included the Crimes

Amendment (Money Laundering) Bill 2022 and the Dedicated Encrypted Criminal Communication Device

Prohibition Orders Bill 2022.

The purpose of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Amendment (Digital Evidence Access

Orders) Bill 2022 was to provide a tool for the NSW Police Force and the New South Wales Crimes Commission

to increase their ability to access digital evidence in connection with search warrants and crime scene warrants in

New South Wales. It was said to be a reality of modern criminal investigations that law enforcement encounter

digital devices of interest when they are conducting searches as part of investigating suspected criminal activity.

Unlike hard-copy documents, like a journal or handwritten notes, when such a device is detected it is not

uncommon for those devices to be protected by a password, an access key, face ID, or some other protection that

inhibits the ability to access material seized under a search warrant. The bill before the House seeks to expand the

persons who can obtain such orders ancillary to search warrants to the Independent Commission Against

Corruption.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption was established by an Act of Parliament in 1988 by the

Greiner Government. The legislation was introduced because of the serious corruption that had occurred in

New South Wales under the Wran Labor Government. Former Ministers like Rex Jackson were put in jail for

receiving bribes from criminals to get early release from prison. In fact, in the 1970s he was found with $100,000

in cash in the boot of his car, such was the extent of the bribes that he received.

Dr Hugh McDermott: It sounds like the Whip that was here from Wagga.

Mr ALISTER HENSKENS: I acknowledge the interjection from the member for Prospect. It was not

unlike the $100,000 received in cash at ALP headquarters recently as an illegal political donation. There is

historical form, but that and other corruption by that 1970s Labor Government were the antecedents to the

introduction of the ICAC Act in 1988. Division 4 of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988

deals with search warrants, conferring authority upon the ICAC to issue search warrants. The bill supplements the

search warrant powers already given to the ICAC to ensure that it can access passwords and other information

necessary to read digital material seized under search warrants.

Corruption is an absolute pox on the body politic, which is the reason we have the ICAC. Giving the

commission modern powers to perform the crucial functions of the ICAC is incredibly important. I note that there

have been some concerning incidents with regard to the execution of search warrants by the ICAC when the media

has been camped outside the premises where search warrants have been executed. I note that the member for

Swansea agrees with me; she knows exactly what I am talking about. There was an instance when ALP

headquarters in Sussex Street had a search warrant issued against it that was tipped off to the media. There was

an instance in 2014 when search warrants were issued on the Central Coast against members of Parliament and

the media was tipped off and reported the execution of those search warrants. When a search warrant was issued

for the Willoughby home of Margaret Cunneen, the subject of one of the infamous attempts by the ICAC to

conduct an investigation, media that had been tipped off were present.

That is of great concern given that the ICAC has obligations of secrecy. Instances of the corruption

authority not acting in accordance with the law and in accordance with the legislation that governs it are very

concerning. Unfortunately, despite referrals to the Inspector of the ICAC with regard to those three matters, I am

not sure any satisfactory explanation has ever been given. I see the member for Prospect nodding. There has never

been a satisfactory dealing with those three matters. I raise them only to make the point that if this Parliament

gives greater powers to the ICAC to perform its functions, then those powers obviously come with a reciprocal

obligation for the ICAC to exercise its powers in accordance with the Act of Parliament that it operates under.

Tip-offs to the media by the ICAC—if that is what happened in the past—are of great concern. As I said, we have

never had a satisfactory explanation for how those three instances occurred. If internal tip-offs occurred—and

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I suppose it is conceivable, although unlikely, that they came from other sources; but it is possible—those matters

should be investigated and transparently dealt with. I am not sure if that has ever actually occurred.

I make the point that greater powers require more stringent reciprocal responsibilities for the use of those

powers, but obviously exposing corruption is important. Corruption is by definition a distortion of public assets,

public funds and taxpayer dollars. There is no room for misuse of public resources through corruption. Consistent

with the Coalition having created the ICAC, we support it having the necessary tools to fulfil its important

functions. I raise these matters in Parliament and put them on Hansard as a salutary reminder of some concerning

aspects of previous executions of search warrants by the ICAC and the necessity for new powers to be properly

and responsibly used.

As a former technology Minister, I know that technology is ubiquitous. It is important for the ICAC to be

able to access digital data. That is why we support this important augmentation to the powers of the ICAC, just as

we extended those powers to the NSW Police Force and the Crime Commission in the legislation that we

introduced last year. I accept as the Attorney General says that the ICAC has requested it be given similar powers,

and I have no reason to think that has not occurred. It is appropriate, and that is why we support the legislation.

Dr HUGH McDERMOTT (Prospect) (10:31): I am pleased to support the Law Enforcement (Powers

and Responsibilities) Amendment (Digital Evidence Access Orders) Bill 2023. This is the first time I have spoken

on a piece of legislation that comes under the Attorney General's portfolio in the Department of Communities and

Justice. I acknowledge the police Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary for Police and Counter-terrorism, who

both are in the Chamber. I note that the Parliamentary Secretary will also speak on the bill.

The bill will amend the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002, more commonly known

as LEPRA, to enable digital evidence access orders to be sought by officers of the Independent Commission

Against Corruption who are executing search warrants under section 40 of the Independent Commission Against

Corruption Act 1988. The amendment will enable ICAC officers to compel a person under a search warrant to

open their phone or computer device—a power necessary to conduct effective and thorough investigations given

the prevalence of technology in our society. As members know, the principal objectives of ICAC are to promote

the integrity and accountability of public administration. ICAC is an independent and accountable body created

by this Parliament to investigate, expose and prevent corruption involving or affecting public authorities and

public officials. It was also created to educate public authorities, officials and members of the public about

corruption and its detrimental effects on public administration and the community, and it can use its special powers

to inquire into allegations of corruption.

The provisions that relate to the digital evidence access order scheme are currently contained in part 5,

division 4A of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act. The bill will extend the scheme in

connection with a search warrant under the ICAC Act. Specifically, the bill will amend the Law Enforcement

(Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 No. 103 in the following ways. The bill proposes to insert after

section 46 (1) (d) that an eligible applicant for a digital evidence access order is an officer of the commission

under section 40 (1) of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act. It also proposes to insert at the end

of section 76AB (2) (c) that this will apply for applications for digital evidence access orders "in relation to a

matter being investigated under the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988—at the same time as

the application for the search warrant or after the search warrant has been issued, whether before or after the

warrant is executed".

Finally, the bill proposes to insert after section 76AF (1) (d) (i) new subparagraph (ia) regarding

information in applications for digital evidence access orders "for a digital evidence access order in connection

with a search warrant under the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988—material connected with

a matter being investigated under that Act is held in or accessible from the computer to which the application

relates". Though these amendments may be minor, they will ensure the ICAC's powers to investigate corruption

and maladministration remain up to date and fit for purpose. The digital evidence access scheme was originally

introduced in October 2022 by the former Coalition Government as part of a package of bills targeted to address

organised crime. Those bills passed the Parliament with the support of the Labor Party. At that time, the focus of

reform was on providing powers to combat serious and organised crime. The powers were given to the

NSW Police Force and the New South Wales Crime Commission, which are critical agencies leading these

crime-related efforts.

The Attorney General has introduced the bill at the earliest opportunity in recognition of the Independent

Commission Against Corruption's important role in holding all those in public life to account, upholding integrity

and maintaining trust in our public institutions. The Minns Labor Government has responded promptly to the

concerns raised by the ICAC commissioner that these powers are needed to ensure that the commission can fully

execute its investigative functions. ICAC is one of our most important integrity agencies. As such, it must have

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access to a range of investigative tools similar to those provided to a royal commission. That includes the powers

to hold compulsory examinations and public inquiries.

As members are aware, ICAC can summon any person to give evidence, answer questions and produce

documents for an investigation. Currently, ICAC is provided with the power to use search warrants as a tool for

investigations. These warrants are used to search specified premises and items contained within those premises.

However, the digital evidence access order scheme only applies to search warrants. In that regard it does not

duplicate ICAC's compulsory examination and public inquiry powers. Instead, it acts as a different tool for ICAC

to use during the evidence collection and analysis phase of an investigation.

It is worth noting that the New South Wales Crime Commission has similar compulsory examination

powers under part 2, division 4 of the Crime Commission Act 2012, and that it also has access to digital evidence

access orders in connection with the warrants that it may seek under that Act. Digital evidence access orders can

require the provision of a password or other access control of a digital device—such as a phone or a laptop—even

if doing so may incriminate a person. Abrogation of the privilege against self-incrimination is a serious imposition

on civil liberties and the scheme is subject to serious procedural requirements and safeguards to ensure that such

powers are appropriately granted. Importantly, the provisions will apply in exactly the same way to ICAC officers

as they currently apply to the NSW Police Force and officers of the Crime Commission.

The bill only applies to some search warrants and agencies because digital evidence access orders, while

operationally necessary, are also a significant imposition on civil liberties, particularly because they abrogate the

privilege against self-incrimination. The Government is taking a cautious approach that fully considers where the

operational need for such powers is greatest. The current scope of the scheme reflects its focus on search warrants

that are most commonly used in connection with serious and organised crime. A number of considerations have

been undertaken in the drafting of the bill.

First, under section 76AB, an application for a digital evidence access order must be sought in connection

with a search warrant. That means a digital evidence access order must be sought at the same time as the search

warrant or after a search warrant has been granted. The intention of this scheme is to overcome modern

technological barriers which frustrate the proper execution of search warrants. They are not standalone

investigative powers. The second consideration relates to the application process for digital evidence access

orders. The application process is aligned to search warrants. That includes requiring applications to be made

either in person, by email, or electronic means. The application must be supported by information verified by

oath, affirmation or affidavit. Phone applications will only be allowed if no other method is available and the

application is urgent. As with existing search warrants, all applications will be considered ex parte, meaning that

the subject of the warrant is not in attendance and not required to be heard before a court.

The third consideration is related to additional protections for minors. Under Section 76AF (2), when

digital evidence access orders are sought for a person under the age of 18, the application must be accompanied

by a document signed by a NSW Police Force officer of the rank of inspector or above authorising the application.

That provides additional measures when dealing with young people under those orders. The fourth consideration

is that applications for digital evidence access orders are determined by independent "eligible issuing officers".

[Extension of time]

Those officers are defined under Section 46 and align with those persons who consider search warrant

applications. That ensures that one officer can consider both the search warrant and digital evidence access order

application, making the process more efficient. Those officers are usually a magistrate or registrar of the Local

Court. The fifth consideration relates to restrictions applied on repeated applications if an order is refused to be

made. Under Section 76AH, a further application can be made only if there is additional information or if the

application was made to a non-judicial officer and the further application is made to a magistrate. Only one further

application may be made in any particular case.

The sixth consideration recognises that although digital evidence access orders abrogate the privilege

against self-incrimination, they do not abrogate legal professional privilege. Data on the device will still be

protected by legal professional privilege in the same way that the privilege applies to information on unlocked

computers or devices searched in the execution of a search warrant. Such material will be inadmissible in criminal

proceedings unless the privilege has been waived or lost. Finally, the digital evidence access order scheme is

subject to a statutory review. Under Section 237A the Minister is required to commence that review as soon as

practicable after the commencement date, with a report to be tabled within 12 months to the end of that period.

Those considerations have all been made to ensure that these powers have been granted fairly and cannot be

misused by the ICAC.

For the information of the House, other States in Australia have already granted similar digital evidence

access orders to comparable integrity agencies. An officer of the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission

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may be an authorised person on a search warrant, which allows them to access information concerning a digital

device found on the relevant premises. Under Section 71 (1) of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption

Act 2017, when an officer of the Northern Territory Independent Commission Against Corruption is lawfully on

premises, they may require a person to give the officer any translation, code or password to gain access to any

designated items located in the course of exercising their investigative powers.

The provisions set under the bill will ensure that the power of a digital evidence access order will

supplement the existing search warrant powers of the ICAC. That reflects the policy intention of the scheme,

which is to overcome modern technological barriers that frustrate the proper execution of search warrants.

Allowing ICAC officers access to phones or computers will give them the opportunity to conduct modern

investigations thoroughly. This reform will assist ICAC to continue its important role to fight corruption and hold

all of us in public life accountable for our actions. I commend the bill to the House.

Ms TAMARA SMITH (Ballina) (10:44): On behalf of The Greens, I contribute to debate on the Law

Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Amendment (Digital Access Evidence Orders) Bill 2023.

The Greens support the Government's bill, which will bring the Independent Commission Against Corruption

[ICAC] in line with the common law relating to search warrants regarding digital evidence. I also take the

opportunity to raise issues that have been brought to my attention in my electorate around where we find

ourselves with the anti-protest laws that have been introduced. Peaceful protesters are being issued with search

warrants relating to their digital devices. That has happened in Western Australia. There has been a really

politically targeted approach to protesters protesting the Woodside fossil fuel projects.

I remind the House that The Greens opposed the extension of such powers. The Greens opposed the

anti-protest laws. From a civil rights point of view, we will continue to raise the real concerns we hold about

information being inadvertently found relating to matters other than that being investigated. I note the

police Minister is present. I am not addressing the police. I am addressing the laws in this place that bring

peaceful protesters—people exercising their civil liberties—into the criminal justice system when they are

charged with serious indictable offences when they should not be.

Unfortunately, I am reminded of the bad old days of teaching in jails and noting young people entering

the criminal justice system for incredibly minor offences like possession of marijuana. They then began a life of

being in and out of the criminal justice system. It is so important that members are reminded of the actual face

of those laws. It has nothing to do with the ICAC. The bill will give express powers to the NSW Police Force to

issue directions requiring a person to assist an officer to access a device, if the execution of a search warrant

meets the standard that is required. The bill seeks to include ICAC as an authority that can make a digital

evidence access order.

I was interested to hear the member for Wahroonga raise issues earlier with regard to politicians. He

expressed grave concern for politicians whose apparent civil liberties might be breached by some of the processes

of ICAC. The Greens are not really focused on politicians as a sidebar to this legislation; we are focused on

ordinary citizens exercising their civil liberties. The Greens spokesperson Sue Higginson, MLC, is talking to the

Government about a potential Greens amendment to remove an officer of the Attorney-General as an authorising

officer for an application by an ICAC officer for a digital evidence access order to avoid partisan political

oversight from the process.

Again, The Greens opposed those powers when they were introduced under the former Government—for

good reason. From a civil rights point of view, accessing computers and electronic devices should be a special

case requiring a greater level of scrutiny and privacy safeguards than other search warrants. That is because

information from a variety of sources is stored on one device, which increases the potential to inadvertently find

information relating to matters other than that being investigated, for self-incrimination, and for information that

is privileged to be discovered.

Accessing electronic devices such as computers has significant privacy concerns, including the potential

for manipulation and fraud, which may not be justified in many cases and can affect innocent third parties. For

example, section 76AJ (2) of the bill predicates the issuing of a digital evidence access order [DEAO] on the

executing officer being reasonably satisfied that evidentiary material is on the computer. However, the range of

specified persons to whom the DEAO relates is wide and includes not just the computer's owner but the owner's

employee, contractor, a person who has used the computer or a system administrator of the computer.

In the context of that, I refer to a young woman in Western Australia, Joana Partyka, who on 10 February

this year pleaded guilty to criminal damage for her role in protesting against Woodside's destruction of

Murujuga rock art on the Burrup Peninsula. The Western Australian Government was very focused on the

Disrupt Burrup Hub campaign led by environmentalists. Joana was fined $7,500 and thought that was the end of

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it. She later opened her front door to find six police officers with a warrant waiting to search her one-bedroom

apartment. She said:

It was pretty cramped and intimidating. They spent about an hour in my home, searching through my personal belongings. All of the

things that you don't want other people to see.

She had already been fined a considerable amount, but the police seized her phone, laptop and a notebook that

she used for work. They came back barely a week later ordering that she give them the password to her devices.

She declined, citing contractual obligations in her work. Her barrister, Zarah Burgess, said that, despite this

"reasonable excuse", she was given no assurances about how the data would be handled or stored. I know that

I am straying, and I thank the House for its indulgence, but this is more broadly about the device orders. It is a

good example of an ordinary person, and I think we need to always reflect on the impact of these laws.

The risk of self-incrimination will not be a lawful reason to fail to comply with a digital evidence access

order. Once police have access to these devices, much can be learned about the specified person and anyone that

they are associated with. This information could be used to incriminate the specified person for other crimes other

than that which relates to the original warrant. I know the examples that the Attorney General gave were of

paedophiles and serious crimes. I am not in any way suggesting that we do not want that. But The Greens are

talking about some of the draconian laws introduced under the former Coalition Government that are targeting

people who are by no means serious criminals.

Section 76AM could potentially require police to review huge volumes of data. The ability to only view

information that is strictly necessary for the particular investigation is unlikely. The Greens support bringing in

line the Independent Commission Against Corruption as an authority that can make digital evidence access orders

as a result of search warrants. But I put on the record again our concerns with the laws more broadly. Our major

concerns are with the anti-protest laws. I would hate to see a situation in New South Wales where exercising civil

liberties and peaceful protest become indictable offences. We have already seen that. People are falling foul of

the law, and there is the potential for the misuse of this law across the board. The Greens support the bill, but

I raise those concerns.

Mr EDMOND ATALLA (Mount Druitt) (10:53): I speak in support of the Law Enforcement (Powers

and Responsibilities) Amendment (Digital Evidence Access Orders) Bill 2023. The bill amends the

Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 [LEPRA] to enable digital evidence access orders to

be sought by officers of the Independent Commission Against Corruption in connection with warrants issued

under the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988. That will enable officers of the ICAC to compel

a person under a search warrant to open their phone or computer—a power those on this side believe is necessary

to conduct modern investigations.

The amendments are the result of a request to the Government from the ICAC and are intended to ensure

that the ICAC's powers remain fit for purpose for the contemporary context. A strong and effective ICAC with

the necessary powers to conduct thorough investigations is vital to the maintenance of public trust in our

institutions. I hope that this remains an inarguable proposition in 2023. The ICAC Act provides for the

establishment of the ICAC. The principal objects of the ICAC Act are set out in section 2A of the Act, which are:

(a) to promote the integrity and accountability of public administration by constituting an Independent Commission Against

Corruption as an independent and accountable body—

(i) to investigate, expose and prevent corruption involving or affecting public authorities and public officials, and

(ii) to educate public authorities, public officials and members of the public about corruption and its detrimental effects

on public administration and on the community, and

(b) to confer on the Commission special powers to inquire into allegations of corruption.

Key to the ICAC being able to conduct its investigations is the ability to compel a person under a search warrant

to open their phone or computer. The bill extending access to the ICAC follows the 2022 changes brought in by

the former Government that introduced the digital evidence access orders scheme, which passed through

Parliament with the support of the Labor Opposition at the time. The scheme enabled police officers and officers

of the New South Wales Crime Commission to seek orders alongside a search warrant, which empowered them

to issue a direction to a person requiring that person to provide assistance to unlock a digital device connected to

the search warrant.

Part 5, division 4A of LEPRA was inserted in October 2022. That division contains the scheme for digital

evidence access orders, which are orders sought in connection with a search warrant that provide additional

powers. Currently, a digital evidence access order may only be sought by police or New South Wales Crime

Commission officers in relation to search warrants. A digital evidence access order cannot be issued as a

standalone order; it must be linked to a search warrant. If issued, the officer can direct a person to provide

information or assistance reasonably necessary to access a digital device, or to copy or convert data. For example,

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a person could be required to provide a password or PIN to access a locked device. Failing to comply with such a

direction without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. The offence carries a maximum penalty of five years'

imprisonment, 100 penalty units—equating to $11,000—or both.

Self-incrimination is not a reasonable excuse. Abrogation of the privilege against self-incrimination is a

serious imposition on civil liberties, and the scheme is subject to a series of procedural requirements and

safeguards that ensure such powers are appropriately granted. Importantly, those provisions will apply in exactly

the same way to ICAC officers as they currently apply to the police and to officers of the New South Wales Crime

Commission. For ICAC officers, digital evidence access orders will only be able to be issued by an authorised

officer, namely a magistrate or a registrar of the Local Court. Those officers are also already authorised to issue

search warrants under the ICAC Act. The Minns Labor Government believes in a strong ICAC with the necessary

powers to conduct its investigations into potential corrupt conduct, and understands that making sure its powers

are fit for purpose is a key responsibility of the Government. For those reasons, I commend the bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.

Members

MEMBER FOR NEWCASTLE

MEMBER FOR NORTH SHORE

MEMBER FOR PROSPECT

The SPEAKER: I wish the member for Newcastle, the member for North Shore and the member for

Prospect all the best for their upcoming birthdays and hope they have wonderful celebrations planned for the

break. I understand that the member for North Shore is looking forward to 7 June; the member for Newcastle,

3 June; and the member for Prospect, 15 June.

Visitors

VISITORS

The SPEAKER: I acknowledge guests of the member for Bega, Eden Marine High School year 11 legal

studies students. It is wonderful that you could be here. I welcome to the Parliament the student leaders from high

schools in New South Wales, who are attending the Secondary Schools Student Leadership Program conducted

by the Parliamentary Education Office. I welcome each and every one of you who are joining us today to

Australia's first Parliament. I acknowledge the guest of the Premier. I welcome Anna Minns, the wife of the

Premier.

Question Time

PUBLIC SECTOR WAGES

Mr MARK SPEAKMAN (Cronulla) (11:06): My question is directed to the Minister for Industrial

Relations. Does the Minister not have a clear conflict of interest in negotiating wages policy in secret with unions

who are her major political donors?

The SPEAKER: Government members will come to order.

Ms SOPHIE COTSIS (CanterburyMinister for Industrial Relations, and Minister for Work

Health and Safety) (11:07): The Labor Government was elected on a mandate to remove the wages cap. The

people of New South Wales elected the Labor Government to scrap the wages cap. We are doing something that

is very foreign to those opposite: We are respecting our essential workers. We are respecting our nurses, our

teachers, our cleaners, our firefighters, our post workers.

The SPEAKER: The member for Hornsby will come to order.

Ms SOPHIE COTSIS: We are respecting them. Let me say this to the new Opposition members. It is

close to 12 years since those opposite introduced the legislative handbrake—

Mr Mark Speakman: Point of order—

The SPEAKER: The Minister will resume her seat. The Leader of the Opposition rises on a point of

order.

Mr Mark Speakman: My point of order is taken under Standing Order 129, direct relevance. The question

is not about the merits of the wages policy or what was taken to the election. It is about the conflict of interest.

This is not about the Opposition asking questions and there being one, two, three, four, five, six degrees of

separation. The test is direct relevance.

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Ms Jenny Aitchison: Point of order—

The SPEAKER: I understand the test. I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the quick lesson.

Mr Ron Hoenig: To the point of order—

The SPEAKER: Before I hear from the Leader of House on the point of order, I note that the member for

Maitland also has a point of order. The Clerk will stop the clock.

Mr Ron Hoenig: To the point of order: An answer that refers to the mandate the Government received at

an election must be directly relevant. There cannot be a conflict if we are acting in accordance with a mandate.

The SPEAKER: I will hear the point of order from the member for Maitland before I make my ruling.

Ms Jenny Aitchison: Mr Speaker, I draw your attention to an interjection by a member on the opposite

side of the Chamber just after the Minister started her contribution. It was a cat meow, which I find offensive, and

I ask that member to withdraw it.

The SPEAKER: I thank the member for Maitland for bringing that to my attention. If any member wishes

to withdraw, I invite them to do so. While the clock is stopped, I make this point. I have been in this place for

16-plus years and I am currently hearing some of the most puerile and offensive interjections I have ever heard.

If those types of interjections continue, I will do something I was never able to do from the crossbench—that is,

take action from the chair. Such interjections are totally inappropriate and demean the Legislative Assembly of

New South Wales. I do not wish to hear them. I will hear further from the Minister. The Minister is struggling to

be directly relevant. I ask her to assist me by being more closely relevant. We all understand the concept of direct

relevance, but it is sometimes almost impossible to be directly relevant. That is my ruling. The Minister has the

call.

Ms SOPHIE COTSIS: There is no conflict. The Labor Party won the election on 25 March.

Mrs Leslie Williams: Minority—by that much.

Ms SOPHIE COTSIS: If I were members opposite, I would look at their booths and the fact that every

single one of them had double-digit swings. Let me tell the member for Ryde—

The SPEAKER: The member for Wahroonga will come to order.

Mr Mark Speakman: Point of order—

The SPEAKER: The Minister will resume her seat. The Clerk will stop the clock. I will hear the point of

order from the Leader of the Opposition.

[Interruption]

Order! The member for Canterbury will come to order. I need to hear the point of order.

Mr Mark Speakman: My point order is taken under Standing Order 129, direct relevance. The Minister

answered the question. She claims that there is no conflict even though she is negotiating in secret with people

who are funding her. She has finished her answer. She should now sit down.

The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. There is no point of order. The

Minister was directly relevant after we considered the previous point of order. The Minister will continue.

Ms SOPHIE COTSIS: I am someone who was an airport hospitality worker, and I am very proud of my

background and of representing low-income workers. I learnt the power of negotiating when I was at Sydney

Airport, and I negotiated against people who were ripping off low-paid workers.

STATE ECONOMY

Ms JULIA FINN (Granville) (11:13): My question is addressed to the Premier. Will the Premier outline

to the House the budget and policy challenges faced by the incoming Government and any measures proposed?

Mr CHRIS MINNS (KogarahPremier) (11:13): That is a tough but fair question. The debt that has

been handed to the incoming Government is the largest debt ever handed from one government to another in the

history of New South Wales. It is $180 billion worth of debt, which is the largest debt ever racked up—as an

overall number or as a percentage of gross State product. The deficit handed down is $11 billion, again a record—

the highest number ever racked up by one government in the history of New South Wales.

The SPEAKER: The member for Port Macquarie will come to order. The member for Hornsby will come

to order.

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Mr CHRIS MINNS: The challenges are immense, and the Government has had to make difficult

decisions to deal with the mess that has been left to us by the previous Government. They include freezing the

salaries of politicians and the senior executive service, saving $260 million dollars for New South Wales

taxpayers. That means cutting the size of the senior executive service by 15 per cent—a significant cut, but

something we need to do because we cannot let Government spending run out of control. It also means reducing

spending on consultancies by $35 million a year, which is a significant cut.

The SPEAKER: The member for Wahroonga will come to order.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: We went to the election with tough but necessary calls on transfer payments as well

as business cases for unaffordable metros, where there is not the budget envelope to pay for that kind of

infrastructure.

The SPEAKER: The member for Hawkesbury will come to order.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: We were honest with the people of New South Wales before the election, because

$180 billion worth of debt needs to be paid off by future generations of young Australians. It is a significant debt.

In fact, the interest on that debt will be more than what the New South Wales Government spends on the

NSW Police Force every year—a result of out-of-control spending by the former Liberal-Nationals Government.

The SPEAKER: I call the member for Wahroonga to order for the first time.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: We all grew up with the narrative that the Liberal Party and The Nationals were, at

the end of the day, the party of economic conservativism. Does anyone believe that now? Their members do not

even believe that anymore. Under no circumstances were they fiscally responsible, and the largesse continues. In

this minority Parliament, we cannot get a handle on what the Opposition in fact stands for. Before the election,

Opposition members supported the State infrastructure contributions; after the election, they flipped their position.

Now they are against that legislation, which was introduced by the former Treasurer as necessary for the State.

Now he has decided that he has reversed it. Rob Stokes was a passionate advocate for it. [Extension of time]

Before the election it was called "asset recycling"; now, we are hearing lectures about the dangers of

privatisation.

The SPEAKER: Government members will come to order.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: Before the election, they were passionate supporters of the wages cap; now,

absolutely not. Perhaps some clarity can be found from the member for Wahroonga. I inform the House of a new

podcast in town. The member for Wahroonga has started a podcast. It is called "Don't Despair, with Alister". It is

called "Hurting for Henskens". It goes to that age-old but important principle in politics: If no-one will interview

you, interview yourself. Joe Rogan would be petrified!

The SPEAKER: The member for Wahroonga will come to order.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: He says, "The big issue coming down the pipeline is we haven't built as many

buildings as we needed to during the pandemic. We now have an accommodation crisis." That is curious because

the member for Wahroonga is the king of the nimbys. He said in no uncertain terms that he encourages councillors

to dramatically scale down the proposed number of dwellings in Ku-ring-gai. Last year Ku-ring-gai had

460 dwellings; Blacktown had 5,751. Will Opposition members please stand up and tell us what they will support

and what they will oppose?

The SPEAKER: Members will come to order. I understand that Opposition members were provoked.

The Premier enjoyed it; everyone enjoyed that one. But the House will now come to order.

HEALTH SERVICES UNION

Mrs TANYA DAVIES (Badgerys Creek) (11:19): My question is directed to the Minister for Industrial

Relations. Yesterday the Minister said, "Every worker has the right to take industrial action." Why then did the

Government seek orders last week in the Industrial Relations Commission against the Australian Paramedics

Association to stop them from taking industrial action?

The SPEAKER: The member for Wahroonga will come to order. The member for Hornsby will come to

order.

Ms SOPHIE COTSIS (CanterburyMinister for Industrial Relations, and Minister for Work

Health and Safety) (11:19): Yesterday I did say—and I stand by it—that essential workers have the right to take

industrial action. And guess what!

The SPEAKER: The member for Port Macquarie will cease interjecting.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 10

Ms SOPHIE COTSIS: This is a lightning moment. Members opposite have found their way to support

essential workers. I acknowledge the member for Badgerys Creek. She is the only member out of all of those

opposite who managed to increase her margin. Well done. Congratulations. That is fantastic.

Mr Alister Henskens: Point of order—

The SPEAKER: The Minister will resume her seat. The Clerk will stop the clock. Order! All members

will come to order.

Mr Alister Henskens: My point of order relates to Standing Order 129. The question is quite clear. It is

directed towards why the Minister said one thing yesterday but last week sought orders against the paramedics to

stop them protesting. It is saying one thing, doing another. That is what the question is about.

The SPEAKER: The Minister has been directly relevant. I will not entertain any further points of order

taken under Standing Order 129 for the remainder of the answer. The Minister has set the bar.

Mr Mark Speakman: Point of order: With respect, Mr Speaker, you cannot do that. You cannot rule now

that any further point of order is not valid, without knowing what is going to come out of the Minister's mouth.

Otherwise you are giving her carte blanche to do and say anything.

The SPEAKER: I have heard the Leader of the Opposition. The previous ruling was commonly used

against the Opposition during the former Government's four years in office. The Minister has met the threshold

for direct relevance. It is difficult to say she has not. I stand by my ruling. I am sorry if that displeases the Leader

of the Opposition and the Manager of Opposition Business. I acknowledge that the member for Northern

Tablelands increased his margin as well. The Minister has the call.

Ms SOPHIE COTSIS: I stand corrected. I have been informed by my colleagues that it was not only the

member for Badgerys Creek who did very well, although she did achieve a swing as the only Liberal. National

Party members also did well. I remind members opposite that we have an Industrial Relations Commission, which

follows a process. It is interesting that, after 12 years, members opposite are now taking an interest in the workers

of this State. I say to those opposite that they should look at their booth results where a number of public sector

nurses, teachers and cleaners voted. Those people voted against members opposite because for 12 years they

imposed a wages cap and restricted wages growth. Two-thirds of teachers, nurses and paramedics are moving

interstate. Opposition members left us a mess. They had their chance and they failed.

DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE

Ms KAREN McKEOWN (Penrith) (11:24): My question is addressed to the Minister for Women, and

Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Will the Minister update the House on the

approach of the New South Wales Government to address the scourge of domestic and family violence?

Ms JODIE HARRISON (CharlestownMinister for Women, Minister for Seniors, and Minister for

the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault) (11:25): I thank the member for Penrith for her

question. As Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and on behalf of the New South

Wales Government, I offer my sincerest apologies and condolences to the family and friends impacted by the

shocking and tragic death of a three-year-old child yesterday. This week there have been two horrendous examples

of families impacted by domestic violence. A child lost their mother and a family their child. The impact on

families and communities is nothing short of devastating. Last year alone there were 33,410 reported domestic

violence assaults in New South Wales; 25 of those incidents were murders and two of those murders were victims

under the age of 18. In the face of those shameful statistics, the violence against women and children in their

homes—the very place they should feel most safe—needs to stop.

The traumatic effect of domestic violence is most acutely felt by loved ones but it extends across our

communities to the many workers grappling with and responding to violence. Police are often first responders to

domestic violence, certainly once it has escalated. The Minister for Police has been meeting with police officers

from across the State and the number one issue they raise is the prevalence of domestic and family violence in

their communities. For the New South Wales police, domestic and family violence offending and associated harms

results in one call for assistance every four minutes. The trauma impact on the police who attend violent homes

night after night is difficult to imagine. There is one call for assistance every four minutes! Police involvement is

often at the crisis point. There is an urgent need for a joined-up, collaborative system that is sensitive to the early

signs of domestic violence and can offer a whole-of-systems approach, responsive in ways that are appropriate

and effective.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to leading change in this space. Agencies across government

have a role to play in an effective systems response to domestic violence. My ministerial colleagues across

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 11

government, particularly those responsible for health, housing, child protection, police and justice, along with the

Premier, are equally committed to ending domestic violence. [Extension of time]

I have taken on the role as the Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault with a

clear and determined commitment to prevention and early intervention. But the responsibility to end gender

inequality and gender-based violence is one every citizen must bear. As a government we can try to respond as

effectively as we can where violence has escalated, but as long as tolerance of any form of violence against women

and children continues in our community, the battle to overcome the daily scourge of domestic and family violence

will be an uphill one. I ask everyone in the community: If you see it and if you hear it, report it. If you see

unacceptable behaviour towards women, call it out. Women's rights are human rights and we must all play our

part in protecting them. My part will be to devote myself, as Minister, to working with my ministerial colleagues

across government, with our NGO partners, with victim-survivors and with communities to bring real change in

the fight to end domestic violence. Those of us who have been entrusted with the privilege of serving in public

office hold the greatest responsibility to be a voice for the voiceless and to lead change that will make our

community safer for women and children.

HOUSING SUPPLY

Ms JENNY LEONG (Newtown) (11:30): My question is directed to the Minister for Planning and Public

Spaces. Given the latest NSW Productivity Commission report's suggestion that housing density and supply need

to be increased closer to the city, will the Minister commit to mandatory inclusionary zoning for all new private

developments—which Shelter NSW, Sydney Alliance and Vinnies have long advocated for—to ensure a

significant percentage of those new dwellings are affordable in perpetuity?

Mr PAUL SCULLY (WollongongMinister for Planning and Public Spaces) (11:31): I thank the

member for Newtown for her question. She has long held a strong interest in making sure that people can get into

homes. I note her comments on the Productivity Commission report released yesterday calling for additional work

to be done around density to make sure that people can get into homes. Young people, like the students in the

gallery, would love to get into a home near where they live at the moment. I can see students from Kanahooka

High School in the gallery. They would love to stay around Kanahooka—a great part of the world. The Minister

for Health and the member for Shellharbour love it.

The Government was elected on a mandate to introduce a suite of measures with respect to housing and

housing supply. That involved improvements to rental arrangements. It included improvements to social housing

by bringing together tenancy and asset management arrangements into Homes NSW, and not selling off

$3.6 billion worth of social housing like the previous Government did. We have Landcom working on

build-to-rent pilots on the South Coast and Northern Rivers to develop a scheme to potentially roll out to the rest

of New South Wales. The member asked about inclusionary zoning. We also committed to introducing a target

of 30 per cent social, affordable and universal housing on surplus government land. We did that because we need

to not only grow the number of homes generally but also make sure that all tenures and all types of housing

options, particularly those close to transport and jobs, are available to people.

The Premier has requested that all departments and all Ministers speak to their agencies to identify where

some of those surplus land holdings might be where we can increase and improve the amount of housing that the

Government can lead in delivery. We have always said—and I have spoken to the member for Newtown about

this in the past—that the 30 per cent is not a ceiling. If we can go higher in a sensible arrangement, we will. I note

that other cities around the world have targets of around 50 per cent affordable housing on their public land. That

is baked into their housing supply system. The previous Government, of course, celebrated when it got to

5 per cent.

Ms Jenny Leong: Point of order: I appreciate that the Minister is talking about targets in relation to public

land. My question was specifically about implementing inclusionary zoning on private developments. It would be

great if he could get to that part of the question.

[Extension of time]

Mr PAUL SCULLY: Inclusionary zoning on public land is an important part of the housing mix as we

move forward. As I said before, there is no one type of housing or tenure that is going to deal with the problem

that we have. We have no silver bullet for it. The housing that we are talking about and that we need is not about

punishing or class war; it is about making sure young people and families have a roof over their heads. During

my time as shadow Minister and more recently as Minister, I have had informal conversations with some of the

larger builders in the State about the opportunities there might be to extend social and affordable housing options

onto private land. That is quite a change to the way that New South Wales works at the moment, but it is potentially

a very positive change.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 12

While I cannot commit to introducing a target in the Chamber during question time, I can commit to the

member that we will be having those conversations and we will be working in a constructive manner where there

are opportunities to bring private land into the system. As I said, in other parts of the world it is baked into the

way it is done. But we need to do this with an active engagement with industry, with other stakeholders and with

community housing providers to make sure that it is ready to go. I am keen to do that active engagement and

explore sensible, workable options when it comes to public policy. We all need to work together. All communities

have to contribute their part to sensible, workable housing options that make sure that we are dealing with the

housing crisis at the moment and that we are getting people into homes near jobs and transport in well-located

areas. We are implementing our election commitments at the moment, but I am open to options into the future.

POINT TO POINT TRANSPORT AND SURGE PRICING

Mr JASON LI (Strathfield) (11:36): My question is addressed to the Minister for Transport. What work

has the New South Wales Government done to help passengers avoid unchecked surge pricing for ridesharing

services when unplanned public transport disruptions occur?

Ms JO HAYLEN (Summer HillMinister for Transport) (11:36): I thank the member for Strathfield

for his question and his interest in and advocacy for passengers using rideshare and, indeed, for commuters across

his community. I am really proud to inform the House today that, in an Australian first, the Minns Labor

Government has reached a groundbreaking agreement with Uber to protect the rights of passengers. Our

agreement will ensure that, from now on, Uber is part of the official Transport Management Centre process in

responding to unplanned incidents. That is really big news for passengers who have to rely on Uber when those

disruptions occur. It means that, if we have a health emergency or a signal network failure or an incident that

might affect part or all of our transport network, Transport for NSW will act immediately to inform Uber.

While Uber monitors activity on our public transport network through its regional security centre, it will

now have a direct point of contact to our Transport Management Centre. It will formalise a direct and clear line

of communication that ensures that both parties can respond quickly to emergency situations to make sure people

are able to get home quickly and safely. For members unaware of how Uber works, the company's computer

algorithm responds to spikes in demand by raising the fare. That is the famous "Uber surge". It brings more drivers

out and it helps more people complete their journey in Uber if they are willing to pay that higher price. Then, as

the demand goes down, so does the price. But, because it is automated, in the past we have seen many instances

where it has surged out of control. When there are major disruptions to our trains, thousands of people hit their

Uber app simultaneously. That has led to extreme fare spikes, sometimes up to hundreds and hundreds of dollars.

But the good news is, from now on, Transport for NSW will immediately alert Uber—person to person,

not through computers or an algorithm—and work with it to get more drivers where they are needed. Having been

alerted, Uber will monitor the situation and apply a human intervention to limit the surge. If we have major train

disruptions, people will be able to resort to Uber in confidence, knowing that there will be some surge but that it

will be limited to a reasonable level. It will not surge out of control. Uber will take active steps to ensure faster

and more efficient communications with drivers during disruptions. It will push notifications out to its drivers

when things go wrong on our public transport network. [Extension of time]

I thank Uber for working collaboratively with the Government and reaching that partnership in the interests

of passengers across New South Wales. The process was first trialled when the fire occurred in Surry Hills last

week. When that fire broke out, immediately adjacent to Central station, it stopped light rail and buses and left

many passengers without public transport during the evening peak. They were trying to get home and many of

them reached out to Uber. Under our arrangement, Transport for NSW spoke to Uber representatives. They acted

immediately and limited that surge to keep it affordable, so they worked constructively with the Government to

keep people moving.

I want the House to compare that to what happened in March last year. I have spoken about it many times

before and passengers will remember it. On 8 March our train network came to a grinding halt. The entire digital

communication system failed and thousands of passengers were left stranded. Uber had systems in place to limit

that surge, but those opposite had no coordination with a key part of our transport network. They did not talk to

Uber, and instead prices surged to hair-raising levels. It left passengers stranded and, to be frank, it damaged

Uber's reputation.

The former Minister for Transport tried to distract from all of that chaos, caused by his own neglect, by

saying it was all Uber's fault, but the fact is that he had no lines of communication with or actual management of

our transport network. I am pleased to inform the House that those days are over. Government members are not

in the business of division; we are in the business of finding solutions. The Minns Labor Government will make

sure it gets people on the road quickly and safely.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 13

LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPENSES

Mr MICHAEL KEMP (Oxley) (11:41): My question is directed to the Minister for Local Government.

On Tuesday the Minister said councils are guilty of "egregious expenses". What services does the Minister suggest

regional councils cut in order to rein in those egregious expenses?

The SPEAKER: The member for Canterbury will come to order.

Mr RON HOENIG (HeffronMinister for Local Government) (14:42): What I want councils to do

is take control of their finances. What I want elected mayors and councillors to do is not have the transparency of

their finances withheld from them by bureaucracies. I want them to be given the opportunity to manage the

finances in their council areas, because if elected people were able to do that then we would not be receiving

reports from the Auditor-General about the crisis in local government. In fact, 12 years of Coalition management

of local government has seen a deterioration right across the State. It is a bit rich when members opposite came

to office with guarantees and promises for local government and just broke them and treated them with contempt.

Who remembers the promise that there would be no forced amalgamations—the guarantee: "Toole, 'It's a

promise'"?

Mr Alister Henskens: Point of order: My point of order is taken under Standing Order 129. It was a very

specific question about which services provided by regional councils the Minister believes should be cut. He has

not mentioned regional councils once.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order. The Minister will be directly relevant.

Mr RON HOENIG: It is directly relevant because most of the merged councils in rural and regional

New South Wales are the most financially insecure in New South Wales because of the breach of the promise,

"Toole, 'It's a promise'", that there would be no merger or amalgamation.

The SPEAKER: The member for Dubbo will come to order.

Mr RON HOENIG: The newspaper article stated:

Mr Toole reiterated the NSW Liberals and Nationals' long standing opposition to forced council amalgamations.

Mr Alister Henskens: Point of order: I regret to say the Minister is flouting the ruling. He was asked to

be more relevant but has continued with the irrelevant material that the Speaker ruled against.

The SPEAKER: I appreciate the point of order and it is probably correct. But the Minister is being

relevant, if not directly relevant, and I will allow him to finish.

Mr RON HOENIG: Which councils are insecure? [Extension of time]

Those councils were left in a financially insecure position, many of them incapable of managing their own

affairs efficiently and economically, as found by the Auditor-General. The people who should be determining

where they should be effecting savings and where they should reduce their expenditure are the elected

representatives of the council. It is the elected representatives that should be empowered to make those

determinations. It is not for the Minister or the State to tell an individual council where it should reduce its level

of expenditure.

Mr Gurmesh Singh: Point of order: My point of order is taken under Standing Order 130. If it is not for

the Minister to say it, then why did he call the expenses egregious yesterday? He should name the services that he

would cut.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order. The Minister has the call.

Mr RON HOENIG: Government members want to see councillors and mayors re-empowered—powers

those opposite took from them over 12 years—to determine where the wastage is. I can tell the House one thing:

This Government will fight for the ratepayers of this State. It will fight to ensure economic efficiency by

empowering elected people in this State to run their councils and their cities, not by removing their authority and

giving it to bureaucrats as members opposite have done. Those opposite have treated the elected people with

disrespect. Government members will empower them to ensure that their ratepayers get value for the dollar. We

will ensure they have the opportunity to do just that.

The SPEAKER: The Clerk will stop the clock. I acknowledge the second group of visitors in the upper

gallery, student leaders from high schools in New South Wales who are attending the Secondary Schools

Leadership Program conducted by the Parliamentary Education Unit. They were acknowledged by the Minister

for Planning and Public Spaces.

Mr Paul Scully: Smith's Hill and St Mary are up there as well—two great schools from Wollongong.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 14

The SPEAKER: An excellent shout-out, but there are lots of students in the upper gallery. I hope they

are appreciating their day here in Australia's first Parliament. The member for North Shore will come to order.

The Clerk will start the clock.

TEACHING STAFF

Mr CLAYTON BARR (Cessnock) (11:48): I acknowledge the students in the gallery from Cessnock

and West Wallsend high schools. My question is addressed to the Minister for Education and Early Learning. Will

the Minister update the House on how the Minns Labor Government is delivering on its election commitment to

transfer 10,000 temporary teaching roles into permanent roles?

Ms PRUE CAR (LondonderryDeputy Premier, Minister for Education and Early Learning, and

Minister for Western Sydney) (11:48): I thank the member for Cessnock for his question and congratulate him

on what is probably his twenty-fifth re-election to this House! Did The Nationals run someone against the member

for Cessnock? I do not know whether they did. I think they are pretty terrified of the member for Cessnock because

of his commitment to his community, and particularly to the essential workers of New South Wales. I am happy

to take a question from the member for Cessnock or any member of this House about how this Labor Government

is doing what it needs to do for the essential workers of this State. In fact, I am happy to take a question from

anyone. Members opposite seem obsessed when asking questions about this matter, having driven down the

salaries, hopes and dreams of essential workers, including teachers, for 12 years. I hope they understand from

today that maybe asking the member for Canterbury questions about workers' rights is not the best strategic

decision for them.

We know that we had a school staffing crisis in New South Wales because, when the Liberals and The

Nationals in government and had their chance, they were obsessed with casualisation. Listen to this. Before the

election, nearly 40 per cent of the public school teaching workforce were either temporary or casual employees.

In our view that is unacceptable. That is thousands and thousands of teachers in precarious work, which is

appalling to this Government.

Mr Warren Kirby: Great for our kids!

Ms PRUE CAR: The member for Riverstone is right: It is great for our kids—not. It is a terrible result

for our kids. The Government is bringing an end to this finally and, just as we promised, we are giving more

teachers more certainty and more stability. We are ploughing ahead with great speed on our commitment to make

16,000 teachers and our hardworking support staff in our schools permanent. Work began on that only four weeks

ago and we are making great progress. I give the House of a few examples that are coming in thick and fast to me

and to local members. The Briar Road Public School in Airds does amazing work with a particular population of

Aboriginal students. The school is doing amazing work connecting kids to country. The principal contacted us

and is so proud that he was able to make three staff permanent straightaway when this was announced. That is

three permanent staff at an amazing school who will make a difference to the trajectory of those kids' lives. That

is what this Government is doing.

The SPEAKER: I take it that the signal from the member for Cessnock means he is seeking additional

information. Two minutes is granted.

Ms PRUE CAR: Thumbs up from the member for Cessnock. At Carinya School, which is a school for

specific purposes in Mortdale, one of the teachers who was recently made permanent, Luke Porter, reported to his

local paper, The Liverpool Leader:

There was an unspoken understanding that I have a job here, but it was still in the back of my head if something happens, I might not

... I'm living at home but looking at home loans in a few years so it's a massive thing.

Luke has been offered a permanent job as a teacher at a school for specific purposes. Anyone who has ever been

to a school for specific purposes knows those teachers are angels. Luke's principal, Craig Cleaver, said:

For him to be a permanent is absolutely a bonus for us. You haven't lost someone as an early and new career teacher.

Under the former Government, those teachers were literally leaving in their thousands. He continued:

Kids, parents and schools will be better off because of people like Luke.

That is why people changed the Government and that is what the Minns Labor Government is doing. It is

heartwarming stuff. It makes me so proud to be the education Minister in this Labor Government that is putting

people at its heart. I remind members opposite—they probably realise this because they would be getting the

feedback from their teachers locally—that half of the permanent positions being offered are in regional New South

Wales. There was a crisis of casualisation in regional New South Wales. The Nationals, the champions of

casualisation in country New South Wales, were doing their best and were always out there fighting to ensure that

regional New South Wales got its fair share of teachers—in unstable and insecure work. Well done, guys! It has

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 15

taken the election of a Labor government to fix their mess. The Government is very proud of the work that we are

doing.

Mr Alister Henskens: Point of order—

The SPEAKER: The Manager of Opposition Business rises on a point of order. I understand the Minister

has concluded her answer and that time has expired.

Mr Alister Henskens: The question from the Grand Duke of Cessnock, as the union officials refer to

him—

The SPEAKER: The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. I call the Manager of

Opposition Business to order for the second time.

KOGARAH ELECTORATE DEVELOPMENT

Mr MATT CROSS (Davidson) (11:54): My question is directed to the Premier. In 2018 he opposed the

building of 19-storey residential apartment towers above Kogarah station. Would he now support that

development?

Mr CHRIS MINNS (KogarahPremier) (11:55): That development is before the Minister for Planning

and Public Spaces. He will have to make a decision. It is an unsolicited proposal. But I make the point that in the

period from 2011 to 2023 the Kogarah electorate went from a density of 31 per cent being apartments or units to

48 per cent being apartments or units. In terms of density, we went from 28,000 apartments or houses to

36,000 apartments or houses. I am not disputing that. I do not think any member of Parliament or any community

would expect every—

Mr Alister Henskens: Point of order—

The SPEAKER: Members will come to order. The Clerk will stop the clock. Government members,

particularly frontbenchers, will come to order. I need to hear the point of order from the Manager of Opposition

Business.

Mr Alister Henskens: It is a very specific question directed towards a particular 19-storey development

above Kogarah station. The Premier has talked all about his electorate but has not addressed that development.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: What is your point of order?

Mr Alister Henskens: Direct relevance.

Mr Ron Hoenig: To the point of order: The answer to the question asked is clearly directly relevant. The

point of order is baseless, which is deliberately disorderly and obstructive. Mr Speaker, I ask that you call the

member for Wahroonga to order for a third time.

The SPEAKER: At this point I will not call the Manager of Opposition Business to order for a third time,

but I will ask the Premier—

Mr CHRIS MINNS: I answered it straight up: It is before the planning Minister.

The SPEAKER: The Premier may continue his answer.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I do not think any community would expect its local

member of Parliament to unambiguously in all circumstances approve every single building application presented

to their community, but the facts unambiguously support a major increase in density for the community in

Kogarah. That is not a bad thing. There are two train lines that intersect my electorate—the East Hills line and the

Illawarra line. There is a total of eight train stations. It makes sense in a growing city with urban consolidation to

have an increase in communities closer to the city from 32 per cent to 48 per cent. I make the point that over the

same period we have seen housing targets from the previous Government that are completely out of whack with

a growing city. I give some statistics. Western Sydney-The Hills district has to accommodate an additional

120,000 people over the next 15 years.

Mr Mark Speakman: Point of order: My point of order relates to Standing Order 129, direct relevance.

It is a simple question: Does the Premier support this development? It is not about Western Sydney, although that

may be a reason why he does or does not. Does he support this development—direct relevance?

The SPEAKER: I thank the Leader of the Opposition.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: It is an unsolicited proposal before the planning Minister. Does the Leader of the

Opposition really expect me, as the Premier, to offer an opinion before it is assessed? Is that what he is asking, or

is it that he does not understand the basics of the question?

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 16

The SPEAKER: Members will come to order. I call the member for Rockdale to order.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: I am interested in the member's question. He has made contributions about

development in his local community.

The SPEAKER: I call the member for Kellyville to order. I call the member for Rockdale to order for the

first time.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: He said in his contributions in this House and elsewhere, "We need more homes

and supporting infrastructure … not overdevelopment" and certainly not in my area. It would destroy our "unique

character". The only thing we have seen in relation to this housing crisis in New South Wales has been nimbyism

on steroids.

Mr Matt Cross: Mr Speaker, I request an extension of time to hear the Premier's answer.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: I am happy to have it.

The SPEAKER: I have not decided yet.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: I am more than happy.

The SPEAKER: The member for Davidson seeks additional information. Be careful what you ask for.

The Premier has an additional two minutes.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: I make the point that in the last 12 months of the former Government, density in the

member's area of Ku-ring-gai went up by 450; in the Northern Beaches it increased by 700 in a 12-month period.

Compare that to Camden, which had an increase of 2,500. Blacktown was 5,700, Liverpool was 2,489 and

Parramatta was 2,761. We often speak about nimbys—

Mr Matt Kean: Point of order: It is direct relevance.

The SPEAKER: The Premier will continue to be relevant to the question.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: We often talk about nimbys, but there is a new term: build absolutely nothing

anywhere near anyone, or BANANA. We are hearing from the king of the BANANAs. He will not share the load.

At the end of the day, let us get serious about Sydney's housing crisis and have some fairness with the planning

system. That is what this Government will do.

HEALTH WORKER SAFETY

Dr MICHAEL HOLLAND (Bega) (12:01): My question is addressed to the Minister for Health. Will

the Minister update the House on the steps the Minns Government is taking to keep our essential health workers

safe?

Mr RYAN PARK (KeiraMinister for Health, Minister for Regional Health, and Minister for the

Illawarra and the South Coast) (12:01): I thank the member for Bega for his question. He is a fantastic

Parliamentary Secretary for Health. I met with him yesterday in his local health district, Southern. He is doing

great work and he is a terrific advocate.

Mr Steve Whan: Who else was there, Minister?

Mr RYAN PARK: And the member for Monaro. Yes, he is also a good advocate.

[A member interjected.]

Never despair, it's Alister—I still cannot get over the fact that we have a member in this place who has a

podcast called Never Despair, It's Alister. What is next? Speaking with Speakman? Talking with Toole? That is

the one I am tuning into—Talking with Toole. The podcast subscription is coming this afternoon. I hope members

on both sides of the House take safety for healthcare workers very seriously. I acknowledge that in the last term

of government the former Minister for Health commissioned a report from Peter Anderson, a former Minister for

Health and Minister for Police in this place. He was also the member for Penrith and the member for Liverpool.

The extensive report outlined a range of recommendations to make work safer for healthcare workers.

Unfortunately, over the past few months I have been concerned by the number of attacks on our healthcare

workers. Members know about the death of Stephen Tougher. I will be meeting with his family again this

afternoon. Last week there were incidents at Concord where four healthcare workers were seriously assaulted.

I spoke to those healthcare workers the day after about that very distressing incident. The report by Peter Anderson

was comprehensive and listed a range of recommendations. When I came into this job, I wanted to get a sense of

how far the healthcare system had got in implementing those recommendations. To be frank, we need to do better.

That is why I have asked Peter Anderson to give me an independent analysis of how far and how deep into the

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 17

system the recommendations have been implemented, and where the Government needs to do more. And, more

importantly, who in the system is doing well in protecting healthcare workers and who needs additional support.

[Extension of time]

I always think about what I would want if a family member was a security guard, a cleaner, a paramedic,

a nurse or an allied health care worker. I would want to make sure that the environment is as safe as possible. The

environment in emergency departments and hospitals at the moment is very different to what it was 10, 15 or

20 years ago. We now have increased presentations from people with mental health issues, but also issues with

drugs and alcohol—particularly the drug ice, which has incredible powers over a person's physical strength—and

often healthcare workers are on the front line of attack.

The review will be short, sharp and to the point. I want to make sure that every single health service is

doing what it can every single day to protect the men and women who care and look after us when we go to

hospital. I want to make sure that paramedics are getting support out in the field. I want to make sure that

improvements can be made legislatively and through equipment, training and to the way the system works. All

members share that desire. I do not think any member in this place has not heard about someone being attacked

in a hospital or in a healthcare setting. Therefore, we need do better and we will do better. I thank Peter Anderson

for his commitment and his undertaking to do this. I had a meeting with him about it recently after a number of

serious reports came to my attention. I thought they did not make sense and would not happen if we were

implementing those recommendations. I will update the House as we go through the process, and I invite any

member to engage with Peter Anderson.

REGIONAL APPRENTICE TRAVEL CARD

Ms STEPH COOKE (Cootamundra) (12:06): My question is directed to the Minister for Skills, TAFE

and Tertiary Education. Will the Minister rule out axing the regional apprentice travel card?

Mr TIM CRAKANTHORP (NewcastleMinister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, and

Minister for the Hunter) (12:06): I thank the member for Cootamundra for the question. I think it is a bit rich

to have to field questions from members opposite about funding for TAFE and vocational education. It is very

unusual. Opposition members are embarrassed and I think that is why it has taken so long for them to ask me a

question about vocational education.

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr TIM CRAKANTHORP: The Opposition has a dismal record on vocational education. In fact, it has

not only a terrible record on vocational education but also a shocking record on financial management. We are

elected and what do we see? A $7 billion black hole in the budget. We see a debt—

The SPEAKER: The Minister will resume his seat. The Manager of Opposition Business has forgotten

the protocol but he rises to take a point of order. I will hear the point of order.

Mr Alister Henskens: The question is not about the past two years of record funding for TAFE. The

question about the 5,000 or more apprentices who use the regional apprentice travel card.

The SPEAKER: Does the point of order relate to direct relevance?

Mr Alister Henskens: Yes.

The SPEAKER: That is what I wanted to hear. The Minister is more than one minute into his answer and

he has not gone close to answering the question. The Minister will be directly relevant to the question.

Mr TIM CRAKANTHORP: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will certainly get to it. I did get interrupted. I just

wanted to finish saying that we have $180 billion worth of debt, the interest of which will cost us and the

taxpayers—

Mr Dugald Saunders: Point of order—

The SPEAKER: The Minister will resume his seat. The member for Dubbo rises on a point of order.

I will hear the point of order.

Mr Dugald Saunders: My point of order is taken under Standing Order 129, direct relevance. Will the

Minister support or axe the apprentice travel card? It is a simple question.

The SPEAKER: I thank the member for Dubbo. I have just ruled on that point of order. The Minister is

getting to the answer; he needed a few seconds to warm up. Opposition frontbenchers will come to order.

Mr TIM CRAKANTHORP: We saw a $180 billion debt. We have also seen the devastation of our

vocational education system. We have seen slashes, we have seen cuts—

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 18

The SPEAKER: I call the member for North Shore to order for the first time.

Ms Steph Cooke: I seek an extension of time.

The SPEAKER: I grant an additional two minutes. I implore the Minister to be directly relevant to the

question. He has not come close to relevance yet.

Mr TIM CRAKANTHORP: The Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card is another

National Party special. The Nationals are begging us to keep a program that they did not have the decency to fund

themselves. It is another trial put forward with $98 million in fictional funding.

Mr Dugald Saunders: Point of order: It is under Standing Order 129, direct relevance. Is the Minister

confirming that the Government is cutting the card?

The SPEAKER: The member for Dubbo will resume his seat. The Minister has the call.

Mr TIM CRAKANTHORP: The department was essentially told to find the funds by cancelling other

programs. The implementation cost is around $4 million to administer the cared to 5,302 users.

The SPEAKER: Opposition members will come to order. I cannot hear the Minister.

Mr TIM CRAKANTHORP: That is well short of the 50,000 apprentices that were expected to take it

up. In fact, I have been advised that it is costing about $1,000 to deliver a $250 card.

The SPEAKER: The member for Wahroonga will come to order. I call the member for Dubbo to order

for the first time.

Mr TIM CRAKANTHORP: The taxpayers of this State deserve better. They deserve better than those

opposite and their record of destroying vocational education, slashing teachers and selling off campuses.

SKILLS AND TRAINING

Mr TRI VO (Cabramatta) (12:12): My question is addressed to the Minister for Skills, TAFE and

Tertiary Education. I hope it will not cause as much excitement as my last question. Will the Minister advise the

House how the Government is funding skills and training providers in New South Wales?

The SPEAKER: Opposition members will come to order.

Mr TIM CRAKANTHORP (NewcastleMinister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, and

Minister for the Hunter) (12:13): I thank the member for Cabramatta for his question. He is a fine member of

Parliament. I am proud to serve alongside the member for Cabramatta each and every day. He represents his

community, he stands up for his community and he believes in his community. The member for Cabramatta knows

full well the power of opportunity that comes from good skills and training. The Minns Labor Government was

elected to put TAFE back into the heart of our vocational education system after 12 years of cuts, 12 years of

sackings and 12 years of selling off 14 campuses. TAFE in this State has been hollowed out and neglected for far

too long. The Minns Labor Government was elected to repair that damage, prepare the State for the future and

deliver a system that is more inclusive to all potential students in our State.

Mr David Harris: How?

Mr TIM CRAKANTHORP: How, you ask? The House has heard my vision for the skills and training

system. It is one that works for the people, invites people in and respects our great teachers, students and staff.

The House knows that the Government was elected to undertake a comprehensive review of the vocational

education system as part of restoring TAFE to the heart of our State. Turning around 12 years of cuts cannot

happen overnight. Urgent investment cannot come quickly enough. Big improvements will take time. The House

has already seen my immediate priority, which is to invest modestly but meaningfully to lift the cap on equity

loadings for providers. Today I announce a significant investment in our skills and training program. After an

extensive, thorough and rigorous process of assessment, I advise the House that I have approved $710 million in

funding for training providers. TAFE NSW sits at the heart of that large investment. It is an investment in courses

from one end of the State to the other, from the Northern Rivers to the Murray, from Sydney to the Far West. It is

an investment in the skills and training that we need by a Government that is proud of its public institution. We

are proud of our TAFE. [Time expired.]

ORANGE ELECTORATE PALLIATIVE CARE

Mr PHILIP DONATO (Orange) (12:16): My question is directed to the Minister for Health. The

community of Orange is growing rapidly, as is its aging population. Therefore, there is an increased demand for

inpatient palliative care. Will the Minister consider funding a 12-bed palliative care hospice in Orange—a service

dedicated to pain management, respite care and end-of-life care for palliative patients?

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 19

Mr RYAN PARK (KeiraMinister for Health, Minister for Regional Health, and Minister for the

Illawarra and the South Coast) (12:17): I thank the member for Orange for his important question. I have had

the opportunity to meet already with the member for Orange and discuss a range of issues in the Central West.

One of those issues is palliative care. I acknowledge that this issue is important to the member for Orange. A

community group has been set up called Orange Push for Palliative. It is an important local community group that

is advocating for an expansion of palliative care services across that part of New South Wales. I also acknowledge

that this was an important issue for the former Premier.

Mr Ron Hoenig: I seek the leave of the House to allow the Minister to complete his answer.

The SPEAKER: I was about to draw the House's attention to the clock. Under standing orders, the time

for questions has expired. The Leader of the House has sought the indulgence of the House to allow the Minister

to complete his answer. Is leave granted?

Leave granted.

Mr RYAN PARK: I thank the House for the extension of time. I acknowledge the former Premier's

commitment to palliative care. It is one that I think many members in this place share. I have made a commitment

to the member for Orange that I will do a couple of things. First, I will visit Orange very soon to meet with the

community group to discuss the proposal for a 12-bed palliative care unit. I have also asked NSW Health to begin

an examination of what we might be able to do to expand palliative care in that region. In addition to that, the

Government is introducing palliative care in the home in Orange. A trial will begin in 2024 and is designed to

support people who want to receive palliative care in the home. Not everyone wants to receive palliative care

outside the home setting.

It is important that we provide those opportunities, particularly for people in rural and regional

communities, who often must travel very long distances to access palliative care—something that those of us in

large metropolises do not always have to deal with. I will continue to work with the member for Orange and

I thank him for his tireless advocacy for his community about a very important issue. I will be out there visiting

and meeting with this group very soon. I have asked NSW Health to look at what we might be able to do in this

space on top of what we are already doing there, which is expanding some of the inpatient services and providing

palliative care in the home starting from next year. But I understand that we can do better in this space. I think

that all governments, whether now or in the future, should be focused on making sure that the palliative care we

provide tomorrow is better than what we provide today. I know that this is an important issue to the member's

community and to the people of New South Wales.

The SPEAKER: I thank the Minister, and I thank the House for its indulgence with that. I advise the

House that question time extended beyond the 70 minutes provided for by Standing Order 131 (4). Question time

has now concluded.

SPECIALIST HOMELESSNESS SERVICES

Mr RON HOENIG: By leave: Pursuant to Standing Order 131 (7), I table a written response from the

Premier to a question asked by the member for Kiama on 30 May 2023.

Documents

AUDITOR-GENERAL

Reports

The CLERK: In accordance with section 52B of the Government Sector Audit Act 1983, I announce

receipt of the financial audit report of the Attorney General entitled Natural disasters, dated 1 June 2023, received

this day and authorised to be printed.

Bills

ELECTORAL FUNDING AMENDMENT (REGISTERED CLUBS) BILL 2023

Messages

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery): I report receipt of a message from the Legislative

Council agreeing to the Legislative Assembly's amendments.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 20

Members

INAUGURAL SPEECHES

The SPEAKER: Before calling the member for Ryde, I genuinely and warmly welcome those friends

and family of the member for Ryde who have come along to see and hear his inaugural speech. That includes the

member's parents, Janelle and Richard; the member's sisters, Kendall and Madison; the member's partner, Natalie

Hissey, and her mother, Molly Hissey; a former member for Ryde, the Hon. Victor Dominello, who as a digital

native is watching via livestream; another former member for Ryde, the Hon. Michael Photios; a former member

for North Sydney, Trent Zimmerman, who has been around here a lot over the past few days; the State Director

of the New South Wales Liberal Party, Chris Stone; the mayor of Ryde, Sarkis Yedelian; the deputy mayor of

Ryde, Shweta Deshpande; Ryde councillors Trenton Brown, Daniel Han, Justin Li and Sophie Lara-Watson; a

former mayor of Ryde, Artin Etmekdjian; a former deputy mayor of Ryde, Peter Kim; former Ryde councillor

Chris Moujalli; the mayor of Hunters Hill, Zac Miles; Waverley councillors Sally Betts and Will Nemesh; and

Sutherland councillor Haris Strangas. I call the member for Ryde.

Mr JORDAN LANE (Ryde) (12:29): In seeking inspiration for this inaugural address, I reflected on an

evening in late 2012. While a student at Marist College Eastwood, I was a contestant in the Epping Eastwood

Lions Youth of the Year contest, a contest that I am pleased to inform the House continues to this day. The

competition involved a series of interviews, a demonstration of community or sporting participation and two

public speaking addresses. One of the addresses was designed to be impromptu—that is, a topic is given, and you

get two minutes to speak without notice. My topic was "Who is your hero, and why?" Many of you know that

I am a keen cyclist. And so, without hesitation, I dove into an enthusiastic monologue espousing the wonderful

virtues of Lance Armstrong—someone who, just weeks later, would become infamous not for his cycling

achievements, or the extraordinary road to recovery having defied death and beaten cancer, but as a drug cheat.

The experience was a clear reminder of that old adage that you should never meet your heroes, for they are sure

to disappoint you. Perhaps I am overly cynical, but since that day, I have often struggled to draw inspiration from

any one person. Rather, I have sought to draw out the best in many, while remaining true to my own lodestar.

So what is that lodestar? Where did it come from, and how did it develop? Much of it can be traced back

to my family upbringing. In many ways, it was totally unremarkable. My story is not one of triumph over tragedy.

It does not start somewhere on the other side of the world. I cannot stand here today and pretend that my journey

to this place was forged from some "road to Damascus" experience. The simple truth is that I was extraordinarily

privileged, but not by any measure of wealth. Indeed, my parents, Janelle and Richard, who are here today and to

whom I owe everything, never derived their richness from money. The privilege I speak of is the comfort, nurture,

and abundance of opportunity that I was afforded growing up with my two precious and wonderful sisters, Kendall

and Madison. We were told every single day that we could be whatever we wanted to be. Lane family legend has

it that those daily edifications led to some grandiose delusions. I have been told that my first five years as an only

child were characterised as horrific, precocious and brattish. It is alleged that my sisters' influence on the

household was instrumental in setting me straight.

Unlike most siblings, my sisters and I very rarely fought, and today they are two of the most supportive

and loyal people I know. While I was too young to remember whether they did in fact set me straight as a child,

what I know for certain now as an adult is that I would not be standing where I am today were it not for their

efforts. It is a shame that fewer and fewer children grow up with siblings these days—a product of our busy work

schedules, the increased cost of living and the many entrenched and often gendered inequities that permeate even

the most modern workplaces and households.

The unspoken backstory of our supposedly charmed upbringing is that it was built upon the struggle,

sacrifice and hardship of others. Before she met my dad, my mum nearly lost her life in a major car accident one

New Year's Eve. Told she would never walk again, there appeared little hope of a successful career. Such were

the injuries sustained that night, it was conceivable that Kendall, Madison and I may never have been born. Even

after relearning to walk, the prevailing view of the time was that while it was desirable for women to remain

homemakers, were she to insist on working, it should only be in a clerical role at the local bank. The suggestion

of a young woman starting her own business was actively discouraged. Those of you who know my mum will

therefore be unsurprised to learn that shortly thereafter, a small home-based manufacturing business was born that

would one day serve as my first ever taste of employment.

My dad was similarly resilient. Despite growing up locally in Epping, he was unable to afford a home in

Sydney and so relocated to the Central Coast to start his own plumbing business—a story that is still too common

for many tradespeople and frontline workers today. Eventually moving back to the local area, having saved enough

money, he and my mum would go on to build their respective businesses almost entirely around creating

availability for my sisters and me. While they could have made more money, they chose instead to never miss a

school presentation. Although it was never their plan, their active involvement early on was likely what nudged

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 21

me towards politics. When I wanted to earn some extra money growing up, Dad would take me along on some of

the most dreadful plumbing jobs, one time digging a trench through pure mud in the torrential rain. He told me

years later that this was a deliberate ploy designed to direct my path away from plumbing.

Mum and Dad wanted me to pursue further study and seize upon opportunities that were never available

to them. I often wonder if they regret that intervention. A career in plumbing is arguably cleaner than a career in

politics! Nevertheless, I was the first in my family to graduate from university. Shortly thereafter, my sisters did

the same. From the foresight of loving parents who knew better, one cycle ended and another started. It changed

the course of our lives and put us on exponentially better paths. I am eternally cognisant of my fortune in this

respect, and lament that not every child will grow up in that same supportive environment. It is why a strong and

modern school system is so important.

My priority will always be to create the very best standard of education for future generations so that

regardless of their home life, kids enrolled in New South Wales schools are given the very best start in life. We

must take advantage of the extraordinary advancements in technology and think in new and holistic ways about

how to tackle the challenges of the future. Nowadays we have the capacity to seamlessly share the very best

lessons from the very best teachers, anywhere in our State. We can offer a broader range of information to help

every child pursue their dreams. However, our focus should also be broader—on using the structures of education

to influence that which is beyond the classroom and, in particular, to empower parents, especially mothers, to

retain their independence and, if they decide, to remain connected to the workforce and not be forced to choose

between their own career progression and raising children.

No longer can we get by with a system that was structured in an era when women did not work, and

households were comfortably sustained on a single income. The great travesty of public policy will be if the

education system of the 2050s looks as it did when it was established in the 1950s. It is a relic of a sexist, bygone

era, when society assumed women stayed at home and were responsible for the school pick-up. We know that

each additional year of educational attainment results, on average, in additional earning capacity. We have done

a good job at encouraging students to remain enrolled in formal education for longer, be it through university,

TAFE or registered training organisations. Yet it strikes me as strange that we insist on extending formal education

when the student is older and least dependent on their parents. We have done the right thing in adding a year

up-front and should accelerate the New South Wales Government's universal pre-K program. However, we need

to go further.

I am calling on this Parliament to increase the duration of the school day to be more accommodating of

modern employment. Local schools should become hubs for after-school activity, where the Government

guarantees that a child can remain on school campuses until 6.00 p.m. It affords parents flexibility, while at the

same time making school a place for extracurricular excellence. By engaging providers and community

organisations, we avoid overworking our tirelessly hardworking teachers but expose more children to rounded

experiences, such as coding classes, culture and language, art, dance, music and sport. I care deeply about the

academic results that our students are able to achieve and about ensuring they can compete on a global stage, but

I care even more that our education system helps us to create a new generation of Australians with the content of

character we need to be successful as a country. It is on stages and sporting fields that we build this character.

Combined, the result would be an additional year of student education, greater flexibility for parents, a

productivity and employment boost to the State, financial relief from the high cost of child care and an injection

of hope for potential but reluctant parents who, like me, struggle to rationalise how to afford, in terms of both time

and money, children, a home and equal employability between partners. Imagine what we could achieve as a

society if, while paving the paths of our children's success, we were not simultaneously complicating the paths of

their parents.

I think about this a lot in the context of my own partner, Natalie Hissey. Natalie is the most extraordinary

person I know, my confidant and a talent far greater than any of us could possibly imagine. She is smarter than

me, more articulate than me, a better debater than me and funnier than me. Nobody so selfless has ever worked

so hard and I could not have done a fraction of what I have done without her. Frankly, it should be her standing

here today. In my pursuit of this parliamentary career I ask far too much of her and it is only right and just, now

that I am here, to return that same unconditional support. Thank you, and I love you.

Together, Natalie and I represent one of the largest and fastest growing demographics in Ryde. Today there

are more millennials than any other generation living in our community. Our cohort is generally well-educated,

socially conscious and economically aspirational. Increasingly, we are new or second-generation migrants and

overwhelmingly fall victim to the ever-present housing roadblock. For some, the roadblock causes us to recalibrate

our expectations of property ownership. Rather than a freehold house, perhaps we settle for a smaller or older

apartment. Yet, for many, even that first rung on the property ladder remains out of reach.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 22

Before I was elected to the New South Wales Parliament I was the youngest mayor in New South Wales

and the youngest ever in the history of Ryde. I was drawn to local government because I was frustrated with what

I observed were Ryde's broken planning laws. It was my opinion that the wrong parts of Ryde had been

overdeveloped while rational and often modest opportunities for economic development were stymied. Nothing

worked and the community was losing out. As a kid some of my friends and I had been involved in a decade-long

struggle to install a skate park in Meadowbank. There was demand well before the construction boom hit, yet it

was not until after the new development was built, local families were at breaking point and the facilities were

running out of space that Ryde Council finally decided to initiate the project. By then I had been elected to the

council and no longer rode a skateboard.

After my election to council I came to appreciate that the problem was a lot more sinister. Council had

been living off the rivers of gold that flowed from voluntary planning agreements [VPAs]. VPAs incentivised

councils to ignore their own height, density and floor space controls in exchange for cash from developers. It is

akin to legalised bribery and promotes inappropriate rather than sustainable development. It is my strong view

that VPAs should be legislated out of existence and replaced with more strategic precinct-based development.

Councils should be incentivised to work in partnership with State Government to deliver housing supply with real,

tangible infrastructure benefits. Communities should be brought along on these journeys via an empowered

engagement framework. That is, residents should know up front the intensity of development required to achieve

the infrastructure outcomes desired. This model is being trialled in Europe and should be similarly adopted here.

However, supply is not the only part of the housing affordability equation. We need to be more efficient

in our allocation of housing. The 2021 census revealed that there are close to 300,000 vacant properties in New

South Wales; almost 5,000 of them were in my electorate of Ryde. What use is it to inject new supply if that

supply remains the unutilised asset of one with much, rather than a viable housing choice for one with little? It is

my view that we should be judicious about this problem and create strong disincentives for ongoing vacancies in

our property market. We should reduce the attractiveness to foreign investors of freely retaining a vacant property

while at the same time offer more generous stamp duty concessions to a broader cohort of people, including first

home buyers, people looking to downsize and those escaping family and domestic violence. We will not fix the

housing affordability crisis with these measures alone, but it is a tool on the supply side of the arsenal not subject

to development approval. This means people could benefit immediately.

My journey on this topic was ignited by my work in the local community, alongside someone who, I must

confess, evokes mixed emotions to name, not for any ominous reason, but because by virtue of their naming in

my inaugural speech it becomes very apparent that this Chamber has lost one of its greatest, Victor Dominello—

a true reformer in every sense of the word. I am reminded constantly of the enormous shoes that I have been left

to fill. Through your many portfolios you succeeded, most notably, in driving the digital transformation of the

State and being the first Minister to successfully initiate reforms to gambling that will save lives and livelihoods.

We in this Chamber owe it to you to continue and build upon that legacy. Locally in Ryde, you leave behind a

community that is strong, growing and poised to take advantage of an enormous investment pipeline laid during

your tenure in Parliament.

It was a privilege to work alongside you as a community member, a councillor, a mayor, and it is the

privilege of a lifetime to pick up where you left off in this place—the first time in close to 75 years that a retiring

member for Ryde has been immediately succeeded by someone of the same party. My ascension to this place was

built on a chance encounter with Victor. As a high school student I was inexplicably offered a work experience

opportunity. I am forever grateful for that because he had no reason to take that chance on me. I offered nothing—

no expertise, no networks, I could not even vote. The rest is history and that encounter grew into a strong working

partnership that crescendoed in this very moment, a product of his mentorship and support for well over a decade.

For all the values he imparted of integrity, hard work and passion for community, it was his zeal for reform

that inspired me most, in particular his technology-driven solution to government support through Service NSW

vouchers. Through the vouchers, government pioneered the rollout of targeted, compassionate and economically

sensible schemes that were instrumental in steering the State through COVID-19. Given those vouchers allowed

us to quarantine, track and review outcomes according to real data and evidence, I do not know why we would

not more aggressively roll them out in areas of high social need.

Before I was elected, I worked in the disability sector. My role was all about advocacy, working with

government and stakeholders to try to achieve real and long-term outcomes. So much of what I heard was that

government, when it did get involved, often got in the way with complex or inconsistent support, and that policies

lacked elegance and were inaccessible and often irregular. When funded properly, vouchers are none of those

things. While much of the disability system is managed at a Federal level, it is within our remit to strategically

support many of the preventative health and medical measures needed to uplift the wellbeing of our citizens and

save our State financially in the long run.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 23

I give members an example. Imagine a means-tested scheme that gave New South Wales citizens a voucher

towards an annual dental check-up and clean. Households, especially those with children, would save a small

fortune and more people, regardless of circumstance, would be a step closer to achieving a basic standard of dental

care. Prevention is better than cure, and through such a simple initiative we could reduce the incidence of many

major and often cost-prohibitive dental issues. The consequences would be profound, not only for those receiving

help in the present but also for those who will live healthier lives well into the future. Is that not what government

should be all about?

I think this question is one of the more concerning parts of modern society. The role of government and its

relevance to the lives of everyday people is often not clear. I believe we have a moral obligation in this place to

restore faith where it has been lost and create faith where it has never been. We can do that by being clear and

honest with our communities about what we believe. It is an erroneous criticism, but we as politicians are too

often criticised for standing for nothing. So I thought I would share a bit about what I stand for to do my little bit

to establish that faith. I believe in giving breaks to small and family businesses, that for too long have struggled

with high taxes and overregulation, and in protecting gig workers as we protect our employees. I believe in taking

bold steps to achieve greater reconciliation with our First Nations people, and in doing more for our environment

and properly investing in the rise of new clean industries. I believe we cannot do enough for mental health and

want us to go further to address the scourge of problem gambling and organised crime.

All combined, I believe that we need to put people at the centre of government policy and to seek to make

their lives better, with integrity, transparency and good governance as its foundation. That is why I am a Liberal.

Because, notwithstanding our imperfections, I believe Liberal values most closely align both in practice and in

theory with these outcomes. They were the values that were first espoused to me by two of my earlier political

contacts and friends: James Wallace and Michael Evangelidis. They represent our party at its best. They are smart,

strategic minds who lit a progressive Liberal flame in me many years ago. I thank them for being here today and

acknowledge that much of my success has been a product of their advocacy. Through many milestones, they have

been there to throw me off the right cliffs and occasionally pull me back. Together, we built a local Liberal family

that now espouses these values right throughout Ryde.

The entire Ryde council Liberal team is here today led by my successor as mayor, Sarkis Yedelian: the

deputy mayor, Shweta Deshpande, the first in Ryde's history of South Asian descent; councillor Trenton Brown,

someone of great courage and integrity, who ran alongside me in 2017; and my close friends councillors Daniel

Han and Sophie Lara-Watson, elected in 2021, and Justin Li, elected in an historic by-election in 2022. It is the

most diverse team in the history of Ryde, in terms of age, gender, culture or profession. It stands as the benchmark

to be beaten, and I hope that someday it will. These councillors are a true embodiment of the Ryde community:

diverse, compassionate, enterprising and yet in no way pretentious.

Many members speak in this place about the natural marvels of their electorates. I would rather reflect

upon the people. They are family to me and so to represent them is deeply personal. There are few words that can

express my gratitude to the community for entrusting me to be their representative, except to say thank you and

that I will not take you for granted. Families at their best are all about love and, in case you had not worked it out

from the T-shirt and now the pin, I really do love Ryde. It gave me everything but, most importantly, it armed me

with a confident optimism for the future. I will never be able to quantify its value but I know that it has shaped so

much of my approach to life.

When families tell us as children that we will thank them one day, I am guessing most of us scoff

dismissively, irrationally offended by the notion that our accomplishments could be anything more than a product

of our own doing. In saying what I am about to say all these years later from the dispatch box of Australia's oldest

Parliament, I suspect I have proven my family right. Thank you for everything you have done to get me to this

point. While you never did it out of anything other than love, I promise that when I leave this place more children

will hopefully grow up believing as I did that they too can be whatever they want to be.

Members and officers of the House stood and applauded.

The SPEAKER: I thank the member for Ryde for his inaugural speech. I imagine we would all agree that

it was a very fine speech. I am sure it will be reflected on into the future. I thank everybody in the gallery for their

attendance.

The SPEAKER: I acknowledge a number of special guests. I welcome to the Speaker's gallery a guest of

the Minister for Local Government, the Hon. John Ajaka, former President of the Legislative Council. I also

welcome Michael Photios, a former Minister in the New South Wales Parliament. I warmly welcome those seated

in the public gallery who are here to watch the inaugural speech of the member for Holsworthy. Some are members

of the community who have been supporting her for many years, but I assume that most are very close friends and

family. I warmly welcome them all. I acknowledge the former member for Camden, my friend Chris Patterson.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 24

I welcome former Premier Morris Iemma. I cannot see Morris, but he may be here. I also recognise Louise

Waterhouse, Honorary Consul-General of Tonga. I acknowledge Father Anthony Morgan of the St George

& Prince Theodore Church in Liverpool; Sheikh Adam Awada; Samier Dandan of the Lebanese Muslim

Association; and Chris Stone, the New South Wales Liberal Party State director. I welcome each and every one

of them. I call the member for Holsworthy to make her inaugural speech.

Mrs TINA AYYAD (Holsworthy) (13:09): I begin in the name of God, the Most Gracious and Most

Merciful. Peace and blessings be upon you and on all in this place. I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the

land and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging. Congratulations to you, Mr Speaker, on your

elevation. I wish you success in your term. It is instilled in me that I should always start off by giving thanks to

my creator and praising him. All praise is due to God, Lord of the Worlds, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

the Master of the Day of Judgement. You alone do we worship, and of you alone do we seek help. Lord, lead us

to the right path, the path of those upon whom you have bestowed your bounties, and not the path of those who

have gone astray. Amen.

I also give thanks to the team who dedicated countless hours of work and sacrifice to make this happen.

Words cannot express the gratitude I have for your efforts. Although I stand here as an individual, this is not my

win alone; it is your win, our win and a win for all who believe in a fair go. I give a special shout-out to my

campaign manager, Matthew Harte; and the core campaign team, Tony Hadchiti, Fiona Macnaught and

Leila-Marie Abdallah. Thank you for motivating me every day, putting up with me and feeding me. To all who

volunteered and manned booths on election day, I have not forgotten you. You are appreciated.

To my family and my in-laws, thank you for your endless support. To my darling mother, I am forever

indebted to you. Thank you for instilling faith, sincerity and hope in my brothers and I. Thank you for loving us

unconditionally when we were good, when we were bad and when we were everything in between. I know at

times we were the cause of much worry. To my husband, Mayor Ned Mannoun, thank you for all the sacrifices

you have made for me and for our children. Most of all, thank you for serving our community. I know how hard

you work. Although I get cranky when you take phone calls at 11.30 at night about roads, rubbish and rates,

I know it is for the betterment of our community and it is testament to your dedication.

To my children—Solomon, Jacob and Eden-Rose—thank you for your patience throughout the campaign.

You are the delights of my life and drive me to be the best person I can be every day. Sol and Kobe, you are the

best campaigners I could ever ask for. Thanks for bringing it home at school and canvassing the parents' and

teachers' votes every chance you got. My boys are always flying the Liberal flag; they definitely take after their

parents. Remember to always give back to the nation that has given us so much. I hope that I have made you

proud.

To the people of Holsworthy, thank you for a fair go, for your belief in me, for your well wishes and

support, for your time, for sharing your stories with me and for your hope for a better Holsworthy. I will not let

you down. My door is always open, and it is my honour to represent and serve you in this place. Holsworthy is a

special part of Sydney. The electorate of Holsworthy is a melting pot of rich culture and diversity. From the Shire

to Liverpool, it is bustling with a warm and welcoming community—jewels from all walks of life.

Holsworthy is best known as the home of the army barracks, a 22,000-hectare facility established in the

1880s that has continued to operate since the Great War. The Australian men and women who have served and

trained at the barracks have once called Holsworthy their temporary home. I thank the Defence Force personnel

and their families who have sacrificed so much for our security, freedom, and way of life. To the east we have

Australia's only nuclear reactor, at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation facility in Lucas

Heights—a game changer in the area of medicine, in particular cancer treatments. It supplies 80 per cent of

Australia's radioisotopes and has been in operation for over 60 years. Electricity costs are a major factor

contributing to the cost-of-living increases; hence small-scale nuclear reactors must form part of our energy future

as we transition to cleaner and cheaper energy. Lucas Heights is an example of the ability to operate nuclear

reactors which are safe for surrounding communities.

Our crown jewel, the Georges River, stretches from the Shire to Liverpool, with over 25 kilometres of river

forming the border of the electorate. It has served as a place of customs, traditions and rituals for many

communities over time. It is one of Sydney's most beautiful rivers, with so much potential, and has a major role

to play in providing great amenity to those who call south-west Sydney home, and not just the lucky ones who get

to live near it. It has plenty of untapped potential and should be the playground of the south-west. It currently

lacks critical infrastructure that could transform the way we live and would provide families and youth a safe and

enjoyable place for recreation. The Georges River has many First Nations stories to share. It was used as an

important source of food and a place for trade and transport. The Darug and Dharawal nations shared the river.

The two tribes would meet where Collingwood House, Australia's fourth-oldest house, stands today. On any given

day the jet skis race across the river, along with little speedboats and the grander type.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 25

Today the Georges River is also used for baptisms. The Mandaean community fled persecution in their

homelands and found hope in Sydney. Holsworthy is home to their primary place of worship. Mandaeans follow

John the Baptist—peace be upon him—and must do baptisms in living water. Mandaean baptisms take place more

than once in a lifetime. The young, the old, the healthy and the sick take part. The banks of the Georges River are

also home to Satyam Ghat, a sacred place of worship where rituals take place. It is used by those from across the

electorate and beyond who are of Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist faiths. The Mandaeans, Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists

I have mentioned, along with many others, came to Australia with hope.

I would now like to share with you another story of hope—a common story throughout the electorate of

Holsworthy and beyond. I am the granddaughter of Moses, the restaurateur from Beirut, a dedicated widowed

father who arrived in Sydney in 1974 in hope for a better life, a life of peace and stability. Soon after my maternal

grandfather, Moses, arrived in Sydney, the civil war began to ravage Lebanon. It was April 1975. Brother fought

against brother, to no avail. It was a time of sniper attacks, horror, hardships and pain. The civil war had so many

external influences pressing on. It was multifaceted in its reasoning, yet still unjustified. My father, Ali, was

fortunate enough to flee the civil war and spend some years floating around Europe working odd jobs. Then in

1980 my father landed in Sydney—a bittersweet moment, of hope for a new life and of despair for the sons and

daughters of the cedars.

Today those sons and daughters still bear the scars of the civil war. They share stories of hope and pain, of

life and death. All across the world, including in Sydney, their sons and daughters work hand in hand, side by

side, united as patriots of the countries they now call home. My mother did not have to live through the pain of

seeing the war before her eyes. She arrived in Sydney as a teenager—although, like her, those in the diaspora

heard the stories of the family and friends they had left behind. For my mother, it was close to home. Her older

sister was the victim of a sniper attack. The sniper's bullet pierced her thigh and pelvis where it then exploded.

She was 18 years old. On arrival to hospital all assumed she would be refused treatment due to her Islamic faith.

Hope won that day when a group of young men waiting to hear news of their loved ones at the hospital lobbied

the doctors in charge to give this daughter a second chance. She was then under the care of a Lebanese Maronite

surgeon by the name of Edward Chalouhi. He reassured her not to be afraid. Then he saved her life. Today she

remembers him often and wishes him well. She is in the gallery today.

This day was proof that the sons and daughters of the cedars have not decayed due to adversity; rather,

their hopes and spirit of unity have become stronger. The civil war finally came to an end 15 years later in 1990.

I am the product of the hope that brought my grandfather and my father here. It is an honour to stand before you

today as the new Liberal member for Holsworthy and, from existing records, the first female Muslim member in

this place and the first Liberal Muslim member of any Parliament across this great country. This achievement is

testament to the success of our multicultural and multi-faith society. I grew up in south Sydney in a conservative

family. As children, my brothers and I spent endless hours playing the Super Nintendo, PlayStation, watching

The Karate Kid and, of course, playing backyard cricket.

We come from a large extended family. Weekends were never dull. My grandfather always had time to

cook up a meal for us to share over breakfast or lunch in his humble family home in Rockdale. I will never forget

the aroma of fresh homemade Lebanese bread and Lebanese tea brewing on the stove. My older brothers went on

to become successful tradesmen, who now both own and run small businesses. I was the first in my immediate

family to graduate from university. I went on to teach English as a second language and provided important lessons

in language and literacy. I worked with many students from diverse backgrounds. It was very rewarding and

second nature to me. Growing up in south-west Sydney meant I was immersed in multiculturalism and diversity

every day.

My life in public office began in 2016 when I was first elected as a City of Liverpool councillor. I was then

elected as deputy mayor and served in this role between 2017 and 2018. It was an exciting challenge and made

me realise how rewarding public service can be. In my faith, I honour and worship God, the creator of the universe.

I believe in the uniqueness of God and his ultimate power and glory. I believe in all his revelations and in the

angel of revelation, Gabriel. The Quran provides me with a moral code on how I should live and is a source of

guidance. I believe in all of God's prophets, including Adam, the chosen of God; Noah, the prophet of God;

Abraham, the friend of God; Moses, the one who spoke to God; Jesus the Messiah, the spirit of God; and

Muhammad, the seal of the prophets, the beloved of God. Peace be upon them all. Regardless of our respective

faiths, there is more that unites us than divides. We are brothers and sisters in humanity, and we in this House

should work in unity to deliver for our communities.

Before I continue I must mention a woman by the name of Lady Zainab. She is the sister of Imam Hussain.

She is the granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad. Peace be upon him. She has been a source of inspiration for

me and for many. She inspires us to show up, stand up and speak up. She offers enduring lessons which have

lasted centuries and remain relevant to humanity today. She witnessed the battle of Karbala where she lost her

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 26

family, including her brother. Despite being oppressed, she was a voice for truth and justice. This woman was so

powerful that her family's story left her lips and reached many, including Nelson Mandela. He said:

I have spent more than 20 years in prison, then on one night I decided to surrender by signing all the terms and conditions of the

government. I then thought of Imam Hussain and the Karbala movement and Imam Hussain gave me strength to stand for the right

of liberation and I did.

Lady Zainab was formidable in her strength, despite adversity—something I was inspired by during the most

difficult times in my life.

In 2011, I became a mother. I spent many days and nights by my child's bedside at Liverpool Hospital and

then at Westmead Children's Hospital. They were pressing times. Hope and faith got us through. I prayed for the

children, for myself, for my family and friends. I also prayed for the unsung heroes saving lives every day. How

great they are. I recalled the words of the seal of the prophets, Muhammad, peace be upon him: That when you

save one life, it is as though you have saved all of humanity. Sometimes it is times like these that define us. They

make us look deep into our soul and reassess life, ultimately changing our perspectives. Those moments in the

corridor of Westmead Children's Hospital defined me. I remember an artwork displayed in one of the corridors.

It was an image of a young innocent child, and it read, "I will live in hope."

I then knew I was living in hope—a very powerful emotion that rocks the core of the human spirit and

somehow makes it move forward. Maybe it was the same emotion of my grandfather, of my father, of my aunt

and the surgeon, Edward Chalouhi. I was reminded of Lady Zainab's strength in adversity because, without

strength, there is no hope. I enter this place guided by faith, strength and hope for a better tomorrow.

My family has been touched by organ donation. In Australia we have low rates of organ donation

registration. Those who are potential donors, even though registered, are small in number. Those who become

donors can save up to seven lives and help heal so many more through tissue donation. Currently 1,800 Australians

are waitlisted for a transplant. This includes adults and children. There are an additional 14,000 Australians on

dialysis waiting for a kidney—again, this includes adults and children. Most Australians support organ donation

although only 36 per cent are registered to be donors. It is my hope that in this place we can encourage the great

Australian spirit of a fair go and mateship through raising awareness of organ donation and the impact it has on

individuals, families and the health system. A simple change like the opt-out system would give hope to so many

who are in need of an organ.

I am forever indebted to the New South Wales healthcare system and would like to applaud the former

Government for its record investment in health, including $790 million in funding to upgrade Liverpool Hospital

and $619 million to expand and upgrade The Children's Hospital at Westmead. This is an investment that will

make a difference in the lives of people throughout Sydney and New South Wales in their times of deepest need,

providing hope, support and world-class medical treatment.

Along the campaign trail I met so many people who shared their defining moments with me. They all had

one thing in common: hope for a better quality of life for all Australians. They had great hope for our country, for

our State and for the electorate. Time is our most precious commodity and our most limited asset. People in the

electorate of Holsworthy are spending two to three hours a day travelling to and from work. This is impacting on

our work-life balance—precious time that should be spent with our families and on recreational activities which

are paramount to our mental and physical wellbeing. On average, 18,000 people move to south-west Sydney per

year, most of whom will drive or catch the train through the electorate. This equates to an average of 6,000 new

cars on our roads every year. If we do not act immediately then the people of Holsworthy and surrounds will be

condemned to an even worse work-life balance.

Through proper planning and action this can be changed. We have seen the success of Parramatta over the

last 10 years, transforming from a suburban centre to a bustling city. This is what I envisage for Holsworthy and

surrounds. For south-west Sydney to reach its maximum potential, we need world-class public transport options:

a metro from Bankstown to Glenfield via Liverpool and beyond. This will take pressure off our roads, increase

mobility and boost economic activity. Incentives should be provided for corporate Australia to move jobs away

from the Sydney CBD and into city centres around Western Sydney. This can be achieved by providing payroll

tax exemptions for companies and organisations that create jobs in the west, namely throughout Liverpool,

Campbelltown and Penrith. These job providers will act as anchors for further investment across the south-west,

offering high skilled and high paying jobs in our backyard.

Finally, it is important that we in this place invest in our future: our children. Depression and anxiety in

youth across the State is on the rise. As responsible servants to our communities, we must support strategies and

skills to strengthen mental fortitude and resilience. As we progress into the digital age and experience rapid

changes in technology, it is crucial to equip our children with skills to protect their mental wellbeing. Although

social media connects us, it has inadvertently created an environment that can exacerbate mental health issues.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 27

The pressure to fit in and gain validation through likes and comments—the relentless comparisons to others'

lives—affects our perceptions of belonging and acceptance of who we are, particularly when perceptions are not

always reality in cyberspace. The objective of such initiatives should be to instil perseverance, adaptability and

acceptance of one's identity and each other's identities so that we all can belong.

Amenity is key to great living, wherever you are. The electorate of Holsworthy has so much potential.

During my time here it is my hope to see this potential come to fruition. I pledge to serve the Forgotten People

who inspired Sir Robert Menzies, and all people across the electorate. I value the importance of family as the

primary institution for fostering the values on which a cohesive society is built. I will strive to give dignity to

those who cannot provide for themselves. I will respect the basic freedoms of thought, worship, association and

choice, since that is what we as Liberals do: we provide hope for the forgotten people. I thank the members and

guests for their courtesies.

Members and officers of the House stood and applauded.

The SPEAKER: I thank the member for Holsworthy for delivering her inaugural speech. I once again

acknowledge her friends and family in the gallery. I am sure it has been a wonderful occasion hearing the member

make her inaugural speech in the oldest Parliament in Australia. It is a very historic moment.

I shall now leave the chair. The House will resume at 2.30 p.m.

Bills

LAW ENFORCEMENT (POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES) AMENDMENT (DIGITAL

EVIDENCE ACCESS ORDERS) BILL 2023

Second Reading Debate

Debate resumed from an earlier hour.

Mrs SALLY QUINNELL (Camden) (14:31): The Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities)

Amendment (Digital Evidence Access Orders) Bill 2023 amends the Law Enforcement (Powers and

Responsibilities) Act 2002, known as LEPRA, to enable digital evidence access orders to be sought by officers of

the Independent Commission Against Corruption in connection with warrants issued under the Independent

Commission Against Corruption Act 1988. The amendments reflect the need to update the ICAC's powers in the

contemporary investigative context. They particularly enable officers of ICAC to compel a person under a search

warrant to open their phone or computer—a power that Government members believe is necessary to conduct

modern investigations.

Government members undeniably believe that the ICAC is a key institution necessary for the maintenance

of public trust. Corruption has a corrosive impact on our institutions and has no place in society, particularly in

the highest places of power and among those with the greatest responsibility. In recent New South Wales history,

we have witnessed the important role that the ICAC has played in uncovering serious breaches of public trust by

politicians and public servants in local government and other areas. Our State is in a much better position as a

result of its investigations uncovering wrongdoing. These amendments are the direct result of a request to the

Government from the Chief Commissioner of the ICAC and are intended to ensure that ICAC's powers remain fit

for purpose in the contemporary context. The intention of the scheme is to overcome the modern realities of

technology, in particular the challenge of locked devices.

These challenges are not unique to New South Wales. Other States in Australia have granted powers similar

to digital evidence access orders to comparable integrity agencies. In Queensland, under section 88A of the Crime

and Corruption Act 2001, an officer of the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission may be granted an

authorisation as part of a search warrant that allows them to provide access information in relation to a digital

device found on the relevant premises. Section 88B provides for a similar order to be sought where a digital device

has been seized under the primary search warrant. Under section 88C, a person is not excused from complying

with such a direction on the grounds that doing so would tend to incriminate the person. Under section 205A of

the Queensland Criminal Code, it is a criminal offence to fail to comply with a direction given under such an order

without a reasonable excuse. The offence carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment.

In the Northern Territory, under section 71 (1) (g) (vi) of the Independent Commissioner Against

Corruption Act 2017, when an officer of the Northern Territory Independent Commissioner Against Corruption

is lawfully on premises, the officer may require a person on the premises to give them any translation, code,

password or other information necessary to gain access to or interpret and understand anything located or obtained

in the course of exercising their investigative powers. Under section 71 (2), it is a criminal offence for a person to

fail to comply with such a requirement. The offence carries a maximum penalty of 100 penalty units—that is

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 28

currently $16,200, noting that in the Northern Territory penalty unit amounts are indexed each financial year so

are subject to change.

I turn to the particulars of the bill. The bill will extend the digital evidence access order scheme to include

ICAC officers executing search warrants under the ICAC Act. It amends two definitions. "Eligible applicant" in

section 46 of LEPRA will also include ICAC officers, and "search warrant" in section 76AA of LEPRA will

include ICAC Act search warrants. The bill does not substantively amend any other provisions relating to the

digital evidence access order scheme. Existing processes and safeguards will continue to apply, and two

consequential amendments are made for this purpose.

For ICAC officers, digital evidence access orders will only be able to be issued by an authorised officer—

namely, a magistrate or a registrar of the Local Court. These officers are also already authorised to issue search

warrants under the ICAC Act. Under the Act, the commissioner of the ICAC may also issue search warrants, but

they will not be authorised to issue digital evidence access orders. This ensures that such orders are determined

by independent third parties. These amendments reflect the need to update the ICAC's powers in the modern age.

Members on this side of the House recognise the key role that a strong ICAC that has powers that are fit for

purpose should play in maintaining integrity across this State. The bill seeks to support the ICAC in doing just

that. It is for these reasons that I commend the bill to the House.

Mr MICHAEL DALEY (MaroubraAttorney General) (14:37): In reply: I thank all members who

have contributed to this debate, specifically the member for Wahroonga, my Parliamentary Secretary the member

for Prospect, the member for Ballina, the member for Mount Druitt and the member for Camden. I thank members

for their support of the bill and briefly address some matters raised during debate. I note that the member for

Wahroonga raised concerns specifically related to the exercise of search warrants by the Independent Commission

Against Corruption. I also note that he referred to the Inspector of the ICAC, who has a statutory function to

oversee the ICAC. I stress that these bodies are independent and that the legislative frameworks that underpin

them are robust. The bill does not amend any of that legislation. The ICAC and the inspector are also subject to

parliamentary oversight through the joint Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption,

required to be established under part 7 of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988.

I have also heard the concerns raised by the member for Ballina about the digital evidence access order

scheme itself. The scheme is subject to a statutory review under section 237A of the Law Enforcement (Powers

and Responsibilities) Act 2002. It requires the Minister to review whether the policy objectives of the provisions

remain valid and whether the terms of the provisions remain appropriate for securing those objectives. The

amendments effected by the bill will also be considered as part of this review, and it will provide an opportunity

to consider how they have been implemented operationally by all relevant agencies. The review must be

commenced as soon as practicable two years after commencement, with a report tabled within a further 12 months.

That means that the review will occur after 1 February 2025 and the report is to be tabled before 1 February 2026.

In conclusion, this bill has been brought forward after hearing directly from the Chief Commissioner of

the ICAC, who advised that these powers are critical to ensure that ICAC search warrants, where granted, are not

unduly frustrated by locked digital devices. The work of the ICAC is critical. We all know that; we have all said

that many times in this place. The Government takes corruption and misconduct by public officials incredibly

seriously. This kind of conduct erodes the trust that the public places in us and in the public sector to act honestly,

in good faith and in the interests of the public. The bill ensures that the ICAC has the powers and investigative

tools it needs to respond to the operational realities of modern investigations. I commend the bill to the House.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Alex Greenwich): The question is that this bill be now read a second

time.

Motion agreed to.

Third Reading

Mr MICHAEL DALEY: I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Motion agreed to.

Motions

DAPTO RESIDENTS MOTORWAY ACCESS

Debate resumed from 25 May 2023.

Ms ANNA WATSON (Shellharbour) (14:41): It is great to have the member for Kiama back in the

Chamber for the resumption of this debate. I would not want him to miss out on any more feedback from my

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 29

community on his little pet project, the Albion Park Rail bypass, which he decoupled to suit his own agenda. I will

talk a bit more about that later. The member for Kiama had a rough day last Thursday. Prior to getting kicked out

of the Chamber during the first part of this speech, he missed his chance to put forward amendments on the

anti-pork-barrelling legislation. That is quite ironic because, as we know, those opposite are into pork-barrelling,

including the member for Kiama. He is a pork-barreller from a long way back. He just loves it. He cannot get

enough it. His record speaks for itself.

I note with interest that just prior to the March 2023 election, the member for Kiama changed his tune in

relation to the Yallah Interchange. He apparently now supports it. He did not support it, but now he does. He

supports it in the electorate, but he does not support it in the Parliament of New South Wales. He is now happy to

throw the long-suffering residents of Dapto a few little cookie crumbs. I hope those crumbs are well and truly

worth it. I hope they are from a nice sandwich cookie or an Oreo or something like that. In any case, I welcome

the change of heart from the member for Kiama. I welcome his kind words in his recent media release, where he

congratulated me on my new position as a Parliamentary Secretary.

Mr Gareth Ward: I did.

Ms ANNA WATSON: Yes, that was very nice. It was a nice change—

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Alex Greenwich): Order! The member for Shellharbour and the

member for Kiama do not need to address each other directly.

Ms ANNA WATSON: I'm not.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Alex Greenwich): The member for Kiama will come to order. The

member for Shellharbour will direct her comments through the chair. She does not need to engage with the

member for Kiama directly.

Ms ANNA WATSON: It was a nice change from November last year, when he stated that I was "a jealous

little brat with a face to match". He then referred to me as a pet dog—

Mr Gareth Ward: Point of order—

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Alex Greenwich): The member for Kiama has risen on a point of order.

Mr Gareth Ward: I raise a point of privilege, actually.

Ms ANNA WATSON: Can you stop the clock, please?

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Alex Greenwich): The Clerk will stop the clock.

Mr Gareth Ward: These matters were referred to the Independent Complaints Officer. The member for

Shellharbour knows she is not meant to address those matters in public, as she has just done. This is totally

irrelevant to the debate. She should be called to order and brought back to the motion.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Alex Greenwich): The member for Shellharbour is aware of what her

motion is about. I ask that she ensures that her commentary is in the leave of that.

Ms ANNA WATSON: It is directly related. The member for Kiama called me a "jealous little brat with

a face to match"—

Mr Gareth Ward: Point of order—

Ms ANNA WATSON: —and referred to me as his pet dog—

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Alex Greenwich): Order! The member for Shellharbour will resume

her seat. The Clerk will stop the clock.

Mr Gareth Ward: I think we are talking about a roads project, but the member for Shellharbour has now

mentioned me more than she has mentioned the word "Dapto". Perhaps she can be brought back to the leave of

the motion.

Ms Lynda Voltz: To the point of order: That is the second time the member for Kiama has got up and

stopped the debate on exactly the same point. He has engaged in debate, instead of taking a point of order. He

constantly interrupts. I ask that he be called to order for those of us who have to sit here and listen to him constantly

interrupt the debate.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Alex Greenwich): I thank the member for Auburn. I have called the

member for Kiama to order. I note that the member for Shellharbour has limited time left. I am sure the member

will use that time to address the motion and will be able to do so without interruption.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 30

Ms ANNA WATSON: Thank you. That would be helpful. The reason that I called this out is that the

former Government put on the record its rampant pork-barrelling. The personal attacks on me, which is the MO

of the member for Kiama, relate directly to that. Those opposite do not like it when I call them out for

pork-barrelling. They do not like it when we ask for a fair go for our communities. If the member for Kiama thinks

for five minutes that I am not going to get up here and represent my community, do the best for them and call out

his blatant pork-barrelling over the past 12 years, then he is sadly mistaken. Buckle up. I am just getting started

on him. We are sick to death in the Shellharbour of hearing all of the reasons why the member for Kiama decoupled

the money from the Albion Park Rail bypass, took that money out and sent it down south.

Mr DUGALD SAUNDERS (Dubbo) (14:45): I start by acknowledging that we are seeing a discussion

around everything that is not relevant to what we should be talking about here, which is a piece of infrastructure

that was put together and funded by the former Government. I am pretty familiar with this piece of road. It is a

great piece of road. We are no longer in government. You are in government. If you want to make amendments

and bring in different aspects to more roads, do it. It is worth noting that the significant investment that was made

in not just this road but all roads across New South Wales was because of us.

Ms Anna Watson: How much did it cost?

Mr DUGALD SAUNDERS: The former Government had a $19 billion pipeline of roads and rail.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Alex Greenwich): Order! The member for Shellharbour knows the

importance of directing comments through the chair and not talking across the Chamber. The member for Dubbo

also will direct his comments through the chair.

Mr DUGALD SAUNDERS: "Do as I say, not as I do." It was a $630 million upgrade for the Albion Park

Rail bypass.

Ms Anna Watson: There you go. The member for Kiama just told you.

Mr DUGALD SAUNDERS: No, I have it written down, but thanks for asking. I am very familiar with

the piece of road. I have travelled on it quite a few times. My mum lived in Kiama Downs, so I am pretty familiar

with the area. Rather than sledging the Coalition over the fact that there is a $630 million piece of infrastructure,

why would the member for Shellharbour not now work to what she wants to do? Guess who has the reins?

Allegedly, it is those opposite. Why do we not see those opposite work within their own means and put some

money on the table for these projects? Between 2011 and 2019, the former Government invested $2.9 billion in

upgrades to the Princes Highway. That was on top of the Pacific Highway duplication and the reservation of

$2.5 billion to improve the Great Western Highway, which is a vital east-west link through the Blue Mountains.

There is snickering on the other side of the Chamber. We care about infrastructure and roads. You are only worried

about one little part—

Ms Anna Watson: No, you care about pork-barrelling.

Mr DUGALD SAUNDERS: It has got nothing to do with pork-barrelling. How is $630 million—

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Alex Greenwich): Order! The member for Shellharbour will come to

order. I am sure she wishes to remain in the Chamber during the debate on her motion. The member for Dubbo

will direct commentary through the chair and not at the member for Shellharbour. The member for Kiama will

also come to order.

Mr DUGALD SAUNDERS: The former Government actually built things. If the current Government

has a problem, it should actually build things as well. As part of the broader Princes Highway upgrade, the

$630 million Albion Park Rail bypass opened in 2021. As I said, I have used that road many times. It makes an

incredible difference. These kinds of projects are key to enhancing road safety, reducing travel times and

improving regional connectivity. That is what we care about. The new bypass absolutely mitigates traffic

congestion. It makes travelling easier and more efficient for motorists. It supports local businesses and regional

economic development and improves freight efficiency. It contributes to the overall betterment of the environment

by leading to less vehicle emissions. The bypass is a significant step forward to ensuring sustainable and efficient

transportation in New South Wales. The extension of the M1 Princes Motorway between Yallah and Oak Flats to

the Albion Park bypass completed the missing link between Sydney and Nowra.

Some of the benefits include a saving of up to 30 per cent in travel time, improvements to freight, reduced

crash risk, better and more reliable trips, improved connectivity and increased road capacity. Dapto,

Haywards Bay and Yallah residents travelling south do not travel on the bypass but continue to use the

Princes Highway. Funnily enough, diverting traffic to different roads makes travelling better for everyone.

Haywards Bay and Yallah residents travelling north continue to use the existing Princes Highway, where they can

merge with bypass traffic north of the Dapto exit ramp. Construction of a northern interchange is subject to future

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 31

funding and traffic demand and driven by changes to land use. The point is that now the Labor Government has

the opportunity to do more of that work I suggest the member for Shellharbour does it. I noted the concerns she

raised—

Ms Anna Watson: I don't take advice.

Mr DUGALD SAUNDERS: Of course the member does not take advice. I note the concerns raised by

the member for Shellharbour around access to the bypass for Dapto and West Dapto residents. If the member

asked her own Government about the issue, she would know that Transport for NSW carried out extensive traffic

modelling, including for projected growth around the planned residential developments at Yallah and West Dapto.

That modelling indicated that the northern interchange will not be required until there is a substantial increase in

traffic.

Unfortunately, as we have seen consistently in this House, the motion is another rather poor attempt at

blame shifting when the reality is that the member is now in government. As local members, our job is to fight

for our communities. But, instead of seeking a ministerial meeting with one of her colleagues, she has come here

and tried to blame the former Government for doing a job worth $630 million. I suggest that she take up the

opportunity to speak with her colleague the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, outline some of the things

she wants to see and—

Mr Gareth Ward: The member for Shellharbour is the Parliamentary Secretary.

Mr DUGALD SAUNDERS: One might think that, as the Parliamentary Secretary, she would get a

meeting—perhaps. We will wait and see. What we have seen here is a member choosing an easy route and taking

pot shots at the former Government. We delivered $630 million in funding for the Albion Park bypass, which is

$630 million more than this Government has contributed to anything. I look forward to seeing what processes can

be brought forward and what the Labor Government will do to help continue those traffic studies and work with

Transport for NSW and local members to see what will work best. I encourage the member for Shellharbour to

do her part in that.

Ms LIZA BUTLER (South Coast) (14:55): I know the area of Dapto, Yallah and Albion Park very well.

I lived in the area for over 20 years. When I moved south 20-plus years ago, the people of Dapto and West Dapto

were complaining back then that they had little or no access to the M1 Motorway. If the previous Government

had listened to the community over the past 12 years, it would have known that the community was absolutely

desperate to have ramps to allow access to the M1 Motorway. Guess what happened next? The previous

Government approved further subdivisions in West Dapto and Haywards Bay without including them in any future

roads planning. This decision left new and growing areas in Dapto and Haywards Bay high and dry, and they still

have no access to the motorway in either direction. The previous Government cancelled the Yallah interchange,

which would have allowed residents and visitors from Dapto and Haywards Bay onto the Albion Park bypass. It

was a short-sighted decision by the previous Government, which forgot about people.

The Illawarra and South Coast regions are deeply interconnected. While the Albion Park bypass is not in

my electorate, so many of my constituents frequently travel to Albion Park, Dapto and Shellharbour for work,

health and family visits. We do not exist in a bubble. We are connected communities, and the previous

Government failed our communities up and down the South Coast. I am proud to be a member of a government

that is putting people first. I reassure the people of my electorate that when we build road infrastructure we will

plan it first so we do not have the issue the good people of the Shellharbour and Kiama electorates are facing now.

The Minns Government has committed to getting the Nowra bypass started, after 12 years of inaction by the

previous Government. Our Government will also invest in the East Nowra sub-arterial road project, which will

take pressure off the busy Princes Highway through Nowra and connect the communities of Greenwell Point,

Culburra, Orient Point, Currarong and Callala. This project, coupled with the Nowra bypass, will be a game

changer for constituents of the South Coast.

The Jervis Bay Road intersection upgrade project is a prime example of how short sighted the previous

Government was. The intersection into Jervis Bay from the Princes Highway is extremely dangerous, and during

holidays is commonly backed up for kilometres. In opposition the Labor team saw how critical the situation was,

and the member for Swansea joined with the local communities to campaign and petition the previous

Government. My predecessor at the time said all that was needed was a roundabout, but the community and the

Labor Opposition knew the only safe, futureproof option was a flyover intersection. I am pleased to say—

Mr Gareth Ward: We got it.

Ms LIZA BUTLER: Labor got it; Labor fought for that flyover. This motion is about fairness to our

communities up and down the Illawarra and South Coast. The previous Government failed our communities. It

failed to listen, failed to consult and failed to make sure we are futureproofing our roads. Quite simply, it forgot

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 32

about people. The people of the Illawarra and South Coast deserve better. That is why I am here. The people of

the South Coast voted for change and for better community consultation. I am proud to be a member of a

government that will do just that. Our Government will listen to the community, consult with the community and

make sure that we are futureproofing our roads, because the Minns Labor Government is putting people first.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Alex Greenwich): Before I call the member for Kiama, I thank

members for their largely orderly conduct during the contribution by the member for South Coast and ask that

order be maintained for the remainder of debate on the motion.

Mr GARETH WARD (Kiama) (14:56): That sounds like a warning, Mr Speaker. I actually agree with

most of what the member for South Coast said. But I have an amendment to the motion. I move:

That the motion be amended by omitting all words after "That this House" and inserting instead:

(1) Congratulates Independent Mayor of Shellharbour Chris Homer and Deputy Mayor Kellie Marsh on supporting the

community campaign to have on and off ramps installed off the M1 Princes Motorway.

(2) Notes the pre-election advocacy of the member for Shellharbour.

(3) Congratulates the member for Shellharbour on her elevation as Parliamentary Secretary for Roads.

(4) Condemns the Parliamentary Secretary for Roads for breaking Labor's promise to fund $20 million towards the Tripoli Way

bypass.

When ignorance goes to $100 a barrel, I want the drilling rights to this Government. After that display from the

member for Shellharbour in this place today, is it any wonder she was the only member on that side who had a

swing against them? She was the only member of the Labor team who had a swing against them. After that

performance, I am not surprised. When I look at motions like this, I think the Leader of The Nationals was right.

This is the sort of motion you would expect from a member of the Opposition, not a member of the Government

who can actually get on and do something. The member for Shellharbour will be judged very differently in

government than she was in opposition.

As I say in my amendment to the motion, I need to condemn the member for Shellharbour. I must say that

I was a bit surprised because I was expecting greater things from the member for Shellharbour. I was expecting

perhaps the speakership. In fact, I even thought she might have a shot at a ministry. I looked through the list of

potential ministries she could have, and I thought, "Premier, that's taken; Treasurer, that's taken too." Then I saw

"Minister for digital government" and I thought, "Yes, that's it. She would be a great Minister for analog." She

would be a great Minister for analog with motions like this. I say in relation to her speech, which was interrupted—

Ms Sophie Cotsis: Commodore 64.

Mr GARETH WARD: There were some great games on that, and I am sure the member for Canterbury

still plays them. Seven times the member for Shellharbour mentioned me in her speech, and seven times she

mentioned Dapto—seven times.

Mr Paul Scully: Wasn't that enough for you? You wanted more?

Mr GARETH WARD: Here is the air support from the member for Wollongong. I know he is not a great

fan of the member for Shellharbour, but he is here doing the right thing. I note that this would not have happened

if it were not for Councillor Homer, who committed to this on 13 February, and it was only a couple of days

before the election that the member for Shellharbour scurried out to make a very late announcement because she

was worried about the swing that was happening. She said that this was—I quote from her speech—"pure pork-

barrelling". Does she actually know what the definition of "pork- barrelling" is?

We made a commitment. I was the local member who made a commitment. We went to an election and it

was voted for by the people of Kiama. They wanted this project and I was elected on that platform. Who voted

against it? The member for Shellharbour. She voted against the means of funding the Albion Park Rail bypass.

Now she says the project is pork-barrelling but she wants to build a whole bunch of ramps off the project, which

I did support at the time. Her claim that I did not support it is wrong. I commend to the House comments in the

Illawarra Mercury of 28 April where the member for Shellharbour said:

Come July 1, as parliamentary secretary for roads and regional roads and transport, I'll be ensuring that planning starts.

I hope that that occurs, and I would be very supportive of it, but I hope that we see more honesty on that project

than we did from Labor on the Tripoli Way bypass. Labor promised $20 million for that but is relying on

$16 million committed in the last Parliament. They said, and lied, in their election campaign that only Labor will

deliver the Tripoli Way bypass—but $16 million of it comes from the last Parliament. Labor short-changed the

people of Albion Park and will be short-changing the people of the Illawarra as well.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 33

Mr PAUL SCULLY (WollongongMinister for Planning and Public Spaces) (15:00): I thank the

member for Shellharbour for bringing this motion to the attention of the Parliament. The premise of some of the

member's contribution was that the member for Shellharbour, at some point in time, had voted against something

that may possibly have funded something to do with the Dapto on and off ramps. Last night the member for Kiama

did the same thing. Last night we debated the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Housing and

Productivity Contributions) Bill. The central premise of that bill is that when you get housing growth you get

infrastructure, and it provides the architecture and funding stream in order to do that.

The member for Kiama joined his former party colleagues to vote against that bill in an area of incredible

housing growth—the exact sort of area where this sort of funding stream could fund infrastructure like on and off

ramps at Kanahooka Road, in the great electorate of Wollongong, or potentially at Fowlers Road, in the great

electorate of Shellharbour, all of which will be examined by the Minns Government as part and parcel of our

$10 million election commitment to do exactly that. That election commitment was given on 3 March by the

Premier when he came to Wollongong. I note that there is an interesting difference between the now Premier

coming to Wollongong as an Opposition Leader and making commitments about the region, when most of the

"premiers" from the other side just drove past. I mean the now Leader of the National Party claims that he is

familiar with the area, but did not even know where the on and off ramps were because he just drove past.

The reality is that West Dapto, which is going to be about the size of Wagga Wagga over the next few

years, is lacking infrastructure. But when presented with the opportunity to match places like West Dapto taking

housing growth, building great communities, giving opportunities to young people and families to have a home

to live in, with an infrastructure funding stream that would allow for things like road upgrades to State roads like

the M1, when presented with the opportunity to support that, to support his community, to back-in opportunity in

the Illawarra, what did the former Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra—he could not make Minister for the

Illawarra—do? He voted against it.

We have two very stark contrasts here. We have the Liberal-Nationals Party on the other side that left the

Illawarra out of a lot of things that they did when they had the opportunity to do it, largely led by the National

Party and the Barilaro faction at the time, and we have the Independent member for Kiama who is becoming the

Lee Majors—the stuntman—of the New South Wales Parliament. He fell on his face last night. And we have the

Minns Government that has a dedicated commitment of $10 million on the table to start the planning work for the

long overdue on and off ramps that are needed at Dapto. Not only will this be better for residents of West Dapto

and Dapto, it will also improve commerce and opportunity for job creation in Dapto town centre because people

will not be forced to use the Princes Highway alone to go south. It will improve opportunity to get to the new

Shellharbour Hospital; it will improve opportunity for jobs and young people and homes.

Mrs SALLY QUINNELL (Camden) (15:05): I understand the concerns of the member for Shellharbour

that people in her community of Dapto and West Dapto do not currently have fair access to the M1 because the

people of Camden do not have access to the M5. Currently, Camden residents have a single road to get from the

Camden electorate—the whole electorate—to the M5 motorway, and that is via Narellan Road. When

doorknocking before the election, people were telling me it can take them as long in time to get from Camden to

the M5 as it does to travel from Narellan to the city because the traffic on Narellan Road is at a complete standstill.

Twelve years of neglect of the Camden electorate has led to unprecedented amounts of growth, and yet we have

no extra access to the major motorway that takes us to our hospitals, to our schools and to the city for work.

The Spring Farm Parkway, so called because it was once planned to go through Spring Farm, has only

been started on the Menangle or Campbelltown side of the M5. Stage one has started, even though the Spring

Farm community was built five years ago, so people from Spring Farm currently have zero access, except to go

through the suburbs of Narellan, Mount Annan and Currans Hill to get to the M5. The hypocrisy of those on the

other side to talk about commitments to motorways is actually enraging to the people of Camden. When

doorknocking before the election, people were telling me, time and time again, that these commitments to Spring

Farm Parkway and access to the motorways is what led them to build in communities such as Spring Farm.

The lack of infrastructure planning and delivery by those opposite when they were in government for over

12 years has meant that people now spend hours and hours commuting to work—some in excess of two hours to

get to work—because they have been forced on to roads that were already overcrowded. The people of Camden

elected a Labor representative because they are outraged and disgusted. They have come to me in droves to talk

about the slowness of Spring Farm Parkway as an access road to the M5. It has been absolutely glacial progress.

The former Government kept approving new developments without any extra road infrastructure in the area, which

has led us now to a situation of gridlock on our roads during peak hour. It is a real problem for the people of

Camden, and we completely understand what it must be like for the people of Dapto and West Dapto, that after

12 years of complete neglect we have had no access to get to the services that we need. The people have spoken;

they are tired of it.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 34

Ms ANNA WATSON (Shellharbour) (15:08): In reply: The former Government did not care about what

was fair when it came to the M1. All they thought about was how good it would be and how good they would

look in a photograph with a golden shovel in their hands. The Albion Park Rail bypass was originally designed to

allow access for the residents of Dapto, and rightly so. In February 2018 the former Government, led by the then

Parliamentary Secretary for the Education and the Illawarra and South Coast, asked the companies tendering for

the construction contract to consider the Yallah interchange as a supplementary part of the project. The people of

Dapto know why they did it—so that they could use that money on upgrades further south, down in Liberal-held

electorates. The member for Kiama is proud of that. It is the classic pork-barrelling that those opposite love so

much. The member for Kiama could not wait to use his catchphrase—"When I make a promise, I always get it

done." What a joke! He is like the Scott Morrison of the Illawarra: Gareth from marketing.

Mr Gareth Ward: Point of order: That is an outrageous reflection and I ask the member for Shellharbour

to withdraw it.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Alex Greenwich): Order! The member for Kiama will resume his seat.

I was conferring with the Leader of the House, so I did not hear the comment. I am sure that should the member

for Shellharbour wish to withdraw it she will. I ask that the member for Shellharbour be heard in silence through

what has largely and surprisingly been a respectful debate.

Ms ANNA WATSON: It was a travesty that the previous Government did not build entry and exit points

on the M1 between Dapto and Yallah so that local residents and workers could easily access the motorway. The

government of the day ignored the population projections for the area, which showed that access to this new road

from Dapto would be essential for new residents moving to the new suburbs. But a Labor government will get it

done. A Labor government will get Tripoli Way done. I have already met with all the key bureaucrats from

Transport for NSW. They are very excited to begin planning and work from 1 July for a fairer and better deal for

the people of West Dapto. Whether it be Kanahooka Road, Fowlers Road or Emerson Road, the department will

come up with the best and most effective options to ensure fair access.

One thing that this new Government cannot fix is the cost to build the Yallah interchange. It will cost more

now than if it was built when it should have been. We all know that those costs go up. If the former Government

had done the right thing in the first place, we would not be in this situation now. Taxpayers from across the State

will need to pay for the economic mismanagement of those opposite for generations to come—including a

$180 billion black hole that we have seen now that we are in government. They can no longer claim to be good

economic managers, because they have failed the people of New South Wales. The decoupling of that access point

from the main project was an absolutely ridiculous decision made by those opposite, who could not care less about

local residents.

The right thing to do is to get this job done and Labor will do that. Those opposite can try to blame the

bureaucrats for any delays, but the residents of Dapto know what happened and they will not forget. We are well

on our way to securing a fair go for the people of Dapto. We need to clean up the last 12 years of mess, but we

cannot do it in 12 weeks. We have only just come into government, but I can ensure my community that I will not

stop until we have fair access to the M1. The Illawarra's own Scott Morrison opposite—Gareth from marketing—

can spin this in the local media all he likes.

Mr Gareth Ward: Mr Temporary Speaker, can you help me? Ask her to withdraw it.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Alex Greenwich): The member for Kiama will resume his seat. I thank

the member for Shellharbour for her contribution. The member for Shellharbour has moved a motion, to which

the member for Kiama has moved an amendment. The question is that the amendment of the member for Kiama

be agreed to.

The House divided.

Ayes ................... 33

Noes ................... 49

Majority .............. 16

AYES

Amon, R Hodges, M Saunders, D

Anderson, K James, T Singh, G (teller)

Ayyad, T Kean, M Sloane, K

Clancy, J Kemp, M Speakman, M

Cooke, S Lane, J Taylor, M

Coure, M Layzell, D Tuckerman, W

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 35

AYES

Cross, M Marshall, A Ward, G

Crouch, A (teller) Perrottet, D Williams, L

Di Pasqua, S Petinos, E Williams, R

Griffin, J Preston, R Williamson, R

Henskens, A Roberts, A Wilson, F

NOES

Aitchison, J Hagarty, N O'Neill, M

Atalla, E Hannan, J Park, R

Bali, S Harris, D Quinnell, S

Barr, C Harrison, J Regan, M

Butler, L Haylen, J Saffin, J (teller)

Butler, R Hoenig, R Saliba, D

Car, P Holland, M Scully, P

Catley, Y Kaliyanda, C Stuart, M

Chanthivong, A Kamper, S Tesch, L

Cotsis, S Kirby, W Vo, T

Crakanthorp, T Li, J Voltz, L

Daley, M McDermott, H Warren, G

Dalton, H McGirr, J Washington, K

Dib, J McKeown, K Watson, A

Donato, P Mehan, D Whan, S (teller)

Doyle, T Minns, C Wilkinson, K

Finn, J

Amendment negatived.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Alex Greenwich): The question is that the motion be agreed to.

Motion agreed to.

POKER MACHINE REFORM

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (15:23): I move:

That this House:

(1) Calls on the Government to urgently reform poker machines in New South Wales.

(2) Commends the former Premier, Mr Dominic Perrottet, for his leadership on this issue to the last election.

(3) Notes that the Government's plan to trial pokie reform was heavily criticised by industry experts and the community, and

will fail the people of New South Wales.

We live in a State with more poker machines than anywhere in the world outside of Nevada, and it has created an

industry whose viability relies on revenue raised through the human misery of problem gambling. There are more

than 86,000 poker machines in New South Wales. That is 30 per cent more than Victoria and Queensland

combined. Areas with some of the highest losses to poker machines are also home to some of the lowest paid

workers, further entrenching disadvantage while wrecking families, lives and futures. Those are the families and

workers that members opposite profess to support. But their trial of 500 machines out of 86,000 is truly

disappointing. Former Labor leader John Robertson, whom the Premier was chief of staff to, said prior to the

election that even he could not understand Chris Minns' reluctance to support cashless gaming for poker machines.

Labor's plan has been criticised by gambling reform advocates as weak and likely to fail. The Alliance for

Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello said:

The suburbs where poker machines do the biggest damage, where countless millions are ripped out of the local community, are in

traditional Labor electorates …

The Government is turning its back on the very communities that helped get it elected. When costing Labor's

policy before the election, the Parliamentary Budget Office said that restrictions only on new machines would not

curb gaming losses because patrons would just move to older machines with a higher limit. What is truly

astounding is that the Government has not even provided any clarity on why it is running this trial. Is it to assess

the technology? Is it to assess the effectiveness of reducing money laundering in clubs and pubs? With such a

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 36

small trial, what would stop money laundering and the dirty money that comes with it occurring at the club next

door, or problem gamblers moving to the machines right next to the one in the trial?

We know that cashless machines have already been trialled voluntarily in our State, and that States such

as Victoria have implemented carded play already, giving us the research showing that a voluntary system is likely

to be ineffective in minimising the harms of problem gambling. I note that was under a Victorian Labor

government. We need a plan to address those problems directly while ensuring that our pubs and clubs and all of

the people who benefit from the work that they do can continue to thrive and be a force for good. Clubs can bring

people together and support live music and entertainment, sport, community events and much more. The social

benefits that clubs and pubs offer are especially important in regional New South Wales.

We also need to ensure that we are eliminating the scourge of dirty money in this State. In 2020-21,

$95 billion was turned over through poker machines in pubs and clubs in New South Wales, which is a truly

staggering number. The NSW Crime Commission estimates that billions of those dollars are the direct proceeds

of crime. Those revelations add to existing evidence detailing the harm that problem gambling causes to families

and communities in New South Wales. Recent data shows the scale of the financial impact, with New South Wales

residents losing $23.7 million every day. For problem gamblers, the costs are not only financial; gambling impacts

their relationships and their health and wellbeing, and can even lead to people losing their lives.

Although the cash-based nature of machines prevents law enforcement from seeing the full picture, the

NSW Crime Commission's inquiry still found that money laundering is widespread and significant. I note the

member for Sydney's call for papers motion and some of the incredibly concerning evidence and allegations made

about the amount of information that could have been withheld from the important work that the NSW Crime

Commission undertook. I find it astonishing that the Labor Government is turning its back on local communities.

It is enabling crime syndicates and others to continue the practice of laundering their money through clubs and

pubs. My motion commends the former Premier Dominic Perrottet not just for his leadership on this issue leading

up to the last election but also for providing a comprehensive plan to deliver a once-in-a-generation reform to

gaming, aimed at reducing criminal money laundering and helping address problem gambling.

The former Liberal-Nationals Government had a plan and a legislative framework to deliver those

much-needed reforms through to 2028. However, this Government has no such detailed plan. Labor members

have said no to legislating a date for a full transition to cashless gaming. They have ruled it out unequivocally.

Labor has said no to requiring that all new machines purchased once the rollout commences be cashless. Labor

has said no to enabling player identification verification to be linked to a single bank account and no to mandating

breaks in play. Labor supported only one of the eight recommendations put forward by the New South Wales

Crime Commission, and I note that the former Coalition Government had committed to all eight of the

recommendations.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Clayton Barr): The member for Wyong will come to order.

Ms FELICITY WILSON: Labor has said no to legislating player privacy protections for all

system generated data. Clearly this Government has no plan for dirty money and no commitment to protecting

communities and eliminating the money laundering that is occurring within this State. I acknowledge the support

of members of the crossbench in this place for the need to secure the reforms. I particularly acknowledge the

member for Sydney, who is in the Chamber, and the member for Murray. They have both spoken on this issue

and have had to cop a lot of flak for doing so. We have a moral obligation in this place to legislate reforms that

will make a real difference to people's lives. We need to ensure we protect families and the community while

cutting down on organised crime. We need to break our addiction to gambling.

Mr DAVID HARRIS (WyongMinister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, Minister for Gaming

and Racing, Minister for Veterans, Minister for Medical Research, and Minister for the Central Coast)

(15:30): I contribute to debate on the motion. I thank the member for North Shore for bringing forward this

motion on the very important public policy issue of poker machine and gaming reform in New South Wales.

However, most of the contribution from the member for North Shore was some sort of made-up fantasy. She is

verballing Government members in such a dishonest way, because we are about to implement exactly what she

said that we are saying no to. Before you contribute to debate in Parliament, how about you actually look at what

we are doing? I am happy to talk facts but I will not argue rubbish, and that is really offensive.

Ms Felicity Wilson: Point of order: If the member would like to make an accusation about me or any

member in this House, he knows that he needs to do so through a substantive motion. I ask that he withdraw.

Mr DAVID HARRIS: To the point of order: That is not a point of order in this particular case.

Ms Felicity Wilson: Further to the point of order: It is a point of order in this particular case.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 37

Mr DAVID HARRIS: Further to the point of order: I have made no imputations against the member's

character.

Ms Felicity Wilson: Further to the point of order: If the member wishes to call me dishonest in this

Chamber, he needs to move that as a substantive motion.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Clayton Barr): The member for Wyong will direct his comments

through the Chair. He has been asked to withdraw, and he can choose whether to do so.

Mr DAVID HARRIS: I withdraw if there was some offence. But if the member for North Sydney were

to read the standing orders more closely, she would understand that is not actually a thing. But let us talk about

the truth. I understand that the member for North Sydney only came to this place a few years ago, but members

opposite were in power for 12 years. During their time in government—these are facts—the Liberal Party and

The Nationals oversaw a huge growth in gambling and betting revenue. When Labor left government in 2010-11

it was $1.75 billion, and when the Coalition left government in 2021-22 it was $2.9 billion. Members opposite

should not lecture us about gambling reform because not only did revenue from gambling and betting increase

but also the Liberal-Nationals Government in New South Wales made a litany of errors instead of working

constructively with all groups on sensible gaming reforms.

First, the former Government attempted a series of uncosted and untrialled changes without engaging with

industry or unions about the possible impacts on their jobs. It is a basic courtesy to let people know before

proposing changes that will affect their livelihoods and businesses, and Government members think workers have

a right to know if their jobs will be affected. At the eleventh hour before the State election, I think because Liberal

seats were under threat from the teals, the former Premier made an election promise for a mandatory cashless

gaming card that was uncosted and unplanned. I know that because I asked if anyone had a copy of the plan and

the answer was no—no-one had a copy of the plan. Neither the department nor the industry had seen it.

In fact, industry representatives made it quite clear that they had been totally left out of the loop. No money

had been set aside to actually implement a card or to scale up the technology to make sure it worked as intended.

Furthermore, there was no consideration of the possible impacts and consequences on jobs and the New South

Wales economy. It may have left the State open to significant compensation claims. The people of New South

Wales, especially those experiencing gambling harm and their families, deserve better than a whole lot of rhetoric.

They have deserved reform for the past 12 years, but it did not happen. What arrogance from the Liberal Party

and The Nationals, when they have not done anything remotely constructive on gaming reform in over 12 years.

We should not commend them for that. That is why Labor members obviously oppose the motion.

In comparison, the Minns Labor Government has been in power for nine weeks but is already progressing

several important gaming reforms. It has already brought to the Parliament a ban on electoral donations from clubs

with poker machines and a ban on VIP signage outside gaming lounges. There is more to come, including cash

limits on gaming machines and a reduction over time in the number of poker machines in this State. Government

members are not talking about it; they are doing it. The Government will soon announce the make-up of the

independent panel that will oversee the cashless gaming trial. Labor has a comprehensive suite of policies to

address gambling-related harms and money laundering in this State—policies that in the longer term will protect

individuals, families and communities but are good for workers as well. That is why the people of New South

Wales voted in March this year to change the Government—they actually wanted change, not more empty

promises and platitudes.

This is a really difficult, complex area. Yes, Labor members are taking a cautious approach, and things are

not happening as quickly as some people want them to. But anyone who knows me knows that I am very evidence

based and that I want to get things right. I do not want to move down a pathway and have some sort of crazy

disaster happen that costs businesses and costs the State jobs. I want to make sure that what we do as a government

is well thought out and well understood, and that it works. If Opposition members want to criticise us for doing

that then I will take that criticism. But trying to score cheap political points through empty rhetoric is not the way

to solve the problem or address what needs to happen. Government members want to make sure that there are

protections and harm minimisation. We want to stop money laundering, but we also want to protect jobs and make

sure it is done in a sensible way. I move:

That the motion be amended by omitting paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting instead:

(2) Notes the Minns Labor Government is implementing policies for gaming reform to address harms from gambling and money

laundering associated with electronic gaming machine use in New South Wales, while also protecting jobs, particularly in

rural and regional New South Wales.

(3) Acknowledges the New South Wales Parliament crossbench for their constructive contribution to this important public

policy area.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 38

Mr ALEX GREENWICH (Sydney) (15:37): At the outset, I thank the member for North Shore for

bringing this motion to the House. I acknowledge that she is extremely passionate about this issue, as are members

of the Government, the Opposition and the crossbench. That has been highlighted by all members. I also

acknowledge the leadership of former Premier Dominic Perrottet in bringing forward what was an extremely

courageous policy during an election campaign, one that the member for Lake Macquarie, the member for

Wagga Wagga and I were in support of.

We are dealing with a very important and complex piece of law reform that hopefully will finally tackle

the State's addiction to gambling. The member for North Shore highlighted the state of problem gambling in New

South Wales, something that I know the Minister is fully aware of and seeks to address. New South Wales is the

nation's capital when it comes to money laundering. We know a great deal of that is being done in clubs and pubs

right across New South Wales through electronic gaming machines, and I am sure we will learn more about that

in coming weeks.

The member for Wagga Wagga, the member for Lake Macquarie and I met within days of the Minister for

Gaming and Racing taking up his role, and we have met with the Premier a number of times to discuss this issue.

I assure all members of this House that the new Minns Labor Government is taking the issue of reforms to deal

with gambling harm and money laundering extremely seriously. Ultimately, its policy will benefit from the

leadership and courage of the former Premier, Dominic Perrottet, and the work he did on his policy, which was

detailed and, I believe, also costed.

We heard in the Chamber today a number of accusations from both sides claiming that members on one

side of the House have done one thing and the other side has not. That is politics. When we want to progress

important, meaningful and controversial reform—something I have had some experience with—that type of

politics does not help the outcome. Consensus building, based on evidence, is how we get a result. My approach

to this reform will be to work with the new Government, to work with my crossbench colleagues and to work with

the Opposition to make sure that in this term of government we finally address problem gambling, and that we

finally address the elements of organised crime that on a regular basis today will be laundering money in clubs

and pubs across New South Wales.

This is something that New South Wales, as a State that is often considered to be the law and order State,

needs to finally be honest about and finally take seriously. As I said, I am grateful for the focus of the former

Coalition Government, but let me put those members at ease: The new Government is taking this seriously. The

new Minister is taking this seriously. I want to ensure the Government's trial is a complete success. I want to

ensure we have cashless gaming in New South Wales well before the Coalition's policy outlined. I think that is

entirely possible.

Mr GREG WARREN (Campbelltown) (15:41): My contribution to debate on the motion will be brief.

I thank the member for North Shore for bringing this very important and topical public policy issue to the House.

I also acknowledge my colleague the Minister and the Premier for their commitment to ensuring this matter is

addressed in a sensible manner that does not impose upon the entire industry potential ramifications which may

impact upon many workers and community groups. The member for Sydney is right. I acknowledge that one thing

he can never be blamed for is not being passionate. He is like a dog with a bone. This is his new bone and he is

running with it. Good on him. I know that professionally and personally this issue is important to him.

I believe that the Minns Labor Government's approach of adopting a comprehensive suite of policies to

address harms from poker machines and money laundering in New South Wales is the right approach at this time,

from a trial perspective. We in the Labor Party and in the Labor Government believe that good government is all

about implementing real change, but we have to do that by working in a constructive and collaborative manner

with the whole range of stakeholders. The Minister knows that in relation to this matter, nothing is more topical

than the need to engage with stakeholders to ensure they are listened to and considered. We must also be very

aware of ensuring that any changes we make are implemented constructively to provide a solution and find the

balance. That is why I support the amendment moved by the Minister. We know that any change must be sensible,

proportionate and evidence-based. We can adopt a proactive approach, but it is also very important that the

approach is collaborative and that it achieves the outcome we need.

With the support of industry stakeholders, 240 machines with cashless gaming technology are being

trialled. As I said previously, engaging with industry in a constructive way will make the process of

implementation and scaling up that process much easier and more effective. Soon the Government will announce

the independent panel to oversee the trial, including implementation, monitoring and evaluation. We want to make

sure the trial is successful at reducing the gambling harms and money laundering mentioned by the member for

Sydney. Furthermore, the solutions to those problems, such as a cashless gaming trial, will work only if supported

by a range of other measures to help with the longer-term transition to a cashless gaming environment. I emphasise

that a collaborative approach is so important.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 39

The Government already is considering implementing other measures, including reducing cash feed-in

limits to $500 for all new gaming machines. We will also be reducing the overall number of gaming machines in

New South Wales. We want to implement a set of evidence-based policies to address gambling-related harms and

money laundering from poker machines in New South Wales. As I previously noted, the Government will work

constructively with all members of this House: the Opposition, the crossbench and anyone who is willing to work

constructively to achieve the best possible outcome. That is so important, and that is precisely what the Minister

and the Government will do.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Clayton Barr): There is too much audible conversation. Members will

please move their conversations outside the Chamber or whisper in the spirit of whispering, which is quietly.

Ms JENNY LEONG (Newtown) (15:46): On behalf of The Greens I speak in debate on the motion

moved by the member for North Shore, and I wish to raise significant concerns about this debate. It appears we

have gone from discussing the serious harms of gambling, poker machines and money laundering to a political

point-scoring exercise between the Government and the Opposition. It has become a contest of who we are

commending, who we are condemning and who we are moving on. Instead, we ought to be recognising that we

have a responsibility to act to address gambling harm and money laundering. From that point of view, I thank the

member for North Shore for putting the issue of poker machine reform on the agenda and allowing members to

have this debate. It is critical for members to examine the impact of gambling harm. In keeping with the comments

of the member for North Shore about focusing on the main game of reform, I will move a Greens amendment that

will seek bring us all together, instead of scoring political points, to recognise that all members of this House have

a responsibility to act. I move:

That the amendment of Mr Harris be amended by omitting all words after "That" and inserting instead "this House recognises that

every Member in the Parliament has a responsibility to act to end gambling harm and money laundering."

It is the view of The Greens that we must work through this problem to address all of the pressures and influence

that we have seen from the clubs industry, the gambling industry, organised crime and money laundering. We

have seen how gambling harm preys on our communities and how it corrupts our politics. I am proud to be a

member of The Greens, which is the only political party represented in this place that does not take corporate

donations or donations from gambling or the clubs industry. But the reality is that the gambling industry continues

to wreak ongoing damage on our communities while reaping massive profits from poker machines and an

enormous personal toll is taken on individuals and families who are experiencing profound financial stress.

Over the past 30 years, poker machines have taken $135 billion from people in New South Wales. The

machines are designed to draw people in and addict them, and the families that can least afford it are being hardest

hit by the pain. The Greens and the other crossbench members are clear on this. It seems that every member in the

Chamber sees clearly that we must act to address the harm that is being caused by pokies in our communities.

Through our willingness to act, we can demonstrate that we are not addicted to political point-scoring in the way

so many in our communities are addicted to poker machines. We can demonstrate that here and now by taking

responsibility for ending gambling harm and money laundering. The Greens want to see a whole lot more.

I recognise that the member for Murray is in the Chamber.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Clayton Barr): Order! There is too much audible conversation in the

Chamber.

Ms JENNY LEONG: The member for Murray has made a significant commitment to reform, as have

many members on the crossbench. The member for Sydney, like The Greens, has made an absolute commitment

to reform in this space. The Greens want the introduction of a cashless gambling card. We want pubs and clubs

to pay for the harm they cause with pokies. We want to phase out poker machines in pubs within five years and

in clubs within 10 years. The Greens are committed to mandatory statewide cashless gambling cards in all pubs

and clubs. We need to reduce gambling harm in so many ways. This is not the time to score political points and

create division; it is time to show unity. All members in this place have the responsibility to act when it comes to

ending gambling harm and money laundering.

Ms JULIA FINN (Granville) (15:50): I am proud to be part of a Minns Labor government that is already

implementing a comprehensive set of policies to address the harms of gambling and money laundering associated

with poker machine use in New South Wales. I note the comment of the member for Sydney that the Government

is taking this seriously. We consulted many different groups, including industry groups, unions, harm

minimisation groups and charities, to develop these comprehensive, holistic and targeted policies. We have

worked hard to ensure that our policies deliver for the people of New South Wales, particularly in protecting jobs

and supporting workers.

Over 137,000 people in the State are employed across clubs, hotels, pubs and casinos. They do important

work and provide services that the majority of people enjoy using safely. In my community, local pubs and clubs

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 40

support charities, sporting clubs and community organisations and schools. Local pubs and clubs support many

young people to get their first job out of high school or support them while they undertake further study at TAFE

and university. That is why the policies announced by the Government to address gambling harms are important

for workers.

The Government will not just implement an evidence-based trial to test cashless gaming systems and see

how they work in practice; it will also introduce a responsible gaming officer for venues with more than

20 machines. This will provide workers with the opportunity to do more advanced training to support patrons who

may be at risk of gambling harm. I know many of my local clubs already proactively approach patrons whose

gambling is getting out of control to offer support. The Government will expand the self-exclusion register to the

whole State and look at third-party exclusion processes. It will consider facial recognition technology in pubs and

clubs to ensure that patrons who are banned from venues are not allowed in. These policies will help workers in

pubs and clubs to manage and support those in the community who are at high risk of experiencing harm from

gambling behaviours.

The policies will also directly address issues such as money laundering of the proceeds of crime. Compare

this to 12 years of inaction from those opposite. We could see these problems unfolding. It was not until the Crime

Commission issued its report that members opposite began talking about taking action—but they did not

implement anything. This Government is implementing serious reforms. All members want action to reduce

gambling harms and money laundering in this State, but only Labor has developed policies that will achieve these

two goals while also supporting workers and jobs, and only Labor is implementing those policies.

Mrs HELEN DALTON (Murray) (15:53): By leave: I make a small contribution to debate on the

motion. I thank the member for North Shore for moving the motion. There will be a lot of debate on this and we

need to get on with it. The New South Wales Crime Commission has identified money laundering as occurring

within the State. It is certainly occurring within my electorate and there is no secret about that. The cashless

gaming card has been introduced in Norway. Limits were set and 99.6 per cent of people have kept within them.

The limits work to limit harm and money laundering. The system works well in Norway.

I urge the Minns Government to immediately introduce the cashless gaming card. I have heard about the

Government's plan. It needs to get on with the plan as quickly as possible. As I said last night, $185 million is lost

to poker machines in the electorate of Murray. There are 90,000 poker machines throughout the State—far too

many. Governments are also hooked on gambling as they clip the ticket. We need to expedite reform and I urge

the Minns Government to do that. We need to minimise the harm and organised crime. Right now, kids are hungry

and there is domestic violence, high suicide rates and financial ruin. We need to get on with the job as quickly as

possible.

Mr JAMES GRIFFIN (Manly) (15:55): By leave: If there was ever an issue that transcended politics,

I think this is it, as evidenced by the diversity of speakers from the crossbench, The Greens, the Government and

the Opposition. For that reason, I ask all members to think deeply about what it is that they do not agree with in

the Crime Commission report recommendations. As we speak, there are people in all of our communities feeding

hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars through poker machines. At the same time there are criminals laundering

money in the pubs and clubs that we all love and enjoy spending time in. As the member for Murray just

mentioned, urgency is the question.

I ask members to consider what part of the policy platform the Coalition took to the election they do not

agree with. Is it supporting the Crime Commission report recommendations; introducing cashless gaming in all

New South Wales venues; or legislating a date for a full transition to cashless gaming? Is it requiring that all new

machines purchased once the rollout commences be cashless? Is it enabling player identity verification linked to

a single bank account; banning political donations from pubs and clubs; or the buyback scheme targeted to acquire

2,000 machines over five years? Is it the $500 load limit? Is it ensuring funds for gaming come from one bank

account rather than allowing credit to be used; or implementing a statewide self-exclusion register with third-party

exclusion?

Perhaps members do not support mandating breaks in play; or the prohibition of the use of external signage;

or ensuring personal player data can only be used for law enforcement, government and commercial purposes; or

legislating player privacy protections for all system-generated data? This is an insidious problem. It is one of the

biggest issues to confront members of Parliament, no matter what part of the State we represent. As members

from both sides have said, urgency is required. I put it to the Government that it is time to get on with smashing

problem gambling and the devastation and destruction it causes in homes right across New South Wales.

I commend the member for North Shore for moving the motion.

Debate adjourned.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 41

Petitions

WAGGA WAGGA AND GRIFFITH CANCER TREATMENT CENTRES AND PATIENT COSTS

The SPEAKER: I note that there are a number of guests of the member for Wagga Wagga in the public

gallery. I acknowledge Justine Turnbull, Kym Bramich, Majella Gallagher, Emma Phillips, Sharon Flynn, Ian

Lovett, Judy-Ann Emberson, Navneet Choujar, Gemma Flynn, Agnes Yi, Annette St Clair, Peter St Clair and

Tony Noun. I welcome them all to the Legislative Assembly Chamber.

The question is that the House take note of the petition.

Dr JOE McGIRR (Wagga Wagga) (15:59): It is with pride and hope that I present this petition to the

New South Wales Parliament. It calls on the Government to address the unfair situation that the Riverina Cancer

Care Centre in Wagga Wagga is the only radiotherapy centre in regional New South Wales where patients seeking

life-saving, pain-relieving cancer treatment have to meet out-of-pocket costs. It means that the most vulnerable in

our community, when they are at their most vulnerable, have to deal with the added stress of finding money for

their treatment. Some 12,000 signatures from our region say that is unfair, and we are calling for it to be fixed.

I start with the history. The Riverina Cancer Care Centre was established 20 years ago. It was built using

$6 million raised directly by the community. That is a stunning achievement. The community arranged for the

centre to be run by a private provider. There was no public provider available at the time. That meant that an

out-of-pocket cost was charged. At the time the community was not happy. They had raised all of the funds for

the building. However, it was generally accepted because, in my view, people were so relieved to not have to

travel to Sydney and spend weeks fighting cancer away from their families. They saw the enormous benefit to the

community. I personally remember the primitive cancer treatment facilities in our region and the torment that

people suffered having to travel to Sydney for long periods of radiotherapy treatment without their family and

loved ones to support them. This facility changed that.

In a real way, the efforts of the people of the Riverina led the way for the State. The establishment of the

centre in Wagga Wagga confirmed how important it was for people to get treatment close to home. Otherwise,

people would often choose to not get the treatment that they needed. There are now a range of facilities in regional

New South Wales run by the State Government that do not have out-of-pocket costs. That is great. I applaud the

investment by the Government in that. I note that we now have the facility in Griffith, which is run by a private

provider and does not have out-of-pocket costs. Sadly, 20 years on, people attending the Wagga Wagga centre are

still paying out-of-pocket costs. In this day and age, that is just not acceptable. The community should not be

punished for funding their own cancer centre 20 years ago, but that is what it feels like.

It has meant that our community has had to support patients. I acknowledge the work of Can Assist. There

are members of Can Assist in the public gallery. Their volunteers have basically picked up the slack to help people

fund their treatment. I also acknowledge Amey Glynn. She is not here today, but I am sure she is watching online.

Amey told the ABC that she had to pay $5,000 for an initial consultation for her non-Hodgkin lymphoma and

then had to pay an additional $1,300 a week during her treatment. She acknowledges that she was one of the lucky

ones who could afford those costs. There were rebates through private health insurers and Medicare, but those

up-front payments are a hefty financial burden that many have to overcome. It scares people, especially those who

do not have the means, and there is still a gap to cover at the end of it.

Furthermore, we may see more public-private partnerships, with the Commonwealth providing some

infrastructure funds and a private partner also coming in. I guarantee that there will be out-of-pocket costs when

those get set up. The State Government must address that. I understand how complicated the relationship between

the State and Commonwealth governments is, and I understand the rules that bureaucrats put in place. But at the

end of the day, those rules often do not make sense in rural regions. I would like to see the Commonwealth and

the State work together to make sure that where the Commonwealth funds infrastructure, the State is supported to

meet out-of-pocket costs in a reasonable way.

Radiotherapy can be a life-saving treatment. It can relieve severe pain. It can prolong life. We would all

expect it to be there for our loved ones as close as possible to where they live, so that they can go through treatment

with the support of their family. We also expect that people have access to that without financial strain. This

petition of more than 12,000 signatures calls on the Government to intervene and resolve that funding anomaly

and regional health inequity. I commend the motion to take note of the petition to the House.

Dr MICHAEL HOLLAND (Bega) (16:04): I acknowledge my colleague Dr Joe McGirr, the member

for Wagga Wagga. We have shared experiences as clinicians and representing rural regions of New South Wales.

We acknowledge the lived experience of our constituents on this important issue. People who live in rural and

regional New South Wales can access cancer services through networks of public and private providers. The

services provide prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care services. People with cancer in

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 42

rural and regional areas are also able to participate in investigator-driven clinical trials closer to home. There are

nine public and five private "comprehensive cancer care centres" in regional New South Wales. All public centres

provide services such as radiotherapy, medical oncology, clinical haematology, palliative care and rehabilitation.

They also provide access to other essential services, such as diagnostic imaging, nuclear medicine, pathology,

intensive care and pharmacy services, as well as the skilled workforce necessary to provide a quality, sustainable

cancer service.

The nine publicly funded rural and regional comprehensive cancer care centres are located in Tamworth,

Orange, Nowra, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Lismore, Gosford, Wollongong and Dubbo. The five private

centres are in Wagga Wagga, provided by Cancer Care Associates; Albury-Wodonga, provided by GenesisCare;

Gosford, provided by ICON; and two centres at Maitland, provided by GenesisCare and ICON. The

Murrumbidgee Local Health District currently supports the provision of cancer treatments within the Riverina

with $1.6 million a year. Patients in the district are also supported by communities, non-government organisations

and key cancer support partners. The Wagga Wagga cancer treatment facility, known as the Riverina Cancer Care

Centre, was built through support and donations from the Riverina communities.

The Murrumbidgee Local Health District has a service agreement with Cancer Care Associates, which

provides cancers services for the region from the centre. Services include inpatient and outpatient radiotherapy

and outpatient chemotherapy in Wagga Wagga, as well as outreach medical oncologist consultant support for the

district's chemotherapy services at Griffith Base Hospital and Young Health Service. The district also provides

specialist clinicians to the centre, including cancer care coordinators, allied health professionals and specialist

nurses. Wagga Wagga Base Hospital provides inpatient medical oncology to admitted cancer patients. Outpatient

medical oncology treatments are provided to patients through centre premises located in the Wagga Wagga health

precinct on the Calvary private hospital campus. The centre is operated as a private enterprise and has

patient-billing policies for patients accessing cancer treatment.

The centre applies a range of different billing models that allows patients to access private insurance,

Department of Veterans' Affairs payments and bulk billing. Some patients may be required to pay additional gap

fees. The Murrumbidgee Local Health District provides the centre with an annual infrastructure grant to support

access to cancer treatment for public patients. In part, that payment is intended to reduce out-of-pocket expenses

for patients accessing chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The district provides a range of treatment and supportive

care to patients with cancer, and it partners with other services to ensure patients receive the appropriate care that

they require during their cancer journey.

The medical oncology units at the Griffith and Young hospitals are operated through a service agreement

between the district and the centre. The medical oncology unit at Young is a district-operated service providing

chemotherapy treatment three days a week. The medical oncology unit within Griffith Base Hospital is operated

by the district and provides chemotherapy treatment to patients five days a week. The centre provides medical

oncologists while the district covers all other operational and infrastructure costs. The Cancer Care group has been

successful in obtaining a Fighting Cancer grant of $5.2 million to develop a radiation oncology facility at Griffith,

operating as Cancer Care Griffith.

In 2022 the New South Wales Government reached an agreement to ensure there will be no out-of-pocket

expenses for public patients attending the radiotherapy service in Griffith. The facility is expected to start

operations in June 2023. The Government is committed to providing equitable access to high-quality cancer

treatment for Riverina residents. Work has commenced on renewal of the agreement between the district and the

private provider. The district prioritises access to quality cancer services for patients and families in the Riverina

region, and is working to ensure equitable, safe and affordable cancer care.

Mrs HELEN DALTON (Murray) (16:09): I speak in favour of the ongoing push by the member for

Wagga Wagga to have radiation therapy in Wagga Wagga bulk-billed. Let me start by saying that this is a fight

that Dr Joe never should have had. I have a personal understanding of this fight because, until recently, I was

facing exactly the same fight for funding in Griffith that the member is facing in Wagga Wagga today. Before the

change of government, Griffith and Wagga Wagga were the only two places in New South Wales where cancer

patients faced out-of-pocket expenses to get life-saving treatment. In every other area of the State these treatments

are bulk-billed. It was never fair or equitable for the good people of Griffith or Wagga Wagga to have to find

more than $400 every time they needed life-saving treatment when everyone else in the State gets the same

treatment for free.

While the financial pressure this cost causes is unfair and outrageous, as anyone who has cared for a sick

loved one will tell you, it is not only about the expense. It is also about the emotional impact of the unfairness of

that expense. The unfairness upsets patients at a time when they should not be upset. Let us not forget that many

of these patients are being forced to face death. How on earth can any government tell people they can access

life-saving treatments only if they are willing to pay a bill that no-one else in the State is expected to pay? Recently,

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 43

the new State Government agreed to do the right thing by the people of Griffith and provide the funding needed

to ensure that radiation therapy in Griffith can be bulk-billed. While that is great news, it fixes only half the

problem. What about Wagga Wagga?

That is why I am calling on the new State Government to do the right thing by the people of Wagga Wagga

and ensure they can access bulk-billed radiation therapy, just like every other person in New South Wales. Given

everything else that a cancer patient goes through, surely this is the least we can all do to help people in their time

of incredible need.

Ms TRISH DOYLE (Blue Mountains) (16:12): I acknowledge and pay respect to my colleague the

member for Wagga Wagga for bringing the petition to this place and acknowledge the visitors from Wagga Wagga

who are in the public gallery. I am a proud Riverina girl and went to Wagga Wagga High School, although now

I represent the good people of the Blue Mountains. But you never forget where you come from. In acknowledging

the good member and my respect for him, I point out that I agree that rural and remote regions of Australia have

higher rates of mortality from all cancers than metropolitan areas. I agree that we need to confront the geographic

and socio-economic disparities that exist between metropolitan and rural areas. I agree that, as representatives in

this place, we are all tasked—not just the Government—with ensuring all Australians have equal access to cancer

care, no matter where they live or what their circumstances are.

However, it is important to put on record that not everyone who is diagnosed with cancer must travel long

distances for treatment, because there are regional cancer centres across New South Wales. The New South Wales

Government acknowledges and cares that there may be extra challenges, such as having to travel for tests or

treatment, and that many people cannot access the treatment they need because of their finances. I acknowledge

also comments by my colleague the member for Bega, who said that people living in rural areas have poorer

access to and use of primary and secondary healthcare services than do people in the cities. It is incumbent on all

of us who come from outside the Sydney metropolitan area to point that out in this place again and again, whether

or not we are members of the Government, and to work with the government of the day to fix some of those

problems.

The Blue Mountains District ANZAC Memorial Hospital, which is a small hospital and sits under the

tertiary hospital of the Nepean, is unable to provide cancer services. We are unable to provide many things. The

complexity and specialisation of health services today mean that small hospitals like Blue Mountains Hospital,

which is not in a metropolitan area but is sometimes included in Greater Sydney in different portfolios, are unable

to provide the full range of health services requested by residents. At this moment I am working hard with my

colleague the good new Minister for Health to provide cancer care services at Blue Mountains Hospital, because

that is possible with some planning and funding. So I understand where the member for Wagga Wagga is coming

from, and I empathise. Like him, I will continue those conversations with our Minister. We will continue

advocating until we can provide the care that our constituents need, regardless of where they come from.

I have trust and faith in this Minister, who spent—and to this day still spends—time in hospitals and with

communities, listening to people and understanding what their needs are. He has ahead of him the huge task of

addressing more than a decade's worth of neglect of people in New South Wales. I put that on the record as well.

Some important points have been covered but, as a girl from Wagga Wagga, I put on the record that the cancer

treatment facility known as the Riverina Cancer Care Centre was built through support and donations from

Riverina communities. We should always remember that. Services include inpatient and outpatient radiotherapy

and outpatient chemotherapy in Wagga Wagga and outreach medical oncologist consultant support for the

district's chemotherapy services at Griffith and Young Health Service. We need to acknowledge those points.

I finish by acknowledging that the previous Government reached an agreement last year to ensure that

there would be no out-of-pocket expenses for public patients, and we will now get on with the job. I believe that,

wherever you come from across New South Wales, this Government will deliver.

Ms STEPH COOKE (Cootamundra) (16:17): I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Cootamundra

electorate in support of this petition lodged by the member for Wagga Wagga. I acknowledge the member for his

advocacy on this issue, which calls for the elimination of out-of-pocket expenses associated with radiation

treatment at the Wagga Wagga cancer treatment centre. The centre is, of course, accessed by people from my

electorate who are in need of cancer treatment. Accordingly, many of my constituents signed the petition at

locations such as Junee Post Office. I also acknowledge and thank the petition's signatories for their support of

this issue, which is important for many regional families.

We know that out-of-pocket expenses are a significant impost when accessing health care. Combined with

the extensive travel often required of patients in regional towns in order to gain access to the treatment needed, it

can take a huge physical and emotional, let alone financial, toll. Thankfully, last year the former Coalition

Government significantly expanded the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme, or

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 44

IPTAAS. This is already making a difference for local families, helping to reduce the financial burden on regional

patients who need to travel long distances to receive specialist care, including cancer treatment.

Making IPTAAS the most generous scheme in the country has also eased some of the burden on

organisations such as Can Assist, which amongst other stakeholders had an active role in making the case for

change. On that note, I acknowledge and commend the representatives of Can Assist who join us in the gallery

today. For more than 20 years, Can Assist has been supporting patients and their families undergoing cancer

treatment with out-of-pocket expenses. In the Cootamundra electorate, we have an amazing team of volunteers

who make up several local branches of Can Assist, including branches at Ardlethan, Cootamundra, Grenfell,

Gundagai, Harden-Murrumburrah, Junee, Narrandera, Temora, Ungarie, West Wyalong and Young-Boorowa.

On Daffodil Day last year, I remember meeting Catherine Goodall and Sheridan Evans of the

Cancer Council, Wagga Wagga, together with Liz Cowled and Graham Besley of Junee Can Assist. Next month

Junee Can Assist will be hosting their Ladies Long Lunch, a fundraiser which has become a calendar highlight

locally. Earlier this year Cathy Manwaring of the Cootamundra branch opened her sunflower field to the

community in return for donations to Can Assist. These are just a couple of the amazing people in my part of the

world who are raising awareness, advocating for and providing support to regional cancer patients and their

families.

Much of this work is achieved through substantial fundraising efforts—it is extraordinary—which have

always been incredibly well supported by the broader community. All moneys raised go to supporting local people

with out-of-pocket expenses. Their reach goes far and wide. With the support of Can Assist and improvements to

IPTAAS, some of the financial barriers experienced by regional patients in accessing the treatment they need are

eased, but more can always be done.

We know the benefits of radiation therapy as part of the cancer treatment mix. It is a proven lifesaving

therapy used in 48 per cent of successful cancer treatments. Radiation helps patients with certain types of cancer

to avoid expensive and intrusive surgery. While we are fortunate to have radiation treatment available in

Wagga Wagga to support patients in the broader region, it is crucial that access is not impeded by the associated

costs. We have heard today that Griffith has had its local radiotherapy centre fully approved as a bulk-billing

centre. Quite simply, the same arrangements should apply at Wagga Wagga. The inequity from centre to centre

needs to change. I am pleased to support the petition on behalf of all those in my electorate who signed it, and on

behalf of all of those currently supporting a loved one through the fight of their lives.

Mr RYAN PARK (KeiraMinister for Health, Minister for Regional Health, and Minister for the

Illawarra and the South Coast) (16:22): I sincerely thank the member for Wagga Wagga not only for bringing

this petition to the House but also, I have to be honest, for his incredible advocacy on behalf of rural and regional

communities when it comes to health care. I have had the pleasure of listening and learning from Dr Joe, as he is

known to those of us on this side of the House, for a number of years. I always leave conversations with Joe more

informed about rural and regional health care, so I thank him very much. I thank the member for Murray, a terrific

advocate for her community; the member for Cootamundra; my good mate the member for Blue Mountains; and

the member for Bega.

I have to be honest: I think we can do better on this, and we need to do better. I have asked NSW Health

to go back and have a look at this. I was first informed about it when I made a trip to Wagga Wagga as part of my

first trip into rural and regional New South Wales when I took over as Minister. I also went to see the member for

Murray. I had the opportunity to speak to Joe about this discrepancy. It does not make a lot of sense to me, if I am

brutally honest about it. I have asked NSW Health, in the spirit of what new Ministers should do, to go back,

examine this and pressure test it, because I think we can do better.

What we have to start to realise is that we have to have a lens over things that the city takes for granted in

rural and regional health care as well. You cannot have a Westmead in every town or village. I know that, and the

people whom I have met over the last four years as shadow Minister and in the last eight weeks as Minister

understand that better than most. One of the beauties of being shadow Minister for so long is that I have had a

very deep engagement with many people in rural and remote New South Wales. What they often tell me is, "No,

we don't need a Westmead in every town or village, Ryan, but one of the challenges we have is that services that

we were getting 25 or 30 years ago have been taken away. It would be good to get some of those back."

I will end by saying this: I am going to look at this carefully and have ongoing discussions with the member

for Wagga Wagga. I am going to make sure that priority is placed on rural and regional health care within

NSW Health. I think we have a lot more work to do. I think we can do a lot better than we are doing. I am happy

that the member for Wagga Wagga and, I think, the member for Murray will be on a Legislative Assembly

committee inquiring into the implementation of our rural and regional health care. I thank all members for the

way in which we have debated this today and for their advocacy on behalf of rural and regional New South Wales.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 45

Dr JOE McGIRR (Wagga Wagga) (16:25): In reply: I begin by thanking the Minister for his reply and

look forward to the successful conclusion by that Minister. I also acknowledge and thank my colleagues, the

members for Bega, Murray, the Blue Mountains and Cootamundra, for their words. It was in not even a year that

we amassed 12,000 signatures. That is due to the hard work of a whole lot of people. I acknowledge that I started

this petition with the member for Murray, Helen Dalton, who is in the Chamber and spoke. I thank her for her

support. Of course, the situation in Griffith was resolved during the petition, but we worked to get it going at the

start and I thank her for her support. I also acknowledge that members of her community in Griffith contributed

to the building of the centre originally. I also acknowledge the members of the Cootamundra electorate, the

contribution of the member for Cootamundra and the support of the Can Assist branches there and people of her

electorate who have contributed to this centre and for whom this is such a vital issue.

I finish by thanking all of those who have contributed to the collection of signatures. I am sure I will not

cover everyone, but I want to acknowledge Ms Debbie Robinson, Ms Cindy Flint, Mr Alan Lean, Ms Nola Baker,

Mr Rod Blundell, Ms Anne Hallard, Ms Andrea Sturgess, Ms Jane Lieschke, Ms Judy Pigram, Ms Leah Niehus,

Ms Kathryn Goss, the late Mr Peter Moloney, who helped me go around to practices to get this petition signed

and who sadly passed away earlier this year, Ms Susan Gannon and Dr Saba Nabi. They are just a few of the

people.

I also acknowledge Annette St Clair and Judy-Ann Emberson, long-term advocates for cancer in our

electorate. I acknowledge Can Assist and Emma Phillips, who is here with her team. The work they have done to

support people in our region is phenomenal. That includes Margaret Dalmau and the team at Lilier Lodge. I also

thank the people from Cancer Council NSW for the work they have done. I acknowledge Mr Tony Noun who has

been with Riverina Cancer Care Centre since the beginning. I am pleased that the situation has been resolved for

Griffith but, as the Minister himself acknowledged, we can do better on this for Wagga Wagga and we need to do

better on this for Wagga Wagga. It is an unfair situation and is just not acceptable. I commend the motion to take

note of the petition to the House.

The SPEAKER: I thank the guests in the gallery who visited to listen to debate. I imagine many of you

travelled quite some distance to do that and I acknowledge the additional effort you have gone to.

Petition noted.

Community Recognition Statements

TRIBUTE TO JOY MCKEAN, OAM

Mr KEVIN ANDERSON (Tamworth) (16:29): I pay tribute to an Australian country music pioneer,

Joy McKean, OAM. Sadly Joy passed away on 25 May 2023. A singer-songwriter, musician, wife and mother,

Joy achieved so much in her 93 years. In 1951 Joy married Slim Dusty and so began the most prolific country

music partnership in Australian history. She achieved over 100 albums; six Golden Guitar Awards, including

twice being inducted into the Australian Roll of Renown; and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Australian

Women in Music Awards. A multi-award-winning songwriter, including some of Slim Dusty's biggest hits—

Lights on the Hill and The Biggest Disappointment—her work will forever be remembered. The outpouring of

grief across our nation at her passing is testament to her legacy. The "light on the hill" may have gone out, but the

warmth Joy created across the generations in the hearts and minds of country music artists and music lovers around

the world will glow eternal. Vale, Joy McKean, OAM.

AUSTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOL P&C ASSOCIATION

Mr NATHAN HAGARTY (Leppington) (16:30): On Monday morning I visited Austral Public School

to attend its latest parents and citizens meeting. It is always great to sit down and chat with parents and carers to

get an update on what is happening in the local school community. Austral Public School P&C and school staff

are doing a wonderful job at a school whose student population has increased threefold in the past five years.

Parents are important partners in the education process. They have the right and a responsibility to play a part in

the education of their children. I give a big shout-out to P&C president Marijana Herceg-Nad for the invite. She

and the rest of the P&C executive are strong advocates for their community and local school. I commend their

selfless work on behalf of the students and staff at Austral Public School. I also thank principal Khaled Elhage for

his leadership and acknowledge the support he provides the Austral Public School P&C. I hope to visit more

P&Cs throughout Leppington in the future.

DCAF CONNECTIONS

Mr ALISTER HENSKENS (Wahroonga) (16:31): Dementia is an important issue many families in our

community face. Since 2018 DCaf Connections has supported those living with early to mid stages of dementia

or displaying signs of cognitive decline. Based in Warrawee, this volunteer-run program holds weekly two-hour

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 46

social cafes with opportunities for socialisation, activities and information on how to live well with dementia. The

activities include fitness to boost memory, coordination and balance as well as art and music therapy. The

volunteers are generous with their time and genuine in their care, providing invaluable social support, connection

and friendship. Earlier this year it was a pleasure to recognise five locals as community heroes for their

contribution to DCaf Connections over many years, including John Cronly, Margaret Drylie, Gerry Foley, Robert

Jenkins and Laurel Thiessen. I also thank program coordinator Fiona Jenkins for her dedication.

UKRAINIAN FILM FESTIVAL

Ms LYNDA VOLTZ (Auburn) (16:32): I acknowledge the opening of the inaugural Ukrainian Film

Festival, also known as UA, last Friday, hosted by the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations and the

Ukrainian Council of NSW. We all know the devastating impact of the war on the local Ukrainian community in

New South Wales and Australia, and it was good to see this launch with the screening of Mariupol. Unlost Hope

to open the festival. The festival ran for the weekend with five different films on show and was an excellent

opportunity to explore Ukrainian culture through the medium of film, as well as show support to the people of

Ukraine. I am proud to have a significant Ukrainian community in Lidcombe, including being home to St Andrews

Ukrainian Catholic Church, the Ukrainian Council of NSW and the Ukrainian Association of Sydney.

Congratulations to the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, the Ukrainian Council of NSW and the

organisers of UA on a fantastic event. I look forward to attending the film festival again next year.

JASON RIDGEWAY

Mr MICHAEL KEMP (Oxley) (16:33): I had the privilege of attending the first major solo exhibition

of local Oxley artist Jason Ridgeway at Newington College in Sydney recently. Mr Ridgeway of BlackBoy

Creations is a proud Dunghutti man who is well-known for his numerous artistic impressions, local murals and

surfboard art. In addition he designed the Sydney Rooster's jerseys for the 2021 National Rugby League

Indigenous Round. Many of the artworks on display at this exhibit were painted from his personal experiences,

as well as stories representative of the Dunghutti area that come from his uncle and mentor John Kelly. Uncle

John Kelly was in attendance for the opening night at Concordia Gallery, and it was an honour to speak to him

and hear his family's stories. Mr Ridgeway and his wife Roxanne are currently working alongside Macleay

Vocational College and Kempsey Shire Council with aspirations of opening a cafe in the existing building and

perhaps a gallery space. I look forward to hearing how this development unfolds, and I cannot wait to see further

exhibitions of Mr Ridgeway's artwork.

ASIAN WOMEN AT WORK

Ms KYLIE WILKINSON (East Hills) (16:34): It is a great honour to recognise and celebrate the work

of Asian Women at Work. The organisation has been running for almost 30 years, working to empower Asian

women, who experience significant injustice and exploitation in Australian society. The network provides

resources and assists women to stand up for their rights and develop their leadership skills, allowing them to be

advocates and to fight against exploitation. With over 2,000 members, from outworkers to those working in the

care economy, Asian Women at Work has helped migrant women obtain secure employment and establish lifelong

connections. I also acknowledge and thank Ronnie Wang for her continued leadership in supporting female

migrant workers. We are incredibly grateful for all the work that this organisation does and will continue to support

Asian Women at Work in their endeavours.

ALETA WASSELL

Mr MICHAEL REGAN (Wakehurst) (16:35): During Reconciliation Week I extend heartfelt

recognition and appreciation to an exceptional member of our community, Aleta Wassell. Aleta, a local

Indigenous artist, has made an indelible mark on our community through her extraordinary design of the Manly

Warringah Sea Eagles 2023 Indigenous Round jersey. That jersey not only captures the essence of our nation's

rich Indigenous heritage but also embodies the spirit of unity and community that is so integral to our

reconciliation journey. Aleta's vision was to create a design that resonated with every individual, regardless of

their background, and she has succeeded in doing so spectacularly. Aleta's commitment to ensuring that the jersey

truly reflects our community is commendable. It is crucial that we acknowledge and celebrate the contributions

of individuals like Aleta Wassell, who use their artistic talent and cultural knowledge to foster understanding,

respect and unity. And she can sing. I express my deepest gratitude to Aleta for her remarkable artistic contribution

to our community. May we all be inspired by Aleta's dedication and continue to work together to build a future

that embraces reconciliation, inclusivity and harmony.

PENRITH CITY AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL SERVICEMEN’S ASSOCIATION

Ms KAREN McKEOWN (Penrith) (16:36): On Sunday 28 May 2023 the Deputy Premier and I attended

the seventeenth anniversary memorial and tribute laying ceremony of Penrith City Australian National

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 47

Servicemen's Association Incorporated, or the "nashos" as we call them. The service was at its memorial in

Victoria Park at St Marys. It was opened by president Mr Harry May, followed by vice president Mr Ken

McPherson reading the prayer of remembrance. The national servicemen's ode was delivered by secretary

Mr Graham Larkham. I congratulate them on keeping the tradition alive and on another moving ceremony. I also

commend the Penrith nashos for their continued community service. The funds they raise go to the Soldier On

program and Legacy. They also sponsor navy, army and air force cadets. I found the following tribute on their

website: "To our fallen and departed mates: If tears could build a stairway to heaven, and memories were a track.

We would all walk up to heaven and bring our mates back."

TRIBUTE TO ANTHONY PUN, OAM

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (16:37): I pay tribute to a highly respected giant of our community.

Anthony Pun, OAM, sadly passed away a few weeks ago. Born in Malaysia and first arriving in Australia in 1964,

Tony was truly a bipartisan warrior for social justice, working across the political spectrum to advance the causes

of migrant communities and break the stigmas associated with migrant activism. Tony was never afraid to stand

up for what he believed was right, standing tall as a passionate voice and a friendly face for those in unfamiliar

territory. Tony did not know how to stand by and do nothing. He only knew how to act quickly to support those

most in need. Tony will be remembered as a compassionate and caring friend to the Australian-Chinese

community. His work and activism have given a voice to thousands of migrants who often feel forgotten. I am

proud to have had the honour of working with him in my time as the member for Oatley and former Minister for

Multiculturalism. He has given to the people of this State more than most will ever know. I extend my deep

condolences and thoughts to his family.

NATIONAL SORRY DAY

Ms CHARISHMA KALIYANDA (Liverpool) (16:38): On Friday 26 May I was invited to

commemorate National Sorry Day at the Liverpool Regional Museum. An important day in our national calendar,

National Sorry Day invites us to reflect on the pain and suffering felt by Stolen Generations survivors and to

recognise the need for reconciliation, healing and truth-telling in New South Wales and across Australia. The

event featured poignant remarks from Aunty Pearl Wymarra and Julie Dannevig, as well as a wreath-laying

ceremony at the Stolen Generations memorial tree. Accompanied by touching performances from Nulungu

Dreaming, the event brought home the importance of the day. Moreover, I enjoyed speaking with Uncle Darrell

of the Gandangara seniors' group and sharing in his valuable knowledge about the history and customs of the local

Darug peoples, including the fact that Liverpool is yam country. I acknowledge the efforts of the Gandangara

Local Aboriginal Land Council and the Tharawal Local Aboriginal Land Council in putting the event together, as

well as Liverpool City Council for helping honour the strength of Stolen Generations survivors.

TRIBUTE TO DR ANTHONY PUN, OAM

Ms JENNY LEONG (Newtown) (16:39): I acknowledge the passing of Dr Anthony Pun, the founding

president of the Chinese Community Council of Australia and a founding member of the Chinese Australian

Forum, and express my deepest sympathies to his family and friends for their loss. During his lifetime Dr Pun

served as the president of the Australian Chinese Community Association of NSW and chair of the Ethnic

Communities' Council of NSW. A three-time recipient of the Premier's award for community service, last year

Dr Pun received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in medicine, services to the Australian-Chinese

community and dedication to multiculturalism. Since his passing many have written about Tony's involvement in

the promotion of Australia-China relations since the early 1980s, particularly his powerful contribution in 1989

when he advocated to Prime Minister Hawke to allow Chinese students to remain in Australia following the

Tiananmen Square massacre. Tony remained a vocal advocate in his later years, continuing to stand up for Chinese

Australians subjected to racism. On 29 May many gathered at Dr Pun's funeral in a show of respect and

appreciation for his contribution and the influence he had on them and our society.

COUNCILLOR BILAL EL-HAYEK

Mr JIHAD DIB (BankstownMinister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Minister for

Emergency Services, and Minister for Youth Justice) (16:41): I congratulate Councillor Bilal El-Hayek on

being elected mayor of the great City of Canterbury Bankstown. I have known Bilal for more than 20 years and

am so proud of his achievements, from his days as a youth worker to his role as a community leader. Having

arrived in Australia in 1999 at the age of 12 and without speaking a word of English, Mayor El-Hayek attended

an intensive English school before enrolling at Belmore Boys High School and finishing his senior years at Noor

al Houda Islamic College at Strathfield. He even attended Punchbowl Boys' High School but lasted only one day.

One of his first paid roles was as a youth coordinator with the Bankstown PCYC, managing and mentoring young

people and facilitating family programs.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 48

He has always demonstrated that he is there for others. He also worked on the Bankstown Families Connect

program, which brings together disadvantaged children and their mothers from the local community to participate

in various fun social and educational activities. There is so much to this man and his leadership. It has always

been clear that he has passion at his very heart. I wish Bilal good luck and I thank him for speaking and leading

from his heart. I also pay tribute to outgoing mayor, Khal Asfour, who led the city for over 10 years and showed

the most courageous leadership and compassion when our community was unfairly treated during the lockdowns.

He always believed in the potential of our great city.

PARKLEA PUBLIC SCHOOL P&C

Mr MARK TAYLOR (Winston Hills) (16:42): Today I acknowledge the hardworking volunteers who

represent the Parklea Public School Parents and Citizens Association. Organisations like P&C associations are

vital to our communities and contribute to their local schools through organising and administering school-centred

events and programs. Recently the Parklea Public School P&C hosted its "Rock and Rides Night". The event was

open to Glenwood and surrounding communities to participate in. It was a fantastic event that included an

assortment of amusement rides, food stands, community groups and a display of fireworks ended the night. In

addition to its spectacular community events, the P&C take accountability for the school's uniform shop, book

fair, Mother's Day stall, Father's Day stall, end-of-year performances and a number of safety campaigns for the

whole school community. I commend the Parklea Public School P&C for its community advocacy and the tireless

work it does to organise such great events for the school. I extend my congratulations to the newly elected P&C

executive: Ruchi Shah, Vanessa Fernandez, Alfonso Moreno, Natasha Volpato and Veronica Sharma.

RIVERSTONE FOOTBALL CLUB

Mr WARREN KIRBY (Riverstone) (16:43): The Riverstone Football Club has a remarkable place in

the history of Australian Rugby League. Riverstone made history 129 years ago on 25 May 1894 by participating

in the first ever rugby league game in Australia. The match ended with a score of 6-3, featuring two tries for

Riverstone and one for its opponents. While the football club was forming, a meeting was held and two teams

were chosen for the trial. Football practice began on a newly established ground in Mr B. Richards' meatworks

paddock. It is interesting to note that each team comprised 13 players, indicating the informal existence of a

13-a-side game of rugby union. After the game, Riverstone Football Club continued to promote rugby league

through exhibition games across the State, contributing significantly to the sport's growth and development. Those

efforts played a crucial role in rugby league officially being established in 1908. Riverstone Football Club's early

contributions and unwavering dedication played a pivotal role in shaping the future of rugby league in Australia.

Its commitment to the sport and its embrace of a new format laid the foundation for the thriving rugby league

community we have today.

RURAL FIRE SERVICE

Mr RICHIE WILLIAMSON (Clarence) (16:44): I acknowledge the wonderful volunteers of the Rural

Fire Service. I am sure members recall the 2019-20 fires. Those fires were some of the darkest days in my

electorate. At the time firefighters from Canada joined the Rural Fire Service volunteers to lend a hand. Now it is

time to return that enormous favour, with some 50 firefighters heading to Canada to make sure that its 60 wildfires

are extinguished. I know that the Minister was on hand to farewell those firefighters last weekend. One of the

volunteers is the captain of the Glenreagh brigade, Mr Peter Cram. The area where the Glenreagh community

lives, along with other towns and villages in my electorate, burned uncontrollably in 2019 and 2020. Those

Canadian firefighters and Captain Cram were heroes during the firefighting. I thank them very much.

TRIBUTE TO CLARE NOWLAND

Mr STEVE WHAN (Monaro) (16:45): I pay tribute to the life of Clare Nowland and again express my

sympathy to her family, her friends and the people who cared for her. The tragic circumstances of Clare's death

are being investigated and lessons are being learned, but for now I want to echo Clare's local priest, Father Mark

Croker, who said:

… despite the tragic circumstances surrounding her death, it was how she lived her faith and her incredible life of service that should

be remembered.

Mrs Nowland has eight children and more than 60 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They will miss their

beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, but they have many wonderful memories and every right to

be proud of the person Mrs Nowland was. She raised her eight children in Cooma and spent more than five decades

volunteering for St Vincent de Paul, helping to establish its Cooma store. She volunteered at the Sir William

Hudson Memorial Centre and celebrated her eightieth and eighty-fifth birthdays by skydiving. She was a

remarkable woman. Father Mark also said:

No way would you ever pick up that she was anything but a beautiful soul with deep faith—that's the lady who everyone knew.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 49

Vale, Clare Nowland.

WALK IN THE PARK FUNDRAISER

Mr GARETH WARD (Kiama) (16:46): Today the Parliament of New South Wales recognises the local

Kiama community, which is helping to raise funds for people with Parkinson's disease at this year's Walk in the

Park along the waterfront at Kiama Harbour. I acknowledge Lesley Errington, the co-coordinator of the event and

Kiama's Parkinson's Support Group. The day will also feature one of the event's biggest raffles, with 20 prizes

including a ride in a classic mustang car to Berry, baskets of high-quality beauty products, paintings and a range

of vouchers for local businesses. There is even a parliamentary wine pack. Rotary's beloved sausage sizzle

barbeque, which fed over 200 people at last year's event, will provide lunch on the day. All proceeds will go to

the local Parkinson's Support Group and Parkinson's NSW to fund nurses and the HealthLine. Kiama's Parkinson's

Support Group will also hold its local community heroes award, which will be presented to exercise physiologist

Sarah Clem. The event is on Sunday 4 June 2023 at Black Beach in Kiama from 12.00 p.m. to 3.00 p.m. I will be

doing the walk and all members are invited to come to Kiama to contribute to a great cause.

LEONA CURRAN

Ms LIZA BUTLER (South Coast) (16:47): I take this opportunity to recognise Leona Curran, who is

one of 25 female members of Marine Rescue Jervis Bay. She joined in 2013 after a career in organisations that

assist the public in times of emergency. Leona has grasped the complex area of fundraising and grants and has

raised more than $500,000 for the unit in the past 10 years. Leona has secured grants that have benefited other

Marine Rescue units including Ulladulla, Shoalhaven and Sussex Inlet. Leona is a finalist in the 2023 Shoalhaven

Emergency Services Community Awards. Her work has ensured that Marine Rescue Jervis Bay continues as an

effective emergency service and we are so grateful for all she does for our community.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS STUDENT LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Ms STEPHANIE DI PASQUA (Drummoyne) (16:48): I acknowledge the Secondary Schools Student

Leadership Program and the students in my electorate who visited Parliament on 31 May. The program recognises

the leadership role of school students and provides them with the opportunity to meet elected representatives to

develop their knowledge of constitutional and parliamentary processes. I extend a special welcome to Jonas

Kapsanis and Erika Okubo-Fleming from Rosebank College in my electorate. I hope that Jonas and Erika found

the experience enjoyable and enlightening. I acknowledge the principal of Rosebank College, Mrs Iris Nastasi,

for her leadership in educating the future leaders of tomorrow. I commend the Parliament and members for

welcoming those students and helping to spark their interest in politics.

MORUYA MICRO-FOREST

Dr MICHAEL HOLLAND (Bega) (16:49): I recognise the volunteers who started the development of

Moruya's first micro-forest. Landscape architect Edwina Robinson founded the Climate Factory in 2019 in

response to the 2019-20 bushfire disaster. Her aim is to build climate-cooling community micro-forests and

connect individuals in our community with each other and the natural environment. More than 50 volunteers have

combined to work with Ms Robinson, local TAFE horticulture teacher Wendy Jones and the Eurobodalla Regional

Botanic Garden to plant 600 native grasses, shrubs, trees and pollinating plants. Another 1,500 plants are expected

to be planted in spring this year. Apart from the plantings, considerable earthworks were performed to create a

water bank and large granite boulders were donated by the local Beashel Quarry. The final result will be a micro

dry rainforest on the site of Moruya's St John's Anglican Church. I congratulate everyone who was involved in

that community ecological project.

NORTHSIDE RADIO

Mr TIM JAMES (Willoughby) (16:50): I heartily congratulate the community radio station Northside

Radio FM 99.3 on its fortieth anniversary. For four decades Northside Radio has delivered quality on-air content

to inform and entertain the North Shore community. It is a widely enjoyed and appreciated community station and

a source of pride for me and so many people involved. On Saturday 20 May I was delighted to join Richard Bell,

Simon Baker and others from Northside to extend my congratulations. I thank Northside for kindly hosting me. It

was my third time being on air with that great local icon. I appreciate all that Northside does for my community

of Willoughby with its engaging broadcast mix of music, news, views and information. It was also terrific to see

my colleagues the member for Davidson and Paul Fletcher, the Federal member for Bradfield, there in support.

Finally, it is important to remember that community radio stations such as Northside are driven by the community,

so everyone should lend their ears and their support.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 50

SHARON MCBRIDE

Mr WARREN KIRBY (Riverstone) (16:51): I congratulate Sharon McBride, a beloved resident of

Riverstone, on being a finalist for the prestigious Blacktown City Council Senior Citizen of the Year award.

Sharon's incredible compassion, care and unwavering determination during the area's flood recovery efforts have

left a lasting impression. Sharon's remarkable energy and dedication defy traditional age expectations, making it

difficult to label her as a senior citizen. She is a legendary figure embodying resilience, empathy and an

unwavering spirit that inspires others. Throughout the challenging journey of flood recovery, Sharon has

consistently demonstrated her unwavering commitment to assisting those affected by the disaster.

Her compassionate nature and determination to make a positive impact have shone through every step she

has taken, whether coordinating relief efforts or providing invaluable support to families and individuals. Sharon

has become an indispensable asset to the community. The well-deserved recognition as a finalist for Senior Citizen

of the Year is testament to Sharon's exceptional contributions and the profound difference that she has made in

people's lives. I commend her selflessness and dedication, as well as the extraordinary impact she continues to

have on the community. Sharon is a true inspiration and a shining example of an exceptional community member.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS STUDENT LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Ms ROBYN PRESTON (Hawkesbury) (16:52): I commend the student leaders from Colo High School,

Hawkesbury High School, Kuyper Christian School and Windsor High School for their attendance at this week's

Parliamentary Student Leadership Program. I joined my parliamentary colleagues for a question time with

students, which was so much more civilised than those I have experienced in this Chamber over the years. Students

got firsthand exposure to politics, and the questions raised by the students were of a very high calibre. It gave me

great courage and strength to ask them in our question time. Those students are our future leaders, whether they

become politicians, teachers, entrepreneurs, parents, essential workers or tradies. I left their company feeling

buoyant and comfortable in the knowledge that leadership comes in many forms. Let our students be nourished

and grow as they experience Parliament and beyond. I also commend the parliamentary staff for running the

program.

KEZIE APPS AND MILLIE BOYLE

Dr MICHAEL HOLLAND (Bega) (16:53): I wish the New South Wales National Rugby League [NRL]

Women's State of Origin team luck in their clash with Queensland in Sydney tonight. The Bega electorate is

represented by our local stars Kezie Apps and Millie Boyle. The pair are the only two forwards in the pack who

played in last year's State of Origin match, contributing both skill and experience to the New South Wales line-up.

Born in Bega, Kezie started her career with the Bega Roosters before joining the greatest of all clubs, the mighty

St George Illawarra Dragons. She has previously received the Dally M medal and New South Wales Rugby

League State Player of the Year, as well as representing her State and nation. Millie Boyle comes from Cobargo

and started her career in women's rugby, representing our national women's rugby team, the Wallaroos, in the

2017 Women's Rugby World Cup. Millie transferred to women's rugby league in 2019 and has once again starred,

representing the Brisbane Broncos, the Newcastle Knights and the Sydney Roosters. Millie has also represented

her State and her nation in women's NRL. I congratulate those local Bega electorate and New South Wales sporting

stars.

SANDRA RADICE

Ms STEPHANIE DI PASQUA (Drummoyne) (16:54): I recognise the accomplishments of Sandra

Radice, who recently released a book called Our Green Change. Sandra Radice held a book launch for her first

memoir, which chronicles the highs and lows of her family's quest for a different way of living. Sandra spoke at

Concord Library on 10 May and described her family's journey from Sydney to Green School in Bali and the

lessons they learnt as a family both inside and outside the classroom. She recounts the wall-less bamboo learning

environment in the jungle, which aims to nurture children and educate for sustainability. I sincerely congratulate

Sandra on publishing her first memoir and thank her for sharing her story with our community. It is an incredible

accomplishment that I am sure her family and friends are very proud of. I congratulate Sandra.

ASSYRIAN DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT

Mr TRI VO (Cabramatta) (16:55): On 12 April 2023 I had the honour of attending a very special

celebration hosted by the Assyrian Democratic Movement [ADM]. It was celebrating its forty-fourth anniversary

since its foundation and welcoming in the 6,773rd Assyrian New Year. It was a fitting tribute to see Mr Hurmez

Odisho, a special ADM guest from Iraq, as well as numerous community and cultural leaders and association

representatives from throughout our local community attending. They were present to acknowledge and commend

the ADM on its continued efforts and dedication towards supporting and caring for the Assyrian people and our

broader community. In turn, it was fantastic to see the ADM present many awards to the various cultural and

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 51

community leaders in recognition of their own efforts and for selflessly giving so much to the community over

the years. I congratulate the ADM Australian chapter; its president, Immanuel Sada; its vice-president, George

Adam; and the volunteers for hosting another successful function.

BUILDING LIVERPOOL EXHIBITION

Ms CHARISHMA KALIYANDA (Liverpool) (16:56): The City of Liverpool and District Historical

Society celebrated the opening of its new exhibition, Building Liverpool, at the Harvard Room in Liverpool

Library on Saturday 27 May. The exhibition tells the story of the building of the town of Liverpool, from its

origins as the first convict-built town for free people to the more contemporary housing we see today. The town

of Liverpool was built at the direction of Thomas Moore and followed the famous Hoddle grid style. He probably

could never have imagined the 32-storey high-rise apartment towers and housing estates by local builders like

Masterton Homes that exist in the city today. Hats off to President Glen Op Den Brouw, Secretary Gail Newman;

the public officer, Pam Valentine; and all members of the historical society for bringing that special event together.

I also acknowledge the Grimson family, local businesses, the Liverpool Men's Shed and others who contributed

to bringing the special event together.

CHERTSEY PRIMARY SCHOOL

Mr ADAM CROUCH (Terrigal) (16:57): Before this week's parliamentary sitting I had the pleasure of

attending Chertsey Primary School for the smoking ceremony and breaking of ground on its brand-new Aboriginal

garden and yarning circle. Being Reconciliation Week, it was such an important time for the school and the

community. It was great to see both parents and students taking part in that outstanding breaking of ground at the

school. I also congratulate and acknowledge Tim Selwyn from Girra Girra, who gave a wonderful

acknowledgement of country and a very moving dedication and smoking ceremony at the school, which the

students got to take part in. Chertsey Primary School in my electorate of Terrigal is an amazing school with quite

a large number of disadvantaged students, who were also able to take part in the smoking ceremony and be part

of Reconciliation Week. The school is focusing on that this week. I acknowledge the great work done by the staff

at Chertsey Primary School every day with those fantastic students.

TRANSPORT WORKERS' UNION

Mr WARREN KIRBY (Riverstone) (16:58): I express my sincere gratitude to a delegation from the

Transport Workers' Union who recently took time to meet with me and discuss the pressing concerns faced by our

most essential workers in New South Wales. During our meeting we delved into issues pertaining to the conditions

faced by bus workers across the State. It came to light that our bus drivers are currently confronting a dire lack of

essential amenities. The absence of toilet facilities and lunch room provisions at various bus depots across the

State has left our drivers facing unnecessary and uncomfortable situations in an already gruelling line of work.

The absence of break room facilities where they can rejuvenate amidst their arduous schedules compounds their

challenges. I commend the members of the Transport Workers' Union delegation for their tireless efforts in

advocating for the rights and welfare of our transport workers. Their commitment to safeguarding the interests of

those frontline workers is recognised and appreciated by me and many others in this Parliament. In particular,

I thank Mick Pieri, David Moala, Stewart Jones, Robert Rasmussen and Caitlin Marlor for their kindness in

meeting with me and my colleagues.

Private Members' Statements

CENTRAL COAST VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION DAY

Mr ADAM CROUCH (Terrigal) (16:59): I recently had the pleasure of attending the Central Coast

Volunteer Appreciation Day and District Medals Presentation for the Rural Fire Service. The Central Coast

Volunteer Appreciation Day acknowledges the hard work and dedication of 118 of the district's members, who

were presented with medals and awards in honour of more than 2,450 years of service between them.

Commissioner Rob Rogers joined Central Coast District Manager Superintendent Viki Campbell—who was a

former Local Australian of the Year and is an outstanding leader—and special guests at Mingara Recreation Club

to present five National Emergency Medals, 43 National Medals, 73 Long Service Medals and three

Commissioner's Unit Citations for the St Florian's Day Awards.

The hard work and professionalism of all Central Coast RFS members does not go unnoticed. While they

do not ask for praise, it is important that we acknowledge and thank them—and their families—for their incredible

contribution. I take this opportunity to thank the following wonderful volunteers from my electorate and

acknowledge their awards for 2023. Leigh Pilkington of Avoca Beach initially joined the Avoca Beach brigade

in 2007 and has 15 years of service. In addition to his previous awards, Leigh received the National Medal. Tracy

McDermott of Wamberal joined the Wamberal brigade in 2006 and has 16 years of service. In addition to her

previous awards, Tracy also received the National Medal. Clint Pressley of Kincumber joined the Copacabana

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 52

brigade in 2005 and has 17 years of service. In addition to previous awards, Clint also received the National

Medal. Shaun Wilkins of Terrigal joined the Wamberal brigade in 2005 and has 17 years of service. In addition

to previous awards, Shaun also received the National Medal.

Christopher Douglas of Killcare Heights joined the NSW RFS in 2004 and is currently a member of the

Berkeley Vale brigade and has 18 years of service. In addition to previous awards, Christopher received the

National Medal. Christopher McInerney of Wamberal joined the NSW RFS in 1999 and is currently with the

Gwandalan-Summerland Point brigade and has 18 years of service. In addition to previous awards, Christopher

also received the National Medal. Lee Wills of Green Point initially joined the NSW RFS in 2003 and is currently

with the Erina brigade, having 19 years of service. In addition to his previous awards, Lee received the National

Medal. Andrew Lynch of Terrigal joined the NSW RFS in 2002 and is currently a member of the Somersby

brigade, with 20 years of service. In addition to his previous awards, Andrew received the National Medal and

RFS Long Service Medal 1st Clasp.

Michelle Biddulph of Kincumber joined the NSW RFS Killcare Wagstaffe brigade in 1998 and has

23 years of service. In addition to her previous awards, Michelle received the National Medal. Alan Lundie of

Kincumber has 24 years of service, having joined the NSW RFS Copacabana brigade in 1998. For a short period

he has also been a member of the MacMasters Beach brigade. In addition to his previous awards, Alan received

the National Medal. Adam Martin of Wamberal initially joined the NSW RFS Wamberal brigade in 1997 before

transferring to the Warnervale brigade in 2016 and has 26 years of service. In addition to his previous awards,

Adam received the National Medal. Warwick Teasdale of Pretty Beach joined the NSW RFS Killcare Wagstaff

brigade in 1976 and has an impressive 46 years of service. In addition to his previous awards, Warwick received

the National Medal 2nd and 3rd clasps.

Michael Boyce of Springfield received the Long Service Medal for 10 years of service as a member of

Gosford headquarters operational support, and the Brisbane Waters/Erina brigade. Ian Goodman of Matcham

received the Long Service Medal for 10 years of service as a member of the Matcham-Holgate brigade. Samuel

Gribble of St Huberts Island received the Long Service Medal for 10 years of service as a member of the Mooney

Mooney and Brisbane Waters/Erina brigades. Joshua Ford of Copacabana received the Long Service Medal for

12 years of service as a member of the Killcare Wagstaffe, Gosford Bulk Water, Wendoree Park and Copacabana

brigades. Stephen Gribble of St Huberts Island received the Long Service Medal 1st Clasp for 22 years of service

as a member of the Mooney Mooney and Brisbane Waters/Erina brigades.

The Central Coast has some of the highest rates of volunteering in the nation. It is the incredible generosity

and selfless service of these incredible volunteers that help protect our community and environment. I thank them

all for their tireless service on behalf of our grateful community. We also thank the family, friends, employers,

and colleagues of all RFS volunteers, whose ongoing support enables our incredible volunteers and members to

continue to do their important work to help keep our community safe. These are the people heading into danger

when other people are heading in the opposite direction. They have almost 2½ thousand years of volunteer service

between, and we say a very hearty thank you.

RURAL AND REGIONAL HEALTH

Dr MICHAEL HOLLAND (Bega) (17:04): Earlier today I spoke in the petition debate brought to this

Assembly by my colleague the member for Wagga Wagga, Dr Joe McGirr. More than 10,000 residents in Wagga,

Griffith and the surrounding regions have petitioned this Assembly to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for those

receiving radiotherapy in Wagga or Griffith. Last Friday, I presented a briefing to the Country Mayors Association

of NSW on the Government's policies for rural and regional health. The association's motto is, "What we want is

nothing more than equity." Those in this Chamber who represent rural and regional New South Wales could adopt

the same motto—nothing more than equity.

The more than one-quarter of residents of New South Wales who live outside the metropolitan centres are

not immune from life-threatening diseases. We know that people living in rural and remote areas have higher rates

of hospitalisation, death and injury. They have poorer access to, and use of, primary and secondary health care

services than people living in major centres. People living in major cities have the highest five-year cancer survival

rate at 63 per cent, but tragically those in very remote areas have the lowest at 55 per cent. Overall, rural and

regional residents are 35 per cent more likely to die within five years of their cancer diagnosis. This is

demonstrated by the fact that the death rate from rectal cancer increases by 6 per cent for every 100 kilometres a

patient is from radiation therapy. Half of all cancer patients would benefit from radiation therapy but only

one-third receive it. This proportion is worse in rural and regional communities.

It is estimated that 30 women per year die from breast cancer because of a lack of access to local radiation

oncology services. There is also a lack of palliation. The lack of access to radiation oncology services leads to

poorly controlled symptoms and premature death. It results in lower survival rates, avoidable surgery, long

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 53

distances of travel and weeks away from home. One-third of men and one-quarter of women will have a diagnosis

of cancer by the age of 75. The age group of 70 to 74 has the highest incidence. My electorate of Bega has one of

the oldest demographics in New South Wales. This will only grow—as will the incidence of cancer—along with

the need for radiotherapy services. My electorate has the highest rate of cancer of the prostate, breast, colon, lung,

skin and pancreas as well as cancer of unknown origin in south-east New South Wales. It is predicted that there

will be a 64 per cent increase in cancer diagnoses and an increase of 100 new cancer deaths per year by 2031.

Radiation oncology services are functioning or approved in the electorates of Tweed, Clarence, Oxley,

Myall Lakes and Murray. Those electorates have populations between 57,000 and 59,000, and areas from just

over 500 kilometres squared to more than 110,000 kilometres squared. Just as the residents of Wagga Wagga and

Griffith submitted a petition advocating for the costs of radiotherapy, last year approximately 5½ thousand

residents of the Bega electorate submitted a petition to this Assembly requesting local radiotherapy services. The

Bega electorate has a population of 59,845 and an area of 9,774 kilometres squared but has no radiation oncology

services. Why is the far South Coast of New South Wales different?

I finish with the words of a brave and dignified local woman, Cathie Hurst, who recently died after her

battle with rectal cancer. She said:

Travelling meant that I had to be prepared for whether I was going to vomit on a plane, have diarrhoea attacks or anything, which is

highly embarrassing and concerning. You get shaky just thinking about can you get on that bus for that long or the train or whatever

it was you were taking. The difference between that and actually having a hospital or a facility in your region where you can drive

yourself, have your 15-minute radiation treatment and come home—it would make all the difference to people.

The new Eurobodalla regional hospital, for which I campaigned, will provide the foundation for the staff and

infrastructure to provide future radiation oncology services in the Bega electorate. I will continue to work with

the Minister for Health, and Minister for Regional Health to achieve those services in the Bega electorate. All we

want is equity.

ST GEORGE FOOTBALL CLUB

Mr STEPHEN KAMPER (RockdaleMinister for Small Business, Minister for Lands and

Property, Minister for Multiculturalism, and Minister for Sport) (17:09): It is a pleasure to speak in the House

this afternoon about the St George Football Club, one of the greatest and most successful sports clubs in my

electorate of Rockdale. Founded in 1957 as "Budapest", the club settled in St George in the early 1960s, changing

its name to St George Budapest in 1965. A few years later the club's social home, the registered club called Soccer

House, opened in Mortdale, becoming the centre of soccer's off-field life in the St George district for the next

30 years. That also marked the start of two golden decades for the club on the field, with grand final wins in 1967,

1971 and 1972. Three more followed in a row in 1974, 1975 and 1976, another in 1981, and then, in 1983, its first

national title claimed in the new National Soccer League [NSL].

The names associated with the club in that era were legend, not least being the famous Johnny Warren,

who played with St George from 1963 to 1974. St George has produced multiple Socceroos over the years, with

no fewer than five in the 1974 World Cup squad alone. And, as if that was not enough, the much-missed

Les Murray was a St George Football Club player in his younger days. With such amazing success came the

fantastic new St George Stadium at Barton Park in Banksia in 1978. With so many of the legends of the Australian

game associated with St George, Barton Park quickly became known as the home of Australian soccer. NSL

games were regularly played at the ground, including many televised finals, and international games were often

held there as well. Anyone who watched the Socceroos run out onto Barton Park will never forget it, and it remains

in the heart of every player, supporter, or even casual observer of the game in that era.

Sadly, the once-shining St George Stadium slowly declined in the late 1990s and early 2000s during those

hard years for Australian soccer. With structural issues discovered in the roof, it eventually became unsafe to use

and, by 2018, it had to be abandoned. The wonderful news that I can report to the House is that the Bayside

Council immediately began planning a major rejuvenation of Barton Park. After an extensive community

consultation process in 2020 and 2021, construction started on a complete redevelopment of the entire precinct in

October last year. I was honoured to be invited to the sod-turning with the outstanding Mayor of the Bayside

Council, Christina Curry. The rebuilt Barton Park will feature facilities for a number of sports—including football,

of course. With a new small grandstand on the main pitch and three other pitches being constructed for practise

and competition, it will be a fantastic football facility.

St George Football Club has been going from strength to strength since it emerged from COVID with a

dynamic board under Chairman Bruce Spiteri—another football tragic—and a powered-up group of volunteers

who love the game and the club. This season the club has no less than 23 teams with both men's and women's

teams at every age level, right up to the senior first teams. In fact, I will highlight how thoroughly the St George

Football Club has understood that women's football is as much the future of the game as men's. Not only does the

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 54

club have more girls and women's teams than any other club in the area, the under-20 Women's Team won their

grand final last season to become the 2022 Football NSW League One Women's Champions. It is fantastic to see

the talent coming through the club.

As the board, players and volunteers work hard to grow and develop the club at all levels, they are reaching

out to rekindle the historical connections to the many former players and officials who have spread out across

Australia since the glory days at Barton Park. With the completion of the park's redevelopment getting closer, the

return to Barton Park—their spiritual home; the home of football—will give this great club the new permanent

facilities they need to power their way back to glory. I look forward to their return. I simply cannot wait to see the

St George Football Club run out at Barton Park again.

COWRA TRESILLIAN FAMILY CARE CENTRE

Ms STEPH COOKE (Cootamundra) (17:14): In February this year it was my special privilege to join

the community of Cowra to officially open the new Tresillian Family Care Centre, which had been operating for

about 12 months. It was a special occasion because it followed a concerted community effort to secure this

fantastic service for the benefit of local families and those in the broader region. Having Tresillian in Cowra meant

that for the first time local families, as well as those from towns like Young, Grenfell and Eugowra, could gain

access to specialist parenting support much closer to home. Many families and special guests attended, including

Rob Mills, the CEO of Tresillian; Rochelle Longhurst; Pauline Rowston; and other representatives from the

Western NSW Local Health District. I am delighted Yvonne Weldon was there too, a proud Tresillian

Ambassador, Wiradjuri woman and Cowra girl.

The future of the service was looking bright. However, just a couple of months later its future now hangs

in the balance. The funding for Cowra expires on 30 June and Tresillian is still yet to hear whether the funding is

to be extended. The funding would allow specialist family healthcare nurses and specialist mental health support

staff to continue their important work. I therefore call on the Minister for Regional Health to recognise the

enormous value this service brings to the health and mental health outcomes for families in the area. Despite the

huge effort we put in to secure the much-needed service in Cowra and the amazing work being achieved by the

team there in a short time, it is worrying that they have no assurance about their future. I note this issue is not

limited to Cowra. In Griffith, the Tresillian service is available to support families from the west of my electorate

like Narrandera, Barellan, Naradhan, Weethalle and Ungarie, as well as services at Goulburn, Armidale, Grafton,

Muswellbrook and Moruya.

Why is a strong future for Tresillian at Cowra so crucial? For a start, Cowra's birth rate is almost double

the national average with between 2.37 and 2.08 births per woman in the region—far higher than the national rate

of 1.74. Women also tend to be younger when they have their first child. Families tend to have more children and

families have a higher degree of socio-economic disadvantage. We have more single-parent families than the

State's average and a greater number of families who are Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders. Those

demographics combined, coupled with geographic limitations of being regional, make access to the specialist

services provided by Tresillian and the Gidget Foundation all the more crucial. Those factors meant Cowra was

prioritised as one of the six centres announced in the 2021-22 budget by the former Coalition Government. The

$12.2 million investment enabled Tresillian and the Gidget Foundation Australia to collaborate and expand their

footprint into regional New South Wales. The investment was an absolute game changer and Tresillian got started

straightaway.

I first met Tresillian Cowra nurse unit manager, Rochelle, in December 2021—not long after she was

appointed to the role. Even though Tresillian had not yet finalised its permanent location, Rochelle was already

connecting with local families out of the Cowra health service. Since Tresillian opened its doors in February last

year, over 450 occasions of service have been provided, including individual consultations to over 120 parents

and children, and over 80 group program participants. That is 450 instances when parents and carers of newborns,

toddlers and preschoolers would otherwise have had to travel to Canberra or Sydney for help with everything

from sleeping difficulties and feeding problems to supporting multiple babies and behavioural challenges, as well

as providing support for the emotional wellbeing of the family—and that is just in its first year. Imagine the

significant impact this would have over time. Tresillian is only getting started. We know that the first 2,000 days

of a child's life are crucial. They set them up on a trajectory that shapes the people we become, the health we

enjoy, and how we learn and behave. At the Tresillian Family Care Centre at Cowra, local mums and dads and

carers know that help is available locally when they need it. I urge the Minister to guarantee a strong future for

the Tresillian Regional Family Care Centre by continuing its funding. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the

issue further at the Minister's earliest convenience.

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WOLLONGONG ELECTORATE TRAIN STATION UPGRADES

Mr PAUL SCULLY (WollongongMinister for Planning and Public Spaces) (17:19): Anyone who

has listened to my contributions will know that I have been a fierce advocate for accessibility upgrades to stations

in the Wollongong electorate to make sure that parents with prams, people with mobility challenges and people

with shopping or luggage have good access to their local stations. On Monday I joined representatives of Transport

for NSW, Degnan Constructions, the project oversight team and local residents for the completion of the upgrade

to Towradgi station. As well as improving safety and access, the team worked on the design with the Wodi Wodi

people of the Dharawal nation to make sure that the architecture and the landscaping reflected Aboriginal

narratives and wove them into the work.

It is a really impressive upgrade—not simply a new footbridge and lifts, but great work across the entire

station precinct. There are new footpaths, landscaping and solar-powered lighting. Even the station operations

centre, a small shed-like structure just off to the side, has been built from sustainable materials. There is also

a connection to the University of Wollongong, which is only a few kilometres down the road. It is great that the

station has been upgraded. People like Jaden, who lives a couple of doors down from the station and is largely

confined to a wheelchair, will now have access to the station. They will have access to a widened concourse and

platforms, good lifts to get up and down, and additional disability parking.

The station I have mentioned the most in this place is Unanderra station. There are 72 stairs to get to the

station platform and no other options—there is not even a wobbly little ramp like there is at some other stations.

The station has been basically inaccessible to those with any sort of mobility issue. Mates of mine have sent me

photos of themselves halfway up the stairs with their luggage, saying, "We're having a little rest here because

there's too many stairs to navigate." Those days are nearly over. In the past few weeks there has been a massive

transformation at Unanderra station. The lift shafts are in, the lifts are being finalised and there is a new footbridge

going over the station. The new footbridge was opened to the public on Tuesday.

The next big change at Unanderra station will be the removal of the old footbridge—the much-maligned,

much argued about footbridge. There is famous footage of Toby Lyndon dragging his wheelchair as he clambered

on hands and knees to get up the stairs. That footbridge is going this weekend, thank goodness. No-one will shed

a tear for it. But when I spoke to the project team on Monday, they said that they are putting it in storage. Perhaps

there is a way to re-use it on another site—maybe at a golf course to cross over a road, or something like that. It

could be readapted, repurposed and re-used. There is decent steel in it—we should not just chuck it away. It is a

good, sensible option, if that can be done.

There is one last thing to come at Unanderra station, and it will come very, very soon. As the kids from

Towradgi Public School were able to do at Towradgi station the other day, people will soon be able to push the

button to call the lift. This will ensure that it is a truly accessible station upgrade. People who have participated in

a years-long community campaign will be looking forward to that day. I look forward to that moment as well. It

is a battle that should not have taken this long, but it will finally be over. A fully accessible Unanderra station is

coming soon.

LAKE MACQUARIE ELECTORATE HOUSING

Mr GREG PIPER (Lake Macquarie) (17:24): Trying to find a rental property in Lake Macquarie at the

moment is like trying to find a particular grain of sand in sandbox. Even when you do find it, expect to join a queue

of people at the inspection, and expect many of them to be angry, emotional and worrying about whether they will

actually have a roof over their heads when their current lease expires. You can also expect to pay at least

20 per cent more than you were paying just a year ago. It is at the point where I cringe every time I hear the phrase

"housing crisis" because it just does not seem to do justice to the problem. We are in a housing emergency.

Families, some with two working parents and three kids, are being forced into emergency accommodation or the

backyards of family or friends like never before. They might even be able to afford the ridiculous rents, but finding

a place to actually rent in the first place is proving nigh impossible.

Members know that this problem is not limited to Lake Macquarie. All electorates share this issue—the

scenes are being played out across the State. Whatever well-intentioned efforts have been made to fix the problem,

we are not even getting close to easing it. Rental vacancies in Lake Macquarie are at an all-time low and prices

are at an all-time high. Staff in my electorate office speak every day with people who are desperate to find a home.

The price is one thing; the availability is something else. Local charities are now providing concerning levels of

assistance to people living in cars while they wait for a rental property to become available. Those same charities

report that more and more people are turning to shared, subsidised or social housing as a means of keeping a roof

over their heads. It is true that recent interest rate hikes have slowed the local property market, but that does not

translate to more homes being available to those who need them. In fact, investors trying to keep up with mortgage

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 56

repayments on their investment properties are in turn fuelling the rise in costs for their tenants in a cycle where

everyone seems to lose out.

Members of previous Parliaments will know that I have raised this issue many times, but the problem

continues to grow worse. As I said, this is not a localised problem. If you are trying to get a small, one-bedroom

apartment in the city at the moment, with no parking and no bells or whistles, you can expect to pay more than

$800 a week and to line up with 100 others at inspections. Public housing waiting lists in Lake Macquarie have

not changed since I last spoke about them in this place. They are amongst the longest lists in the State. This is due

in part to the large numbers of people getting out of Sydney and Newcastle—apologies to the member for

Newcastle, who is at the table—where housing is simply unaffordable to anyone earning an average wage.

Currently, almost two families are joining that queue every day. I accept that we are now dealing with something

of a perfect storm, but we are simply not opening enough umbrellas.

There are many contributing factors, but one of them is the growth of short-term holiday letting, which

took an enormous amount of housing stock out of the long-term rental market. I warned the House about this

possibility when it dithered on regulation of the short-term holiday letting industry several years ago. You cannot

expect landlords or investors not to seek the maximum return on their investments, but you also cannot take that

amount of long-term rental properties out of the market and not expect it to have a massive and dire impact on

housing availability. We were behind the eight ball then and we are even further behind now. We simply have to

find a way of building more homes.

We have to find a way to get more homes into the rental market. If that means providing incentives or

assistance to private investors, we have to look at that. What we have been doing is not working. We cannot fix

this housing emergency alone. All levels of government must work together to provide what is essentially a basic

human right of every person in this State. As I have said before, the great Australian dream is now well beyond

the reach of many people living in New South Wales, and might be better described as the great Australian failure.

Worse, our levels of homelessness, our shortage of affordable and social housing, and our efforts to protect our

most vulnerable have become the great Australian shame. We must work together to address this problem. We

can, and must, do better.

WATER SAFETY

Ms JULIA FINN (Granville) (17:28): I speak about the increasing number of drownings in New South

Wales in recent years, which was brought into stark relief when I attended the Granville Boys High School

presentation day last year. The school made a special presentation to the parents of a kid from year 7 who had

drowned in October trying to rescue a female relative. It was absolutely shocking. He drowned at Bawley Point,

at an unpatrolled beach. I was pleased that prior to the election Labor committed $23 million over four years to

increase funding to Surf Life Saving in New South Wales. That will provide important improvements to training

and equipment. But that only assists with patrolled beaches, and 56 per cent of drownings in Australia occur on

inland waterways. Surf Life Saving carries out over 3,000 rescues every year. The work that it does is amazing

and wonderful, and the Government should be supporting it to do that work even better. But in the communities

that I represent, we have a long way to go to increase the number of people who know how to swim and make

sure that they can get out of trouble when they swim at unpatrolled beaches, in rivers or even in backyard pools.

It is not enough to tell people to swim between the flags. People go away on holidays, book their hotel

room or holiday house, go to the beach and there are no flags. A lot of people who come from overseas go to the

beach and do not know how to read a rip. They see a spot with fewer waves and think that is the safest spot. In

fact, that is often the deep gutter where the rip is. There are some wonderful organisations in my area that are

trying hard to improve swimming skills amongst culturally and linguistically diverse communities. People often

come to Sydney from overseas and do not know how to swim. I commend the wonderful work that Swim Sisters

and Swim Brothers have been doing, particularly in the Muslim community, to teach people how to swim. Swim

Sisters was established first, in 2016. It plays an active role at pools and beaches, and works with different surf

clubs to make sure that women know how to swim. It is building core swimming skills, working with schools and

doing ocean swimming training.

Swim Brothers is a more recently established organisation that provides similar training to men. It has been

training about 700 people a year and last year produced nine Bronze Medallion lifesavers who are now patrolling

Wanda beach. It is doing amazing work, but we need to address this far more broadly. The previous Government

provided vouchers for learning to swim up to the age of six, which is great, but there are a lot of people aged over

six who do not know how to swim. No-one is going to rort a learn-to-swim voucher program if they know how to

swim, just because it is free. There are a lot of adults in my community who have come from overseas and cannot

swim. Our councils run some programs teaching adults how to swim, but the awareness is not great. There needs

to be a lot more promotion of that.

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School swimming also needs more support. There are schools in my electorate that do not do school

swimming. A small number of kids might compete in a swimming carnival, but it is not a sport that the school

teaches. There are schools that have swimming classes but cannot provide those classes to all the people who want

to do them because they are limited by the capacity of the buses provided by the Department of Education. Those

schools provide learn-to-swim classes on a first come, first served basis until they reach the number of kids that

fit on two buses. There is a whole range of problems, and we need holistic solutions. It is important to support

Surf Life Saving, but it is also important to make sure that people learn to swim in the first place.

Mr DAVID HARRIS (WyongMinister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, Minister for Gaming

and Racing, Minister for Veterans, Minister for Medical Research, and Minister for the Central Coast)

(17:34): I commend the member for Granville for her private member's statement. The member for Swansea and

I are both involved with Surf Life Saving. I know the learned member sitting behind me has also been engaged in

surf lifesaving as well. We know exactly what the member for Granville is saying. People turn up to the coast,

they are inexperienced, they do not have the proper training and they get themselves into trouble. There have

unfortunately been deaths at unpatrolled beaches in the Swansea electorate. I thank the member for Granville for

highlighting this. I hope we can address this important issue as a Parliament.

WESTINVEST

Mr MARK TAYLOR (Winston Hills) (17:34): Mr Assistant Speaker, I missed the opportunity last time

to congratulate you on your new position. I speak about the WestInvest Fund, which was introduced by the New

South Wales Coalition Government in its last term of Parliament. The WestInvest Fund was announced as a

transformational program that would deliver important upgrades and services to communities across Western

Sydney. These projects will enhance communities and create jobs across Western Sydney. The Winston Hills

electorate is home to many of these projects, including upgrades to three of our local reserves, new community

facilities and improved recreational spaces. It was fantastic to see Max Ruddock Reserve in Winston Hills receive

$3.8 million for upgrades to its facilities, which includes upgrades to its 50-year-old clubhouse and a viewing

platform on top for people to watch games.

The upgrades are designed to support the growth of local sport in the area. The Winston Hills Bears

Football Club is excited about the upgrades and looking forward to the benefits they will bring to the local

community. In addition, WestInvest included $3.7 million for funding upgrades to Sue Savage Park in

Toongabbie. That reserve sits alongside Toongabbie Creek. The upgrades are multi-generational and will provide

recreational facilities, including a new youth precinct centred around a skate park and a BMX track for local

children and families. I have heard terrific feedback about the upgrades from local members of the community,

with many families telling me that they are looking forward to them being built.

The suburb of Lalor Park is also receiving upgrades to Ashley Brown Reserve. The park is set to be

refurbished, with a new playground, paths and improved seating and access. The upgrades will foster and grow

local sport in Lalor Park and Seven Hills. I have spoken to committee members from the local baseball club who

are very excited to see the upgrades. They know that the upgrades will provide great opportunities for their sport

to grow in the local area and, importantly, attract new players to their growing club. One of the major

announcements that came through the WestInvest Fund is the inclusion of a new primary school and selective

high school at the Westmead education campus. As members of this House are aware, Westmead is currently

home to the largest health precinct in New South Wales. The upgrades and new schools will go a long way to

improving Westmead and turning it into an innovative education hub for local students in Western Sydney.

During the election campaign I spoke to many families from Wentworthville, Pendle Hill and Toongabbie

that were excited about the opportunity to send their children to a selective high school. They are aspirational

families that see the value of educating their children at the highest levels available. The WestInvest Fund also

includes major upgrades to the Seven Hills community hub. The upgrades will include a new library and

community space for education, cultural events and arts in the heart of the Seven Hills town centre. The suburbs

of Seven Hills, Lalor Park and Blacktown in the Winston Hills electorate have very strong communities that will

benefit greatly from the upgrades. They will allow local organisations to benefit from modern facilities, and they

will encourage local residents to come together in a shared community space.

The Blacktown Aquatic Centre is part of the new Winston Hills electorate, and it is fantastic that this leisure

centre will receive massive upgrades and modernisation, along with new swimming facilities. The upgrades will

provide state-of-the-art facilities for the people of Lalor Park, Blacktown, Kings Langley, Seven Hills and people

right across Western Sydney. I have received great feedback about the upgrades and the opportunity for local

residents to enjoy the new Blacktown Aquatic Centre in the future.

Local residents in the Winston Hills electorate will also benefit from upgrades to Parramatta CBD's

Riverside Theatre, a regional cycleway at Finlaysons Creek in Wentworthville and Westmead, and new

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 58

playground spaces at The Hills School in Northmead. The upgrades that have been committed through the

WestInvest Fund will create great change to communities across Western Sydney, which is the fastest growing

region in our State. It deserves modern facilities, upgraded community spaces and improved local reserves to

support its growth. The WestInvest fund provides more opportunity for communities in Western Sydney to grow

and prosper. Those upgrades will assist Western Sydney's economy and encourage further investment from

businesses and community organisations in this terrific part of New South Wales. I will make sure to keep the

new Government to account on delivering those terrific investments for Western Sydney and ensure that they are

not left behind or taken for granted.

DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE

Ms YASMIN CATLEY (SwanseaMinister for Police and Counter-terrorism) (17:39): Mr Assistant

Speaker, I congratulate you on your appointment. I start today by expressing my deepest condolences to the family

of Ms Dokhotaru and the family of the young boy from Riverwood. I cannot even begin to comprehend what they

must be feeling at this moment. They are terrible and tragic incidents, and I am saddened to say that those

heartbreaking deaths are not the first and nor will they be the last. I tell this House in plain terms that we have

reached a crisis point. The rates of domestic and family violence in our community are alarming. There is

absolutely no doubt that there is a domestic and family violence crisis in this State and in this country. Domestic

and family violence is one of the most under-reported crimes in our community. The connection between the

perpetrator and the victim and the long-term, often familial or spousal relationship that exists makes it difficult

for victims to come forward. Even though those crimes continue to occur behind closed doors, sadly they are so

entrenched and prevalent in our community.

During my short two months on the job as police Minister, I have been getting out and about and speaking

with the 22,000-strong membership of the NSW Police Force. During the visits police officers on the ground have

told me time and again that domestic and family violence is the number one issue for the police in their community.

The member for Wyong is here. He and I know only too well that is exactly the same conversation we are having

with our district in Tuggerah Lakes. Police officers are responding to the equivalent of one call every four minutes.

We must remember that combatting domestic and family violence is the responsibility of us all and not just at a

time of crisis. The NSW Police Force is there in that time of crisis, but we need to solve this problem before it

even comes to police intervention. We cannot arrest our way out of this problem. It starts way before then.

Police officers play an important role in combatting domestic and family violence, but so do the health,

education and community sectors. This is a complex social problem. Healthy relationships, education about

consent and respect, intervention for children and young people who are victims of violence, and making the

community aware of how it can report incidents of domestic and family violence are just a few things we need to

look at more closely. We must do better in the Parliament, in our community, in our families and in our homes.

I take the time to thank police officers across our State. Officers in our local districts and commands are

recognised for the difficult work they do every day, responding to calls for assistance where domestic and family

violence is occurring. Domestic and family violence is not a problem to be swept under the carpet and dealt with

behind closed doors. Something is seriously wrong in our society when there is so much violence and cruelty

towards so many women. Until we fix people's attitudes, domestic violence will remain a serious scourge in our

community. We will not solve this crisis until we work together on the solution, and the police will be at the table.

CLARENCE ELECTORATE FLOODING

Mr RICHIE WILLIAMSON (Clarence) (17:44): I sincerely could not agree with the Minister more:

We all must take responsibility for domestic and family violence. Members may be aware that my electorate is

recovering from a catastrophic natural disaster—the 2022 floods—not seen before in Australia. I have been

informed it was the fifth most expensive disaster in the world in 2022. The impact of the floods is still being felt

today, but we are continuing to recover and we will recover stronger and better than we were before. I am not a

doomsayer. I am a "glass half full" kind of guy. We are firmly focused on bouncing back and things are slowly

changing. In that event, some areas of the upper reaches of the Richmond and Wilson River system received over

2,000 millimetres rain—yes, two metres—which formed a wall of water that hit with such force across my

electorate it simply wiped out everything in its path.

I begin this evening by formally acknowledging the SES units of Casino, Coraki, Woodburn, Bungawalbin,

and Broadwater for their collective efforts during the floods and the recovery. I witnessed communities helping

and supporting each other in this particular national emergency. I still have residents not back in their homes

tonight. They are living in caravans, pods, tents and even cars. To say that it is challenging is beyond belief.

Businesses that are important to any community still have not reopened. In Woodburn the service station and

supermarket have not reopened. Sadly, there are many more. In Broadwater and other locations, schools are still

not open; in Coraki, people are still living in the pod village. In Casino, many roads still remain closed. I thank

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 59

former Minister Farraway from the other place for the work he did in funding roads such as McNaughton Gap

Road. It is still closed, but the council there will recover.

Around 330 homes were completely destroyed in the Richmond Valley area and about 10 homes were

destroyed or severely damaged—no longer inhabitable—in the Clarence Valley area. The Northern Rivers

Reconstruction Corporation [NRRC] is helping with the rebuild, and a number of streams are available to help

my community. The Resilient Homes Fund is made up of two streams: the $700 million Resilient Homes program,

is co-funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments fifty-fifty. The $100 million Resilient Lands

program is fully funded by the New South Wales Government. The Resilient Homes program offers buybacks,

house raising and home retrofitting to the owners of the 330 homes that were completely destroyed or severely

damaged.

The Resilient Landa program is being delivered through the steps outlined in the Resilient Lands roadmap.

In August last year the road map began with an expression of interest, which will eventually lead to a $100 million

Resilient Lands fund that will be delivered through the Northern Rivers flood zones to help the community

recover. I look forward to the next step of that draft program being released as soon as possible. The program will

identify lands that are suitable for development across seven local government areas. The Resilient Lands strategy

is being developed and has identified suitable lands for up to flood-free 10,000 lots close to services. My

community throughout the Clarence electorate needs those available lots as soon as possible. I call on the NRRC

to move as quickly as possible to accelerate that program so that my residents in the Clarence electorate can finally

get back to some normality. After all, they are counting on all of us to ensure that some normality is restored to

their lives as soon as possible.

A-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL

Mr DAVID HARRIS (WyongMinister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, Minister for Gaming

and Racing, Minister for Veterans, Minister for Medical Research, and Minister for the Central Coast)

(17:48): Here is a cause that the whole of New South Wales Parliament can get behind, even our sometimes Jets

fans up in the Hunter: Yes, it is A-League grand final time, and the mighty Central Coast Mariners are in the final,

the big dance, the decider to crown the kings of the A-League. It is football. It is the beautiful game. It is

New South Wales versus Victoria. It is David versus Goliath. It is the little regional club versus the rich

aristocracy. This Saturday night, the yellow and navy army believe—and we will not back down. We believe that

good will triumph over money. We believe that the club that backs youth will triumph over those with large

wallets. We believe, we believe, we believe!

On Saturday, the yellow and navy army will descend on Parramatta from our paradise for our little club's

dance with destiny. In the 2019-20 season, the same season in which Melbourne City began their run of four

straight grand final appearances, the Mariners recorded their fourth wooden spoon in five seasons. Dark times

indeed. But, in an unprecedented turnaround of fortune, in the three campaigns since, the Central Coast Mariners

have won more games than any A-League men's side—other than Melbourne City—and played finals every year.

In fact, the Mariners will be playing in their fifth grand final, but it has been 10 years since we won our first. What

a fantastic way to celebrate the anniversary of that amazing victory, back in 2013, by winning another title.

What is the secret to the Mariners' success this year? Coach Nick Montgomery has infused our club with

a sense of belief that they can compete again with the moneyed big guns in the A-League. Monty and captain

Danny Vukovic have created a great club culture on and off the field—and it shows. The Mariners Academy has

nurtured amazing local young players like Jacob Farrell, Harry Steele and Max Balard, who have cut their teeth

playing in the junior divisions at Pluim Park. And let us not forget other local homegrown talent, such as Josh

"Nizzy" Nisbet, the shortest player in the A-League at 160 centimetres tall, but winner of the Mariners Medal this

year; Sammy Silvera, with the silver boots; and Nectar Triantis, winner of the club's Newcomer Award.

The Mariners have also nurtured overseas talent that. Jason Cummings has been a revelation, booting

16 goals this season and five assists. Brian Kaltak, "the Brick Wall of Gosford", played his first A-League

professional season this year, coming from Vanuatu. There are many others, including Beni Nkololo, Marco Tulio

and James McGarry. Club chairman Richard Peil's enthusiasm and drive have entwined with Coach Monty's

analytical, tactical football brain to develop a winning culture that has stunned pundits. In almost prophetic fashion

when he took over the club, Richard said:

This is a very unique and special football market with huge potential, especially when you consider that on the Central Coast football

is the number one sport, from grassroots all the way through to the professional level.

He said:

When I first came to the Coast, I was really enthused by the opportunity that exists for football and I also saw how much hard work

and history had been established in this globally recognised club. I have already been working closely with Monty [Nick

Montgomery], Shaun [Mielekamp] and all the staff at the club and there is an exciting future ahead of us.

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 60

How right he was. The Minns Labor Government is proud to support the Mariners, and that is why we have

committed $3.7 million to improve access to football facilities and programs on the Central Coast, particularly in

anticipation of next year when our first women's A-League team will start to compete. As a long-time club

member—from the start—and season ticketholder, it will be a great privilege to cheer on the Mariners at

Parramatta on Saturday night as the Minister for the Central Coast. Whatever the result, the Mariners are already

winners because, as the smallest club with the biggest heart, we have made another grand final, coming from the

very bottom to the top. Hopefully on Sunday morning we will be celebrating the Mariners' second grand final

victory.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Clayton Barr): There was a bit of Ted Lasso about all of that.

PEP 11 EXPLORATION LICENCE

Mr MICHAEL REGAN (Wakehurst) (17:53): Having fought this issue for many years, I find it

offensive and extremely disappointing that the spectre of PEP 11, the dangerous proposal for drilling for gas off

the coastline from Newcastle to Manly, still hangs over us. Despite overwhelming opposition, including an

unusual amount of political will from MPs of all stripes, this project just refuses to die. Unfortunately, until it is

off the table for good, we must remain vigilant. Today I reiterate my longstanding opposition to the PEP 11

exploration licence as well as any proposal for oil or gas mining off our precious coastline.

It will come as a surprise to no-one that the people of the northern beaches are passionate about the health

of our coastline and our oceans. The coast from Newcastle to Manly contains many of the most iconic beaches in

the country, if not the world, so when we learned about the threat of proposed offshore gas drilling off our beaches,

the community rallied in opposition. What a surprise! The Surfrider Foundation first raised the alarm and built

momentum behind a community campaign against the project, including its fearless and consistent champion for

the oceans, Layne Beachley. Federal member for Warringah, Zali Steggall, took up the fight in Canberra with her

"Stop PEP 11" bill of 2021. The Federal member for Mackellar, Dr Sophie Scamps, has now joined her in

continuing to promote that bill.

I have been opposed to this project from the outset. In October 2020, as mayor of Northern Beaches

Council, we passed a motion as a matter of urgency to write to our local Federal MPs outlining our opposition, as

well as to the joint authority responsible for making the decision on approving the PEP 11 exploration licence. On

this and many other occasions, the Northern Beaches Council and I, as mayor, made our opposition to the project

crystal clear. In February 2022, wanting to secure support on the northern beaches in the lead-up to the Federal

election, Prime Minister Scott Morrison made a ham-fisted effort to stop the project. As we all now know, he

infamously secretly assumed the powers of his Cabinet colleague, resource Minister Keith Pitt, to supposedly

cancel the PEP 11 exploration licence. That botched attempt was then challenged in court by Asset Energy and

the decision overturned in February this year.

That very unfortunate series of events has led us to where we are today, without certainty that the project

will be stopped. This matter should have been sorted by now. We are in this situation because of the administrative

and leadership failures of the Federal Morrison Government. With the February decision again raising the prospect

of the project progressing, PEP 11 became a feature of the recent 2023 election campaign. Due to pressure from

Independent candidates running in northern beaches seats with their own draft bill to prohibit development

associated with offshore oil and gas drilling in New South Wales, the Liberals then proposed a bill during that

election campaign to stop gas drilling in New South Wales waters. I welcomed that race to the top in what turned

into a competition of who can oppose PEP 11 the most. I welcome the continued advocacy from my fellow

northern beaches MPs.

The PEP 11 exploration licence is back with the joint authority for determination. Minister Houssos sits

on that authority, but the Federal Minister, Madeleine King, has the final say. Not only should the PEP 11

exploration licence extension be refused, but all drilling for oil and gas off our coastline should be banned, full

stop. It presents too many risks to our marine wildlife, our beaches and our climate. We must protect our coasts

from offshore gas drilling and especially protect our food bowl on the Liverpool Plains from gas mining.

We need a gas decarbonisation plan for New South Wales that rapidly reduces demand for gas in our State.

For our climate, for our coasts, for our farmland and for our precious water resources, we must stop new gas

mining. Regrettably, there is unfinished business with this PEP 11. My community has spoken, loud and clear, as

has everybody from Newcastle to Manly. We have spoken loudly and proudly about this. We will continue to

fight it. It is time to end this destructive proposal once and for all.

CAMDEN ELECTORATE FLOODING

Mrs SALLY QUINNELL (Camden) (17:57): Like the member for Clarence before me this evening,

I too speak about the continued threat of flooding that residents of my electorate of Camden consistently face. As

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the local MP, one of my enduring priorities will be to address the risks posed to Camden by flooding and to stem

the disasters that we have seen become all too common in places like the Northern Rivers and Lismore. There are

no easy solutions to the issues that Camden faces with the threat of flooding at present and into the future.

However, we can learn the lessons from past tragedies in order to prepare for much more common freak weather

events. Camden and its surrounding areas lie upon the Nepean River and, as such, the township faces significant

risk of flood when major rain events strike.

The threat facing Camden has grown exponentially in recent years, not least due to the impacts of climate

change. In just the past year people living in parts of Camden have had to evacuate on three different occasions,

and over the past three years those same areas have had to evacuate on another two occasions, sparked by constant

heavy rainfall.

While La Niña brought much-needed and welcome relief to our farmers, who for so long had faced

crippling drought conditions, large amounts of rainfall can have devastating consequences for low-lying

communities across our State. As my good friend the member for Lismore knows all too well, we need only

remember the devastating scenes coming out of Lismore and the Northern Rivers region to realise the devastation

that flooding can cause to communities. In Lismore hundreds of homes were deemed uninhabitable after

inundation that practically buried the town under a river. I have become concerned that the same circumstances

could produce similar results in Camden, with the same devastating impact on the wider community.

I recognise the work being done by the new Minns Labor Government to mitigate the impacts of flooding

across the State, including across the Nepean River. That work is vital to ensure that our communities that so

many people rely on are safe from disasters and that we are prepared when floods strike. In truth, the community

of Camden could and should be much better prepared for flood emergencies and evacuations. Members of the

community are all too familiar with the phrases "one-in-100-years" or "one-in-20-years" flood events, as the same

flooding emergencies that used to occur infrequently are now happening much more frequently. Undeniably,

climate change is altering the frequency of devastating natural disasters. Based on those trends, it is important to

take the ambitious action required to mitigate climate change, and I am proud to be part of a Labor government

that is committed to doing so.

Like I said before, there are no easy answers or solutions to these issues. The wider area surrounding

Camden itself is known for its booming population and lack of infrastructure and services to support the growing

number of people who call the Camden region home. Over a decade of neglect of south-western Sydney by the

former Government has left the area unprepared for significant natural disaster events. We need only look back

at the flooding that occurred last year to see that, without vital infrastructure to facilitate emergency management

plans and evacuations, people can become trapped in their homes waiting out a very dangerous weather event, not

knowing whether their house and possessions will be inundated.

To evacuate Camden, residents must travel along several one-lane bridges, most of which have been

inundated several times during flooding in the past year. Those arrangements are not sustainable for a community

that is undergoing such rapid population growth, along with an already large existing population that may be

required to evacuate should another significant flood event occur. With streamlined evacuation routes and

improved management of river flood plains surrounding Camden, the community can be better prepared for

natural disaster events that may occur in the future, just like they have in the past. The best we can do for the

people living in my electorate is to prepare so that they know they will be safe if the worst were to happen.

WILLOUGHBY ELECTORATE FIRST RESPONDERS

Mr TIM JAMES (Willoughby) (18:02): I acknowledge and express the gratitude of the Willoughby

community to the courageous men and women who serve as first responders in our great State of New South

Wales. As we approach Thank a First Responder Day on 7 June, it is a fitting time to reflect upon their unwavering

dedication and selflessness and the invaluable service they provide to our communities. First responders are

among the backbones of our society, working tirelessly to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our fellow citizens.

They bravely face challenging situations every day, often putting their own lives on the line to protect others.

Their commitment and resilience in the face of adversity is truly commendable. They represent the very best of

our society.

I highlight the remarkable efforts of the Willoughby-Lane Cove SES unit based in Naremburn. That

exceptional team exemplifies the spirit of community service and plays a vital role in emergency response. Their

professionalism and dedication to safeguarding our community during times of crisis is truly commendable. I was

honoured to visit their unit last year, alongside Commissioner York, and witness firsthand their outstanding work.

I had the privilege of delivering their new medium rescue truck, which will enhance their capabilities and further

support their essential operations. It is always a pleasure to see that unit and their new vehicle on display at

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community events. Community is at the heart of that organisation, from their volunteers to their community

engagement.

I also extend my appreciation, and that of our community, to Fire and Rescue NSW and, in particular, the

Willoughby electorate's local fire stations at Willoughby and Artarmon. Their brave firefighters work tirelessly to

keep our neighbourhoods safe. It is with great concern that I note the lack of upgrades to the Willoughby fire

station. Indeed, the Willoughby fire station services a population of over 100,000 people and its last major

renovation to meet operational needs was back in 1940. Last year, together with the then Minister for Emergency

Services, I visited the station and we heard from the firies directly about the clear need for upgrades to make the

station fit for purpose. The business case submitted accommodates current resources and equipment necessary to

enable rapid response to emergency incidents. I will continue to advocate for the modernisation of this vital

facility, ensuring firefighters have the resources they need to carry out their duties effectively and safely.

Equally deserving of our gratitude are the men and women of the local police station in Chatswood and

the North Shore Police Area Command. They work diligently to maintain law and order by protecting our

community from harm. Through their proactive community engagement and commitment to building strong

relationships, the Chatswood Police Station has fostered a sense of trust and cooperation between law enforcement

and the local community. Their presence and visible patrols provide reassurance to residents, making our

neighbourhoods safer and more secure. I am proud to regularly welcome new recruits by visiting Chatswood

Police Station, where I witness their commitment to upholding justice and providing a safe environment for all

residents. Their tireless efforts deserve our utmost appreciation and support.

The dedicated members of our ambulance service also play a crucial role in our emergency response

system. The establishment of the Artarmon Ambulance Superstation, delivered by the previous Coalition

Government, is a testament to our commitment to providing the best possible care to those in need. However,

there is more work to be done. I am determined to hold the new Labor Government accountable for delivering a

new ambulance station in Cremorne, ensuring that all residents have timely access to the life-saving services they

deserve.

With Thank a First Responder Day approaching, let us express our gratitude not only through words but

also through action. It is our responsibility as elected representatives to ensure that our first responders are

equipped with the necessary resources, training and support to continue their remarkable work. Let us work

together across party lines to prioritise their wellbeing and ensure that their voices are heard. By investing in our

first responders, we invest in the safety and security of our communities, leaving a legacy of gratitude and

appreciation for generations to come. As we express our gratitude to first responders, let us also remember their

families and loved ones who support them in their noble calling. Their sacrifice and unwavering support allow

our first responders to serve with such dedication and resilience.

I urge all members of this Parliament to join me in expressing our deepest gratitude to the first responders

who serve our communities and our State. Let us never take their bravery and sacrifice for granted. May we

continue to support and invest in the resources necessary to enable them to carry out their invaluable work

effectively and safely across our great State.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Clayton Barr): I inform members that Mr John Fowler is in the public

gallery. That is important with respect to the private member's statement that the member for Penrith is about to

give. We want to make sure that Mr Fowler is able to hear what is about to be said.

TRIBUTE TO MARGARET FOWLER

Ms KAREN McKEOWN (Penrith) (18:07): Thank you, Mr Temporary Speaker, for your indulgence

and the indulgence of the House. Vale, Margaret Fowler. Penrith and the wider community have been in mourning

following the loss of Margaret Fowler on 22 March 2023, aged 74 years. Born on 4 August 1948, Margaret was

known as a spirited resident with strong ties to Penrith, woven through her years of leadership and dedicated work

in the community. A Silverdale resident, Margaret was the familiar, smiling face at Wallacia Post Office for

decades before she retired in 2015. The quaint, village-style post office was held by the Fowler family for more

than a century. That milestone was marked with a community celebration in April 2008, when Margaret received

from Penrith City Council a framed image of the Fowler postmasters.

While Margaret may have been "officially retired", she never stopped her community work or study. A

keen historian, Margaret was part of the Penrith Historical Society. She researched Penrith's past during her studies

and in 2018 published Patronage and Opportunity: A snapshot of five postmistresses at Penrith and St Marys in

the 19th century. In her words, the post office was an integral part of the social fabric of a community, and

Margaret embodied that through her commitment to the role.

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Margaret also served as a member of the St Paul's Grammar School board for 23 years. Current and past

staff members have referred to Margaret as a visionary who was passionate about progress. She was instrumental

in the school's adoption of the International Baccalaureate middle years and primary school programs. Among her

many local endeavours, Margaret was a nurse, a real estate agent and co-founder of the Warragamba Silverdale

Neighbourhood Centre, where she provided practical support for young mothers in the community. Margaret was

the epitome of the quiet achiever. My husband, Brendan, and I attended many council functions where we enjoyed

her company immensely. I always remember her as a great listener—a skill she no doubt perfected during her

many decades at the post office.

Margaret was also a woman of deep faith and an active member of her local parish, working tirelessly to

secure the land and advocate for the building of a new Anglican church in Silverdale, Grace West, which was

opened in January 2022. On behalf of Penrith, I thank Margaret for her service to our community and I pass on

my deepest sympathies to my councillor colleague and Margaret's husband, Ross Fowler, OAM, as well as their

beloved children and their partners, John and Jeanette, Alison and Carl, and Gordon and Amy; and their

grandchildren, Gilbert, Max, Sabine and Florence. The funeral was held at St Thomas' Anglican Church at

Mulgoa. From the attendance at her final service, it was clear to see the esteem in which Margaret was held by

her local community.

Dr HUGH McDERMOTT (Prospect) (18:11): As the duty Parliamentary Secretary, I wish Mrs Fowler's

family and loved ones all the very best and give them my condolences. The member for Penrith has explained

what a wonderful person Mrs Fowler was and what great service she gave to her community. We thank her and

her family. May God bless them and keep them at this time.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Clayton Barr): The House supports and endorses that statement.

LIONS CLUB OF RICHMOND

Ms ROBYN PRESTON (Hawkesbury) (18:12): I also know the Fowler family. Ross Fowler and I have

known each other for quite some time. I express my appreciation to the member for Penrith for speaking about

Margaret tonight. I bring to the attention of the House the good work of the Lions Club of Richmond in the

Hawkesbury electorate. The Lions Club of Richmond is a branch of Lions Clubs International, which has more

than 1.3 million members who are affectionately known as "Lions". Lions are people who get involved in

humanitarian efforts locally, nationally and internationally. The Lions Club of Richmond was formed on

12 August 1957 and some of the community projects completed in the early days included the provision of a flood

boat and motor for the police to use in rescues in the numerous floods that occurred during that period; the

provision of two ambulances; projects to assist local hospitals, schools, boy scouts and girl guides; and support

for flood and bushfire appeals.

In 2023 not much has changed in relation to the needs of the community and the unwavering support that

the Lions Club of Richmond still provides. The club has also assisted with some unusual projects, such as clearing

wattle scrub and rubbish from the Richmond cemetery. It took more than 2,000 hours using heavy machinery and

manual labour to get the task completed. The Lions Club often comes to the rescue when all else fails. One project

that comes to mind was the filling of a dangerous hole in the river in North Richmond. We have quite a few of

those now. As the decades moved along, cries for help continued to gather and the Lions Club of Richmond has

been keen to assist.

Worthy projects such as providing air conditioning for an ambulance, which was not a standard fit-out

many years ago; fundraising for playground equipment; scholarships for nurses; the construction of a mobile

chapel for the Richmond cemetery; and an electric wheelchair for disabled students could have gone unfunded

had it not been for the generosity and sincerity of the Lions Club of Richmond. In recent times the club has been

applauded for contributing to 20-seater community bus for children with disabilities to get to and from school for

special programs and excursions. Floods in Hawkesbury over recent years called on the resources of the Richmond

Lions Club, which provided feed to farmers and whitegoods to some of those who were impacted severely by the

floods.

Apart from physical assistance and manual labour, the club's fundraising efforts are often made through

the monthly Richmond markets, sausage sizzles, raffles and dinners. I see another side to the club—camaraderie

and mateship—during those dinners, community barbeques and social gatherings. The friendships forged at the

club last for years and sometimes lifetimes. This year the club was also proud to host an area final for the Lions

Australia Youth of the Year program, which went to Windsor. It is always an inspiring event. Judges engaged

with four finalists, their families and school representatives. That program elevates the youth and hones their skills

in public speaking and interview practice. It is a chance to showcase the many talented young folk that the club

interacts with.

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Many amazing Lions Club presidents and committee members have graced those roles, with too many to

name. But I place on record my appreciation of the current president, Scott Hinks, and his executive. Scott and

the team continue to provide help and support to the Hawkesbury community and beyond—all as volunteers. That

is one of the magical qualities of the locals in Hawkesbury. It does not matter what adversity they are faced with;

they will rise to the occasion and find a way to offer their support. I congratulate the Lions Club of Richmond.

For more than 65 years it has continued to inspire and assist the Hawkesbury, and we are forever grateful.

SOUTH-EAST SYDNEY BUS SERVICES

Mr RON HOENIG (HeffronMinister for Local Government) (18:16): I examine the lingering

impacts of the former Liberal Government's decision to slash and privatise south-east Sydney's bus services. For

12 years our services have been whittled away by successive Coalition regimes that showed zero care for our

community's needs. Last year I joined 412 commuters and stakeholders who voiced their concerns through

detailed submissions to the New South Wales inquiry into the privatisation of bus services. Those submissions

painted a vivid picture of how the changes imposed by the former Government have hindered our community's

ability to reach workplaces, shops, loved ones and anywhere else we need to go safely and efficiently.

I ask members to picture waiting at a bus stop. The sun is shining down; it is a beautiful day. While thinking

about what awaits you at your destination, your enthusiasm dwindles as the minutes tick on. You squint into the

distance and see your bus. At last, the 309 is here to take you to Redfern Station. It used to take you all the way

into the city, but now it only goes as far as Redfern. Your bus approaches but it does not stop. It is full. It drives

off. You think back to the many mornings you have spent standing on Botany Road watching packed buses pass

you by.

I outline another scenario. You are retired and you have a doctor's appointment in Bondi Junction or

Eastgardens. You know there are fewer bus stops these days, but you are lucky because your bus stop survived

the cull and it is only a short walk from your home—granted, you cannot walk as fast as you used to. You have

plenty of time to catch your breath. The young man next to you curses quietly. He is on his phone and checking

for updates. As it turns out, the bus you were hoping to board has been cancelled. So you wait for the next one,

but you remember that when your bus arrives you will need to repeat this walk-wait-travel saga—perhaps more

than once—because what used to be a short 15-minute bus trip has now become an hour-long, multi-vehicle

odyssey.

Those are just some of the experiences that my residents have been raising with me. That is because the

Liberals privatised our buses and routes were cut, travel times were lengthened and the quality of services

decreased. Bus cancellations and driver shortages became rife as private operators chose profits over people again

and again. Companies predictably favour profits over residents, who are tired of being called "customers" when

they are treated more like ants in an ant farm and their very real needs, journeys and destinations are neglected.

People realised in March that the Government they had previously elected regarded them more like non-playable

characters in their game of "outsource the monopoly".

If members have ever wondered why privatised bus services experience so many cancellations, it is because

the companies contracted by this Government's predecessors had a financial incentive to cancel buses as long as

those that did run were on time. To add insult to injury, bus drivers on privatised routes like ours have endured

reduced wages and deteriorating working conditions. It is comprehensively clear that the Liberal Party's

privatisation mania has dealt Sydney a severe blow. It has also left us with an unprecedented tangle of failed

decisions and contracts to clean up.

Let me be very clear: Fixing our broken bus system will not be an easy task. Much like the tortoise and the

hare, our new Labor Government will need to take the time to do the job right rather than rushing into changes

that could hurt residents further. The Government has established the Bus Industry Taskforce as the first step

towards keeping its steadfast commitment to tackle the consequences of the Liberals Party's failed bus

privatisation agenda. Among the task force's aims are enhancing service delivery and transparency so that

commuters can hold us accountable in our endeavour to create an effective bus system.

Government members envision a bus network of the future, forging a path towards a greener and more

sustainable future for transportation. That includes improved conditions for bus drivers to enable them to continue

their invaluable work with dignity and respect. To further enshrine our values of equity and fairness, the task force

will undergo a comprehensive review of routes on a region-by-region basis and assemble a passenger reference

group to ensure that commuters' views form an integral part of each recommendation. I eagerly await the release

of the interim report in the coming months, with the final report set to be tabled next May. So buckle up, because

the ride to better bus services has already started.

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POLICE CONDUCT

Ms JENNY LEONG (Newtown) (18:21): Tonight I address the serious and distressing incidences of

excessive police use of force that have occurred in the past few weeks. A 95-year-old resident of a palliative care

home tragically died after being tasered twice by a New South Wales police officer. A 41-year-old man died after

being shot four times by New South Wales police in the middle of the day on Sydney's lower North Shore. Those

are not isolated incidents. In 2012 a young man died after he was tasered 14 times, including seven times within

51 seconds, in Sydney's CBD. A court heard that the New South Wales police officers involved used

"unnecessary, excessive and unlawful force". In 2020 a distressed 81-year-old dementia patient was forcibly

handcuffed by police at their Sydney nursing home. Police aggression and violence has repeatedly and

systemically targeted First Nations people and communities.

In my electorate of Newtown, TJ Hickey was 17 when he died while fleeing a police patrol car on his

bicycle in Waterloo in 2004. Every year at the rally commemorating his death and marching for justice, the chants

cry out, "They say accident; we say murder!" Mark Mason was capsicum sprayed, tasered and then shot dead by

police in his home in 2010. Rebecca Maher was arrested for public intoxication in 2016 and, instead of being

taken home or to hospital, was taken to a police cell where she died. Patrick Fisher died in 2018, again in my

electorate, after falling from the thirteenth-floor balcony of a housing block in Waterloo, Sydney, while being

pursued by New South Wales police.

I say some of their names in this Chamber because we cannot talk about police violence and police brutality

without also fighting for First Nations justice. As we marched to insist that black lives matter, the First Nations

activists and Elders and the thousands who marched with them in those rallies would call out, "Say Their Name!"

We say their names to remember that they have died and there has been no justice, there has been no peace and

that there are, sadly and tragically, too many racist police. There are clear and systemic issues with the excessive

use of force by the police, the excessive powers the police are given by people in this Chamber and the excessive

harm it causes in our community.

At least 474 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have died in police or prison custody since the

Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, and yet not a single officer has ever been found guilty of

murder. Time and again police investigate police, with little or no consequences ever faced, while their powers

continue to grow. Whether it is the ongoing criminalisation of protest, attempts to police our way out of

a pandemic or the overuse of sniffer dogs and searches, police continue to be handed a huge amount of expanded

powers without any of the desperately needed oversight or accountability.

When there is no accountability, the consequences are enormous. Many First Nations people and people

who experience racism understandably do not feel safe coming forward to police. Many who experience sexual

assault and domestic violence do not feel comfortable reporting it to police. Many young people and people from

migrant communities, who grow up seeing those communities overpoliced, grow up with an innate distrust of the

institution that we are repeatedly told is there to keep us safe.

The endless increases in police powers and police numbers are not making our communities safer; what

would make our communities safer is stopping the endless increases in funding and the boosting of resources to

police, and instead re-investing that money in more community and social services, more housing and more

programs, and ensuring that there is proper, independent and fully resourced oversight of police and their actions.

There is no place for tasers or guns in responding to people who are in crisis. There is no place for police chases

that are so aggressive that they result in death. But we will not see an end to that until we put an end to police

investigating police, and until there is a genuine commitment to ending deaths in custody and to respecting and

upholding every person's human rights.

REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

Dr HUGH McDERMOTT (Prospect) (18:25): I have spoken in this Chamber on many occasions in

support of the many local ethnic communities that call the electorate of Prospect home, and one of the communities

I have been proud to support is my local Armenian-Australian community. Members of the Armenian-Australian

community living in Prospect contribute greatly to New South Wales, but today they are hurting. Not only are

they forced to live with the scars of the past, namely the Armenian genocide, but they are also now witnessing

a modern manifestation of ethnic cleansing against their compatriots in Artsakh, or Nagorno-Karabakh.

For context, the Republic of Artsakh is an independent and self-determined Christian Armenian nation that

today is encircled by the brutal dictatorship of Azerbaijan. I was honoured to visit the picturesque Republic of

Artsakh during a delegation led by the Armenian National Committee of Australia in 2019. But only one year

after my visit, in September 2020, Azerbaijani dictator Ilham Aliyev launched 44 days of war crimes against the

innocent people of Artsakh, attempting to ethnically cleanse the region of Armenians by launching an offensive

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 66

war into its territory. The war ended in a ceasefire, with over 70 per cent of Artsakh occupied and the Lachin

corridor remaining open for transit between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh. Many claimed

that to be a peace settlement. But the Azerbaijan dictatorship was not satisfied with its illegal occupation of

Artsakh and unleashed a new form of terror in December 2022, breaking the ceasefire agreement and placing the

entire population under siege. Ultimately, the autocratic dictatorship led by the same family, the Aliyevs, for some

30-plus years is attempting to suffocate the people of Artsakh—to make life so unbearable that they leave.

This House has recognised the Republic of Artsakh in a motion that I was proud to champion and that

received support from all but two members in this Chamber, from different parties, including Premier Chris Minns.

I am sure the news of the illegal blockade is extremely concerning to all members of this place, primarily because

we as a Parliament affirmed our support for democracy, freedom and human rights by recognising the Republic

of Artsakh. But today that little cradle of civilisation and its 120,000 inhabitants, including 30,000 children, are

facing an existential crisis for survival.

The blockade has completely stopped the flow of aid in the form of food, fuel, medical supplies and

humanitarian relief to Artsakh. Water reservoirs are quickly drying up, and there are reports of remote villages

with access to electricity for only two hours a day. Ninety per cent of the food in Artsakh was imported from

Armenia. As a result of this blockade, since January civilians have been given food coupons to purchase limited

supplies of pasta, buckwheat, rice, sugar, oil, fruit, vegetables and eggs. Artsakh is home to 118 educational

institutions, all of which at one point or another have been forced to shut due to the lack of electricity or heating

for children as young as five, restricting their right to an education.

The humanitarian situation is grim, extremely grim. If the international community, including Australia,

does not take immediate action, humanity will have blood on its hands. Australians did not sit by when the

Armenian Genocide was perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire 108 years ago. Instead, everyday Australians, who

learnt about the plight of the Armenians, came to the aid of victims of the genocide, rallying for funds, clothes

and food, which later culminated in the establishment of an Australian-run orphanage in Lebanon, housing some

1,700 Armenian orphans.

I stand with my community by speaking directly to the people of Artsakh from this Parliament.

I acknowledge your strength, power and resilience. No matter what the barbaric regime of Azerbaijan has thrown

at you over the past three decades, you remain committed to a life in the mountains. To Gay6ne Asribabayan, a

mother in Artsakh who just gave birth to triplets, Henry, Taro and Tiran, your family remains in our prayers. This

Parliament and the people of New South Wales will continue to stand with you, so you can one day raise your

children in a safe, free, democratic and independent Artsakh.

CANTERBURY ELECTORATE RELIGIOUS EVENTS

Ms SOPHIE COTSIS (CanterburyMinister for Industrial Relations, and Minister for Work

Health and Safety) (18:30): As we move through the year, I have the pleasure of observing different special

religious norms that are integral to the lives of so many people in my electorate. In the past few weeks we have

had Ramadan, Easter and Eid as well as the Feast Day of Our Lady of Fatima. It was an eye-opening experience

to witness the Islamic tradition of breaking the fast, which is an immensely rewarding and spiritual experience.

The drive for self-discipline and self-improvement is a fantastic quality practised by many in my community and

I admire all my community members who observed Ramadan. It proves to be inspirational for those involved and

those who witness it.

I acknowledge the Lebanese Muslim Association and the Islamic Women's Welfare Association as vital

community groups partaking in these customs and reaching out to many in our community and across the world.

In particular, I have witnessed a distinctive factor in the Muslim community, which is charity. It is enshrined at

the foundational level of their belief. In this regard, I acknowledge Human Appeal Australia, which facilitated

donor-funded aid to more than 27 regions worldwide. I also acknowledge Muslim Women's Australia for the

incredible work it does, particularly by supporting families by not only bringing families together but also

outreaching to people who are vulnerable and in need.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Our Lady of Fatima Church in Kingsgrove on recently organising

a truly memorable feast day celebration. It was a pleasure to join the Premier to celebrate with the local

community. This auspicious occasion not only brings joy and spiritual fulfillment to the community but also

fosters unity and camaraderie among its parishioners. The feast day celebration at Our Lady of Fatima Church

stands as a testament to the strong sense of community and faith that prevails in Kingsgrove. It is through the

collaborative efforts of individuals and organisations that such cherished events come to fruition. As very proud

representatives of Kingsgrove, the Premier and I consider ourselves incredibly fortunate to be part of a community

that holds such profound traditions and values.

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The feast day celebration at Our Lady of Fatima Church serves as a reminder of the rich cultural and

religious heritage that permeates our local area. I extend my warmest congratulations to Our Lady of Fatima

Church, the school, our Very Reverend Hamilton, Casey, Ureta, Bishop Terry Brady and Bernadette Basil, who

is a fantastic educator and our guide a few weekends ago, and all the volunteers, the stallholders, the sponsors,

and the entire Kingsgrove community. May the blessings of this feast day continue to inspire and uplift all who

participate.

I take this opportunity also to acknowledge all places of worship in my electorate of Canterbury. I am

proud of the many successful religious celebrations that have taken place in the Canterbury electorate, bringing

together people of different backgrounds and faiths to celebrate. These events promote unity and harmony and

they are a true testament to the strength and diversity of our Canterbury community. As we move forward, I am

committed to continuing to support not only the events, festivals and gatherings but also one thing that we missed

during COVID, which was coming together as a community.

As a community, we can promote understanding and respect. What I love about our community is that in

one room and at one festival you can have somebody of the Greek Orthodox faith, the Muslim faith, the Maronite

faith, the Jewish faith, the Anglican faith and the Catholic faith with one objective, which is to bring our families

and communities together and work for the common goals of unity and strength to make sure that we build better

resilience in our community and in our children.

ACTIVE KIDS PROGRAM

Ms STEPHANIE DI PASQUA (Drummoyne) (18:35): Today I speak about the Active Kids rebate and

the positive impact this initiative has had on local kids who play grassroots sports in my community. In the

Drummoyne electorate over 60,000 vouchers have been created since 2018 and over 12,000 vouchers were issued

in 2022 alone. This year over 7,000 vouchers have been created in less than six months. Last year over 76 per cent

of the eligible population used the vouchers and participated in this initiative. This is a significant uptake for a

government program and shows that Active Kids is valued by my community. The vouchers have been evenly

split, almost fifty-fifty, between male and female participation in local sport. They have been used for soccer,

dancing, swimming, netball, basketball, martial arts, rugby league, gymnastics, AFL, tennis—and the list goes on.

Sport is about fair play, having fun, fostering the critical role of physical activity and instilling healthy

lifestyle habits in children. Sport teaches values of patience and camaraderie. It builds our community fabric

because it rises above gender and race. It allows people to form friendships both on and off the field. With the

rising cost of living and immense pressures on the household budget, the Active Kids vouchers provide essential

relief to families and play a critical role in making local sport accessible to children all over the State who may

not be able to participate without them. Several sporting clubs have contacted me about their concerns that the

Active Kids vouchers will not be extended beyond 30 June 2023. Joe from the Balmain Junior Touch Association

especially expressed how vital the Active Kids voucher program is to the families of its nearly 1,600 junior

players. In his letter to me, Joe writes:

It is vital to express that now is not the time to be withdrawing such a successful cost of living relief to NSW families, which has the

added bonus of helping kids get active and healthy, supports their wellbeing, and delivers all the other benefits that participating in

sport and active recreation provides.

Similar sentiments were shared with me when I spoke to club members from Massey Park Golf Club, Little

Athletics, and local AFL clubs, which rely on the vouchers to help their young members participate in their chosen

field of sport. I thank those club members and volunteers for sharing their experience with me. Active Kids

vouchers help to make sport more accessible to families and help to promote different activities for our youth,

especially for girls and young women.

Female participation in sport is growing locally, and it is important to continue this trend in years to come.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare states that 70 per cent of children fail to meet physical activity

guidelines, which can lead to poorer academic outcomes and increased childhood obesity rates. Active Kids has

been an extremely popular and successful measure implemented by the former Coalition Government, giving

children an opportunity to participate in sport and helping with their physical and mental health.

I advocate for the continuation of the Active Kids vouchers for their ability to remove obstacles and barriers

to sport. I will be supporting a petition to extend the Active Kids vouchers beyond 30 June 2023. The vouchers

support local kids and, importantly, support local sporting clubs. I call on the Government to support Active Kids

for the benefits the vouchers provide local children. I also take this opportunity to thank all involved in

coordinating local sport in my community for their time, dedication and hard work.

Mr JIHAD DIB (BankstownMinister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Minister for

Emergency Services, and Minister for Youth Justice) (18:40): There has been a lot of discussion about Active

Kids vouchers over the past few weeks. I remind members that whilst the Opposition describes Active Kids as

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a big project, it was never funded beyond a particular date. There has been a lot of discussion about that. To

provide clarity, the program itself has not been cut by this Government; there is simply no funding for it in the

budget beyond 30 June.

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Ms LYNDA VOLTZ (Auburn) (18:40): Today I acknowledge one of the beautiful souls of the Auburn

electorate. Michaela Dunn was also known as Mikki to her family and friends. Mikki was a daughter,

a granddaughter, a sister and a niece. She was a sportswoman, a swimmer, a student and very much the girl next

door. She was also a traveller and explorer: one of our talented young women with itchy feet who felt as at home

exploring Europe as exploring Lidcombe. She was greatly loved by her family and friends. She was one of us.

However, this morning when I read the newspaper, I felt not sadness but anger when I saw an article on page 3 of

The Australian and the headline that accompanied the story about the great loss of Mikki to our community.

Mikki, along with two other women, was attacked. Mikki was murdered by a person who went there with

the intent to commit this horrendous crime. One other woman was also stabbed but survived the knife wound.

A third woman was lucky to escape the knife-wielding assailant with no injury. Yet, of all involved in the crime

which took Mikki's precious life, unfortunately it is Mikki's occupation alone that some in the media have decided

to single out. Why? The headline in The Australian completely depersonalises Mikki. It makes her no longer the

beloved daughter, the fun sister, or the adventurous traveller, but an invisible entity behind a cliched occupation.

The Manichean judgement behind it is obvious: it reduces a cherished soul to nothing but a cheap headline.

The headline ignores the pain of the mother, the sister, the aunty and the community who have lost someone

they adore. It inflicts another humiliation on the memory of Mikki, and the newspaper staff should hang their

heads in shame. Language is important and our media are beholden to ensure that women are treated with the

respect they deserve—none more so than Mikki. While it is easy to argue that it is just one headline, I would

question the journalist involved. Why was it necessary to identify Mikki's employment? Three women were

attacked that day. They had one similarity amongst them: they were all women. They were attacked simply for

being women.

This week alone there have been two more appalling tragedies: the murder of a three-year-old child at the

hands of their father, and the murder of Tatiana Dokhotaru at the hands of a man who already had a domestic

violence order against him. The violence goes on and police and support services continue to be overwhelmed.

But it is beholden on others to ensure we continue to work towards the elimination of violence against women.

We know that language matters: that threats, shaming, deprecation, comments on appearance and sexist language

and jokes precede violence against women. While a headline, a joke, or an individual act of sexism can go

unquestioned, there continues to be an acceptance of the denigration of women, an acceptance of violence, and an

ongoing climate of fear and insecurity, mainly for women and girls.

Mikki should have been safe—as should Tatiana, as should Lisa Fenwick, as should Shereen Kumar.

Unfortunately, they were not. I would ask the journalists to put themselves in the shoes of Mikki's mother, who

has lost the adored daughter she loved. Why write such an unnecessary headline about such a cherished soul? Do

they have any concept of the pain they cause? The image we should remember of Mikki—that I want everyone to

take away today—is of the bright, talented young woman full of promise, a sunflower looking to the sun, brimming

with life and love. We should remember the mother who loved her. We should remember the family and friends

she loved and held close. We should never forget Mikki, the person, who was one of us. We should respect all

those who hold her dear.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Mr ALEX GREENWICH (Sydney) (18:45): My constituents want the energy network to quickly

transition to 100 per cent green renewable power to prevent the most devastating impacts of climate change. It is

essential that changes to generation, transmission and storage are combined with energy efficiency and

electrification to reduce demand and enable all power to be clean and green. But energy efficiency and

electrification are largely being left to individuals to implement. We urgently need action, planning and targets to

achieve outcomes and ensure everyone can reduce their energy use at home, regardless of means.

Making homes more energy efficient not only reduces demand on the power system but also reduces

household costs. I welcome agreement between the Commonwealth, States and Territories to increase energy

efficiency standards in the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme [NatHERS] to seven stars, commencing in

October. Seven-star homes use 25 per cent less energy to heat and cool than six-star homes, cutting bills, demand

and greenhouse gas emissions. But we need to go further than seven stars and ban gas connections in all new

homes. Gas is a fossil fuel that produces massive greenhouse gas emissions and is vulnerable to global market

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impacts. Current work to replace liquid gas with renewable alternatives provides no guarantees and we need to

urgently prepare for a future of electrification.

Connecting to gas now will only delay making homes sustainable while setting home owners up for

significant costs to disconnect in the future. New gas connections are especially problematic for apartment

buildings, which will require complex and costly efforts to decommission and install alternatives. Importantly,

work needs to go beyond decarbonising new homes because most people live in homes that have already been

built. The vast majority of existing homes are below a three-star NatHERS rating. We urgently need policy and

investment to update these homes to prevent massive bills and unhealthy homes and to bring forward greenhouse

gas reductions. Renters have the least means to make their homes energy efficient as they cannot make structural

changes to the properties they live in. We need mandatory minimum energy efficiency standards for all rental

homes.

In 2019 the Council of Australian Governments [COAG] Energy Council agreed to establish a national

framework for minimum energy efficiency standards in rental homes. Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory

have commenced work to adopt provisions. But across New South Wales, most rental homes remain expensive,

uncomfortable and unhealthy. Many changes are simple and can be easily adopted without significant burden on

property owners. Measures like insulating ceilings, providing window coverings, sealing doors and windows and

providing efficient heating and cooling are examples of ways to quickly update rentals so that they are healthy,

efficient and affordable.

The Government should commence a program to retrofit all public housing properties to the highest energy

and water efficiency standard possible, including installing solar panels. As some of the poorest in our community,

public housing tenants have the least means to make their homes energy efficient, with many unable to even make

basic efficiency choices like purchasing energy efficient small appliances, adding to the drain on energy bills.

Decommissioning gas in rentals should be part of the State's energy transition plan. As the price of gas increases,

those who can will disconnect, increasing the cost of delivering gas through the network. This in turn will lead

even more people to disconnect, with further price rises. Those with the least means will be the last to leave,

paying inflated prices that they cannot afford. They will also be at risk of losing services before they can arrange

alternatives. We must prepare for this scenario and protect the most vulnerable through a program that provides

subsidies and incentives to decommission gas.

The cost of investment in a new, decarbonised electricity network is being borne by consumers while

project proponents are set to make huge profits from new renewable generation, transmission and storage.

Consumers should not be forced to subsidise infrastructure that will produce private windfalls, and the

Government needs to establish a more equitable share of costs. Everyone should have access to affordable and

sustainable energy. I call on the new Government to work to achieve equitable access to energy efficiency and

electrification, and healthy, affordable homes for all.

MIRANDA ELECTORATE

Ms ELENI PETINOS (Miranda) (18:49): There are seven words for "love" in the Greek language: eros,

which is romantic or passionate love; philia, which is affectionate or friendly love; storge, which is unconditional

or familial love; agape, which is selfless, universal love; ludus, which is playful or flirtatious love; pragma, which

is committed, long-lasting love; and philautia, which is self-love. I speak tonight about the concept of philia. In

his best-known work on ethics, Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle notes that philia is expressed variously as loyalty

to friends, family and community, and that it requires virtue, equality and familiarity. It is the love and happiness

shared between two things, and it is sent out as much as it is received. It also speaks of connections of affection,

fondness, liking or even goodwill. It is the deep love I have for the people of Miranda and the strong connection

I feel for my electorate—my friends, my family and my community.

It has been an honour and a privilege to represent this electorate for the past eight years. Tonight, I say

thank you from the bottom of my heart to the people of Miranda for giving me the incredible opportunity to

continue as their local representative in the Fifty-Eighth Parliament of New South Wales. I am truly humbled.

Over the past two terms, the Liberal Government invested in the local community by upgrading the Sutherland

hospital, redeveloping St George Hospital, building the M6 stage one, improving local roads, upgrading local

schools, improving the T4 and T8 train services, and investing in more frontline staff like doctors, nurses and

teachers.

Specifically, some key achievements are the $62.9 million redevelopment of Sutherland hospital's

emergency department, general medical unit and expanded critical care medical unit; the $81.5 million Sutherland

hospital operating theatre redevelopment; $7 million for a dedicated MRI machine at Sutherland hospital; the

Caringbah ambulance superstation; the Como station accessibility upgrade; the Jannali station accessibility

upgrade; the new commuter car park at Como, which is still in progress; the new school hall at Jannali East Public

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 70

School; the Alfords Point Road upgrade; the Princes Highway upgrade at Kirrawee and Sylvania; the extended

clearways on Taren Point Road; the Linden Street upgrade, which is still in progress; nearly $8 million for

Seymour Shaw Park, which is still being constructed; and the removal of three abandoned barges in Woolooware

Bay. It has been quite a journey.

I will continue to fight for Miranda to ensure that our community and the Sutherland shire get their fair

share. I am here for my community—each and every one of you. To the people of the Miranda electorate, I will

continue to be there for you. I will listen. I will not let you down. I will never truly be able to convey with words

the love, the philia, the affection that I have for our community. I will do my very best to repay your trust in me

and be there, though my actions, for each and every one of you.

NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

COOMA AGED-CARE WORKERS

Mr STEVE WHAN (Monaro) (18:53): Tonight I express my support for two groups of workers in the

Monaro electorate that, over the past couple of weeks, have been given reason to feel under threat and to feel less

safe in their workplaces than they ought to. In doing so, I acknowledge that in any area of policy, particularly

controversial areas of policy, people have the right to have a different view and to express that different view.

With any area of service, they have the right to express dissatisfaction with that service. But they do not have a

right to turn that into personal attacks or actions that lead workers—people who are just doing their jobs—to feel

threatened in doing their jobs.

I talk first about an incident that occurred last Friday in Jindabyne, when a person who was campaigning

against the culling of brumbies deposited a brumby's head in the foyer of the National Parks and Wildlife Service

in Jindabyne. That action is absolutely disgusting. It is universally seen as being threatening to the people in that

building, and it cannot be condoned by any person, regardless of their views on the brumby cull that is currently

underway. I recognise that it evokes passionate emotions in many people. There are many people who love the

brumbies and do not want to see them culled. I am not one of those people; I say that up-front. But regardless of

one's views, there is no reason to make the people who work at the National Parks and Wildlife Service feel

threatened in the work they are doing. They are going to their job and doing what is asked of them. The people

who set the policy are not the people who are in that building doing that job. As their local member, I say to those

workers that they have my 100 per cent support in the work they do. They deserve to feel safe. They are a valued

part of the community. I know the vast majority of the people in the community appreciate the work they do to

preserve our wonderful Kosciuszko National Park.

I also speak about the aged-care workers in Cooma whom we have heard much about in the past couple of

weeks due to the tragic incident there involving Clare Nowland. Again, people have a right to ask questions about

services and standards of aged care, but they do not have a right to do make it personal. Our aged-care workers

do a wonderful job. They often do it in trying circumstances, and they often do it needing more resources. We all

know that. They need our support in doing that job. They care deeply for the people who are in their care. Once

again, we have heard reports in the past few weeks that people working in the sector have not felt as safe as they

should in going about their work. I thank them for doing a difficult job and for doing it to the best of their ability

with the resources they have available. As their local member, I support them 100 per cent.

I say to the people who think they should go outside those boundaries that, if I know who they are, I will

not be talking to them. I am happy to listen to people who are willing to present alternative views in a sensible

way, in a constructive way and in a way that does not seek to demonise those who do not agree with them.

THE HILLS RELAY FOR LIFE

Mr MARK HODGES (Castle Hill) (18:57): I speak about the Relay for Life that was recently held in

the Hills shire in my electorate. I recently attended the Hills Relay for Life, which was held on 21 May and

22 May. The relay was held at the Castle Hill Showground in my electorate. It was the twenty-second time the

event had been held. The opening ceremony of the event was held at 9.00 a.m. on Saturday 21 May. The member

for Kellyville and I were both present. I know that he supports the relay. The chair indicated that the target this

year was to raise $250,000. That target was exceeded. The dedication and commitment of the Castle Hill

community was further evident at the "Hope" candlelight vigil, which I attended at 6.00 p.m. The candlelight vigil

is a deeply personal ceremony where people in attendance can celebrate the survival or reflect and remember the

loss of someone special.

The morning after the event there were many exhausted members of the community who had spent the

night at the showground. Support for the event within my electorate was evident, and it was inspiring to see all

the people who were there. The relay raises vital funds for the Cancer Council's research, prevention and support

services. It is an important chance for the community to recognise and support cancer survivors and carers. The

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relay is an incredible overnight event where the community comes together as friends and colleagues to join a

worthy cause, giving back to those in need and fighting cancer. The Relay for Life committee within the Hills for

the past 22 years has raised in excess of $5 million for cancer research and support. The fundraising by the Hills

Relay for Life committee is absolutely inspirational and amazing. Cancer impacts us all, but with community

groups such as the Hills Relay for Life we are fighting back.

It is estimated that 162,000 new cancer cases will be diagnosed this year. That is on average approximately

444 per person per day. That is why events such as Relay for Life are important. The Hills Relay for Life could

not happen without the relayers, who register and raise funds. There were 948 relayers this year. I congratulate

the top 12: Joel Bowmer, with $8,664; Anthony Ellison, with $5,398; Feona Henness, with $5,102;

Amy Stephenson, with $4,785; Joel Sedger, with $4,705; Tanya Burston, with $4,659; Sharon Capizzi, with

$4,643; Cheryl Hill, with $3,858; Jaime Berglin, with $3,832; Matt Crapp, with $3,686; Andrew Kelly, with

$3,577; and Andrew Bowmer, with $3,218. There were also 97 teams registered. I will not read out their particular

amounts.

The committee is made up of 16 very hardworking people: chairperson Lisa Carruthers, Jamie Berglin,

David Hand, Ruth Didsbury, Katie Didsbury, Fiona Hennes, Jenny Glover, Bev Jordan, Lynne Pike, Angela Pike,

Michelle Patterson, Bryan Mullan, Michelle Byrne, Karen Cunningham, Denise Daynes and Renae Dean. As at

today, the total raised this year is $289,187. Relay for Life will have its annual ball this Saturday night, and if a

bit more money is raised the total will exceed $300,000. That will make them the number one relay team in the

country. At the closing ceremony Chairperson Lisa Carruthers said, in relation to the planning, "It is not a weekend

event; it is a very long haul of nine or 10 months to plan this event." I am proud to represent an area of our State

that has such amazing volunteers. I thank Relay for Life in the Hills area for its service.

TRIBUTE TO ROBERT MANN

Mr RON HOENIG (HeffronMinister for Local Government) (19:01): It is with considerable

sadness that I advise the House of the passing of Bob Mann, a former ALP Mayor of Botany, who passed away

recently at the age of 81. Bob served as an alderman on the then Botany Municipal Council from 1974 to 1983.

He was mayor in 1974, 1976 and 1980. He was relatively young for mayors in those days, being in his early 30s,

but was responsible for taking advantage of the funding made available by the Whitlam Government. During his

leadership of the council the Whitlam Government funded in Botany the first long day care centre in New South

Wales. Bob organised for the land to be donated by the council. He also set up the first play groups. He established

Botany Community Care, ably supported by his then wife, Kerry Mann, which was a forerunner of Home and

Community Care.

During his time as Mayor of Botany, Port Botany was planned and the first shots were fired in the

environmental battles that I subsequently inherited. An alderman on the council at the time said it was a major

learning curve for all of them, including then State members Bob Carr and Laurie Brereton. As I indicated, Bob

passed at the age of 81. I had not seen him for many years, and he had been quite ill prior to his passing. He was,

in his 80s, still running 10 kilometres regularly. According to his son Aaron, he was assaulted on one of his runs

and suffered his debilitating illness. Bob Mann was the secretary of the Mascot branch of the ALP when

I transferred to that branch, having joined in Wagga Wagga in 1975. Bob encouraged me to join my first

community protest and also urged me, at a very young age, to run for election to Botany Council in 1980.

Bob was the secretary and chief executive of Broadway Credit Union. He could serve only one year as

mayor and had to focus on his employment. He stood down as mayor in 1981, which is when I was elected. Even

prior to my election to the council, Bob Mann was a mentor. Many of the initiatives I have been credited with in

the 30 years I served in that office were at his instigation and achieved because of the learning I had at Bob's feet.

Bob was elected in 1974 after the notorious Botany Council cases that some might remember, when various

aldermen made allegations in relation to some News Limited land in Botany. So to achieve what he achieved

during those difficult times was significant.

His then wife, Kerry Mann, was a teacher at Mascot Public School for many years. I have not seen Kerry

in recent years, but I know she is an ardent follower of my Facebook page and always took a keen interest in the

local community. I am so sad to hear of Bob's passing. I extend my condolences to his sons, Aaron and Luke, and

take the opportunity, as a Minister of the Crown, to belatedly thank Bob on behalf of the State of New South

Wales for his lengthy and committed service to the people of Botany.

RYDE ELECTORATE

Mr JORDAN LANE (Ryde) (19:06): I express my deepest gratitude to the extraordinary volunteers who

dedicated their time, energy and unwavering support to my election campaign. Their tireless efforts ensured our

success in retaining Liberal leadership in Ryde. It is the first time in over 73 years that a retiring MP for Ryde was

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 72

immediately succeeded by someone from the same party. I begin by extending my heartfelt thanks to the members

of our dedicated campaign committee. Michael Evangelidis, my campaign director, exemplified exceptional

strategic acumen, guiding our team through a long and demanding campaign. Alongside Frank Moshfeghi,

David Schultz, Sarah McFayden, Jacob Gormley, Gary Patni, John Hassarati, Peter Pease, Jerry Yessaeian,

Claire Elias and Mary Yedelian, we formed a formidable campaign committee capable of making the impossible

possible. I am eternally grateful for the unwavering support of my council colleagues throughout the campaign:

Mayor Sarkis Yedelian; the deputy mayor and my State electoral conference [SEC] president, Shweta Deshpande;

and councillors Trenton Brown, Justin Li, Daniel Han and Sophie Lara-Watson. Their dedication to our

community is the bedrock upon which our local movement is based.

I also extend my thanks to the members of the mighty Epping-Eastwood Young Liberals, who consistently

punch above their weight. I thank Alex Lara-Watson, Keenan Smith, Evie O'Brien, Leane van Essen,

Samantha Murray, Jordan He, Fred Bekker, Jacob Masina, Jasmin Ahlawat, Jem Macpherson, Aarzu Patni,

Peter Qian, Tim Pinzone, Cameron Last, James Camilleri and Priya Pagaddinnimath. Our future is bright with

them in it. I thank SEC executive Chris Galloway, Dee Brown, Hassib Elias and Stephen Hunt for the many late

nights, emails and Zoom calls. It takes a lot of effort, and I express my deep gratitude for their hard work in those

roles.

Several of my parliamentary colleagues made special trips to the electorate, including of course the former

Premier and member for Epping, as well as the member for Cootamundra, the member for Oatley and Natalie

Ward from the Legislative Council. But I am particularly grateful to my friend the member for Hornsby for his

help, support and guidance along the way. Through his conviction, we prosecuted many of the issues that were

crucial to our success in Ryde, for which I am eternally grateful. Some went above and beyond the call of duty,

and I single out the limitless hours put in by Liam Bowden and Keanu Arya—every morning, every night and

everything in between. James Wallace and Trent Zimmerman not only contributed on the campaign frontline but

also supported me with wise and considered counsel from the very beginning. They are forces to be reckoned

with.

I also thank the team at Liberal Party HQ, in particular State Director Chris Stone, Adelaide Cuneo, Patrick

Blacker, Luke Nayna, Dorina Ilievska and Ian Zakon for their tireless support behind the scenes. The campaign's

success would not have been possible without the dedication of the booth captains and volunteers, many of whom

were also part of the campaign committee, including Kathy Tracey, Chris Moujalli and Liz Ryu.

I extend my deepest appreciation to our incredible volunteers, who worked tirelessly on so many aspects

of the campaign: Peter He, Aiden Lee, Lachlan Moses, William Olive, Artin and Nora Etmekdjian, Mitch Tracey,

Marilyn Methven, Carla Kassab, Rosemary Mah, Elaine Budd, Leechen Li, Janine Orban, Ben Binskin, Rose

Torossian, Cleo Arya, Connor Burke, Jacob Koo, John Dixon, Satvik Sharma, Gisele Kapterian, Granville

Schokman, Kevin Lim, Razmik Aghajanian, Vahe Hamparian, Beryl Johnson, Matthew Wu, Kaitlin York, Simon

Kennedy, Anthony Ching, Kevin Pagaddinnimath, Deepak Chauhan, Anne Moran, Sabi Singh, Diana Landor,

Richard Lu, Amjad Khanche, Richard Ford, Arturo Puno, Hosni Sidrak, Mark Lee, Brad, Peta and Rebecca Collis,

and countless others. Their dedication, enthusiasm and tireless efforts have made an indelible impact on our

campaign. I thank the many community leaders, especially Roseanna Gallo, Angelina Bonifacio, Hugh Lee, Joey

Chan, Soraya Raju and members of the Armenian National Committee. For some, this was the first campaign they

ever worked on. I hope it will not be the last.

Never before has the role of scrutineering been so crucial than in Ryde. I thank Scott Farlow, Felicity

Wilson, Jacqui Munro, Kellie Sloane, Michael Photios, Maria Kovacic, Chris Rath, Alister Henskens, Mark

Hodges, Matt Cross, Rory Amon, Dave Sharma, Andrew Constance, Mitch Potts, Fiona Scott, Rachel Merton,

Sue Carter, Bonnie Marshall, David Nouri, Jack Abadee, Reece Nuttall, Jack de Henin and many others for

making every vote count, and especially for finding those four extras in the recount. I make special mention of

Peter Bardos, who undertook the difficult task of scrutineering pre-poll on election night. I thank my predecessor,

Victor Dominello, and his senior electorate officer, Margaret Lee, for taking that chance on me all those years

ago. And without the efforts of each and every volunteer, I certainly would not be standing here today.

Lastly, I thank my family, who have been a source of unconditional support throughout every high and

low. For believing, even when I did not, I thank my parents, Janelle and Richard; my sisters, Madison and Kendall;

my partner, Natalie; and her mother, Molly. My final thankyou is to the people of Ryde. Serving the community

that has given me every opportunity is the greatest honour of my life, and I will not take this opportunity for

granted. To conclude, I simply say that I love Ryde.

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Bills

FIRST HOME BUYER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2023

Returned

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Clayton Barr): I report receipt of a message from the Legislative

Council returning the bill without amendment.

The House adjourned, pursuant to resolution, at 19:13 until Tuesday 20 June 2023 at 12:00.

Written Community Recognition Statements

MARK GRIFFIOEN

Mr MICHAEL KEMP (Oxley)—I am delighted to announce the appointment of Mark Griffioen as the

new General Manager of Bellingen Shire Council. Mark will commence his work in this critical role commencing

in early July 2023 and has been appointed on a five-year performance-based contract. Mark has 27 years of

experience in Local Government across New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory, and New Zealand.

He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new role having held executive positions at West Arnhem

Shire Council, Wagga Wagga City Council, Scenic Rim Regional Council, and Timaru District Council. As the

Chief Executive Officer at West Arnhem Shire Council, Mark demonstrated exceptional strategic thinking,

stakeholder engagement, and community-focused leadership. His achievements included implementing

innovative sustainability initiatives, fostering economic development, and enhancing governance practices. These

accomplishments, along with his commitment to transparency and accountability, align closely with the vision

and values of Bellingen Shire Council. Mark has impressive academic qualifications. He is a Fellow of the

Certified Practicing Accountant Program, (CPA Australia) and holds a Bachelor of Financial Administration from

the University of New England. I would like to congratulate Mark and I look forward to working with him into

the future.

JOY MCKEAN

Mr MICHAEL KEMP (Oxley)—I'd like to pay my respects to the Australian songwriter and musician

Joy McKean, wife of the late Kempsey-born Slim Dusty. Joy passed away, aged 93, on May 25 following a long

battle with cancer. She died peacefully, surrounded by her family. Joy said when she first starting writing music

in the 1950s the industry was rarely credited women for song writing – undaunted she became a trailblazer and

remembered as a pioneer in Australian music. Joy was a multi-award winning songwriter and musician who wrote

many of Slim's most famous songs and won the first Golden Guitar awarded at the Tamworth Country Music

Festival for 'Lights on the Hill'. The song was inspired by Joy's experience towing a heavy caravan up the

then-notorious Devil's Pinch, near Guyra, on the Northern Tablelands. Joy's musical partnership with Slim

produced over 100 albums, sold more than 8 million albums and earned 45 Golden Guitars. She was his manager,

ran the business and most importantly loved and raised the family. Joy is survived by her children, Anne

Kirkpatrick and David Kirkpatrick, four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Joy leaves and incredible

musical legacy and my condolences to Joy's family and loved ones.

NATIONAL SORRY DAY

Mr MICHAEL KEMP (Oxley)—The communities of Oxley held a range of commemorative events for

National Sorry Day, on 26 May to remember and acknowledge the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander people now known as 'The Stolen Generations' who were forcibly removed from their families and

communities. The NSW Coalition Government responded to the Unfinished Business, (the NSW Parliament

General Purpose Standing Committee's report on its inquiry into Stolen Generations reparations, was tabled in

Parliament on 23 June 2016, making 35 recommendations towards reparations) delivering a comprehensive

package towards reparations for Stolen Generations survivors and their families including: The NSW Stolen

Generations Reparations Scheme and Funeral Assistance Fund; and Funding for collective healing initiatives

including a Stolen Generations Advisory Committee to provide a forum for Stolen Generations survivors to have

greater input into the decisions that impact on them and provide advice on the implementation of the NSW

Government's response. I'd like to recognise, acknowledge, and pay my respects to all the indigenous families,

First Nation groups and all the people in my community, who continue to be affected by trauma and loss caused

by forced removals of children from families from 1910 to the 1970s.

SENIOR CONSTABLE EMMA BYRNE

Mr PHILIP DONATO (Orange)—I rise to recognise Senior Constable Emma Byrne of the Orange

Electorate. As a young Constable in the early stages of her career with NSW Police, Emma Byrne found herself

in the line of fire during the notorious 2014 Lindt siege in Sydney, where several patrons were held hostage under

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terrifying circumstances with two ultimately and tragically losing their lives. Faced with no alternative, and a

threat from the gunman holding hostages at gunpoint in the café, Senior Constable Byrne was given an ultimatum

by the gunman. She was ordered to remove the police vehicle parked near the café, with a warning the gunman

would open fire after two minutes. Showing extraordinary bravery, Senior Constable Byrne ran as fast as she

could through the 'hot' or firing zone, to comply with the gunman's wishes. Senior Constable Byrne showed

extraordinary courage on that day, and drawing on the skills she acquired during a police training she was able to

comply with the gunman's wishes, preventing more bloodshed. For her outstanding bravery, Senior Constable

Emma Byrne was recently presented with a NSW Commissioner of Police Citation recognising outstanding

services, bravery and merit in the performance of duty.

BILL AND JANE FAIRGRIEVE

Mr PHILIP DONATO (Orange)—I rise to recognise husband and wife Bill and Jane Fairgrieve, of

Orange. This couple have made an extraordinary contribution to the community of Orange, both as individuals

and as a couple. Most recently they have each reached a milestone 6,000 hours of volunteer shifts at Ronald

McDonald House Charities Central West, located in Orange. Bill and Jane volunteer on the overnight shift at the

house and are there with a warm greeting and providing comfort to families at all hours of the night who have had

a baby, child or adolescent arrive at Orange Hospital under emergency circumstances as they face a

life-threatening or serious medical condition. As well, Bill and Jane have been enthusiastic members of the Orange

Runners Club, contributing by holding down various executive positions on the committee over many years. They

also make a great contribution each year to the organisation of the Orange Running Festival which attracts

thousands of visitors to the city. Jane has also volunteered with the Blue Ladies at Orange Hospital, by assisting

patients. The community of Orange is a richer place due to the dedication and passion of volunteers such as Bill

and Jane Fairgrieve.

ANNIE GALLAGHER

Mr PHILIP DONATO (Orange)—I rise to recognise Orange migrant support worker Annie Gallagher.

For almost 15 years Ms Gallagher has been providing a range of support services for migrants and refugees who

arrive from Orange often from war torn countries. Ms Gallagher is a kind, compassionate and caring woman who

is known for spending many hours outside her normal working time ensuring migrants and refugees are feeling

and safe and comfortable in their new environment. She is at the coal face of linking these new residents in Orange

to appropriate services that best suit their needs. She does this with amazing warmth and sensitivity to the cultural

diversity of migrants and refugees who make their home in Orange. For our newest residents who often settle here

carrying the trauma of war, and in particular, the latest group of refugees who arrived from Ukraine, having a

caring individual such as Ms Gallagher there to help and support them can make a huge difference as they

transition to a new life. Ms Gallagher also plays a pivotal role in bringing the community together every year to

celebrate cultural diversity through the Harmony Day celebrations enjoyed by her community.

NOWRA RSL COMMEMORATES THE BOER WAR

Mr GARETH WARD (Kiama)—Today I wish to acknowledge the Nowra RSL which held a solemn

Boer War Commemoration Ceremony on Sunday, 28th of May, 2023 at Rauch Park in Nowra. I was honoured

and privileged to be given the opportunity to lay a wreath. I recognise the work of Mr Robert Grant, President of

the Nowra RSL Sub-Branch, Vice President Mr Barry Tait, and Chaplin Byron Steele for their roles in organising

and running the service. I would also like to thank Lt Matthew Sutcliffe and Captain Scott Palmer RAN,

Commanding Officer at HMAS Albatross, for representing the men and women who serve in our armed forces.

Finally, I extend my thank to Bugler Peter Williams for his rendition of the Last Post. Our local community deeply

appreciates the work of all our RSL Sub-Branches and their volunteers. These volunteers work so incredibly hard

to host a range of commemorative services throughout the year. The service was a very important occasion to

bring our local community together to reflect upon and remember all the brave men and women in unform who

helped establish many of the freedoms Australians enjoy.

DR JOHN HOLT – BORONIA PARK DOCTORS

Mr ANTHONY ROBERTS (Lane Cove)—I would like to congratulate Dr John Holt, owner of Boronia

Park Doctors on the successful start to his new medical practice in Gladesville. The practice is fresh, clean, and

welcoming, and the kind of place patients will attend once and stay with for the rest of their life. The community

response to Dr Holt has been overwhelmingly positive due to his thorough, thoughtful, and personable approach

to General Practice and Aesthetic Medicine Services. Many patients have noted that he is continuing the legacy

of Dr. Dennis Grinius, previous owner of Boronia Park Medical Practice who retired from General Practice after

45 years of service due to cancer and died in November 2021. It is a reminder of the powerful connection these

people hold in our communities and that our Health Frontline of NSW continue to get us through the winter flu

season with diligence and high-quality care.

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TEAM LOPEZ FOUNDATION

Mr ANTHONY ROBERTS (Lane Cove)—I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to the Team

Lopez Foundation, a local Lane Cove Charity, on raising $10,000 for Pancreatic Cancer research on the 21st of

May. This is truly a commendable effort and will go a long way towards ridding society of the scourge that is

Pancreatic Cancer. I am proud of the generosity of the Lane Cove Community for contributing such a large sum

for such a worthy cause. Thank you to Tambourine Bay Scout's, Lane Cove Community Band, The Spotted

Orchid, Encasa, Four Frogs Creperie, The Beautician, Be.U Natural, Jack & Co, Bloomintails Dog Grooming and

Farmstays for all of their contributions to such a successful day.

LANE COVE COMMUNITY BAND

Mr ANTHONY ROBERTS (Lane Cove)—I would like to sincerely congratulate the Lane Cove

Community Band for raising $1813 for Cancer Research at its recent morning tea and band supper. This money

will go a long way towards eradicating Cancer from society. Thank you to all those who helped make this event

such a success and a special mention to Michelle, Jane, Jeanette, Iris, Rachel and Janet for all their hard work in

organising the fundraiser.

DEREK SMITH LAWSON RFS

Ms TRISH DOYLE (Blue Mountains)—Derek Smith was a member of the Lawson Volunteer Rural Fire

Brigade in the Blue Mountains for over 35 years. He passed away on 13 May 2023 after a brave battle with cancer.

Derek's funeral was held on Tuesday 30 May 2023 and included a guard of honour by a large contingent of his

RFS mates. He joined the Lawson brigade in 1987 at the age of 19 and shortly after faced his first battle with

cancer. After seemingly beating the disease Derek dedicated the rest of his life to the brigade as a firefighter,

mentor and Station Officer, a role which he held for over 30 years and which he excelled at. Derek was involved

in every major bushfire in the State and took part in numerous search and rescues, storm damage and community

events. Derek was issued several prestigious awards, and renowned for being the first to arrive at the station and

often the last to leave. He was the epitome of a quiet achiever. He'll be greatly missed by all who knew him. His

plaque reads: 'We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.'

JEWISH ARTS 'MELODIES OF MEMORIES'

Mr MATT CROSS (Davidson)—On Sunday 28 May 2023, I was honoured to attend Jewish Arts'

Melodies of Memory event at North Shore Temple Emanuel in Chatswood. This event brought together many

people across the Jewish community, including a large number of Jewish constituents who reside in the Davidson

community. Music has long held a remarkable ability to touch the depth of our souls, evoking a vast range of

emotions that resonate within us. This event did just that, with powerful and moving performances from talented

artists triggering a solemn atmosphere in memory of the tragedy and losses that occurred during the Holocaust.

I would like to acknowledge Dr Noreen Green, Conductor of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony and the Musical

Director for this event. I also recognise the Nomad String Quartet, led by violinist Ben Adler, pianist Anthony

Pasquill, the North Shore Temple Emanuel Choir, the Emanuel Synagogue Choir, and all the other talented artists

who delivered such moving performances. I look forward to engaging with the Jewish community into the future

to ensure that the memories of those lost in the Holocaust is never forgotten.

YOM YERUSHLAYIM AT MASADA COLLEGE

Mr MATT CROSS (Davidson)—On Friday 19 May 2023, I was grateful to attend the Yom Yerushalayim

Assembly at Masada College in St Ives. Yom Yerushalayim, also known as Jerusalem Day, commemorates the

reunification of East Jerusalem with West Jerusalem following the Six-Day War in 1967. This event holds great

significance to Israel and the Jewish community. It symbolises the historical and spiritual connection that the

Jewish people have with their sacred city and serves as a testament to resilience, hope, and the pursuit of peace in

the Holy Land. Rafi Nir, a veteran of the Six Day War, delivered a touching keynote address and emphasised the

importance that victory in the Six Day War had for the state of Israel. I would like to thank Masada College

Principal, Mira Hasofer, Head of the Senior School, Ryan Gill, and the students at Masada College for welcoming

me to their incredible event. I look forward to further engaging with Masada College and supporting our local

Jewish community well into the future.

ROSEVILLE COLLEGE LEARNING FESTIVAL

Mr MATT CROSS (Davidson)—I was delighted to attend Roseville College's Learning Festival on

Saturday 20 May 2023. Like many other schools across the Davidson community, Roseville College provides a

quality education that empowers students from kindergarten to year 12 to reach their fullest potential. Many

students have passed through Roseville College's gates since the school was established in 1967. It was

particularly lovely to meet many Roseville College alumni. This festival showcased the remarkable talents of the

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College's students across areas such as music, science, physical activities, languages, arts, design and technology,

and drama. I would like to recognise the outstanding efforts of Roseville College's students and staff, led by

Principal Deb Magill, and College Council Chair David Irving. I look forward to engaging with Roseville College

and other schools across the Davidson community into the future.

THE REGIONAL ACADEMIES OF SPORT – AWARDS DINNER

Dr HUGH McDERMOTT (Prospect)—It was a pleasure to attend The Regional Academies of Sport

Inaugural Awards Dinner on Tuesday, 21st March which was hosted at the centre of Western Sydney, at Wenty

Leagues Club. The Regional Academies of Sport [RAS] network is a peak representative sport body – representing

nine Regional Academies of Sport operating across NSW. The Awards Night was a celebration of the

achievements of coaches and athletes across New South Wales. Each of the Regional Academies of Sport were

encouraged to submit nominations for five award categories, Athlete of the Year, Athlete Leadership, Coach

Leadership, Indigenous Athlete of the Year, and Athlete with Disability of the Year. Congratulations to the

winners of each of the categories who came from all across NSW such as the Illawarra and Central Coast Academy

of Sport. I would also like to congratulate the nominees from the Western Sydney Academy of Sport, our local

Academy in Western Sydney, Olivia Harris, Ethan Mackie, Matthew Engesser, Blake Hodges and Coach James

Sweeney. Thank you to Rod Glover, Chairman, Western Sydney Academy of Sport, and Ian Robilliard, Chair,

RAS, for inviting me to this fantastic event that recognised sporting achievements across NSW.

TAMIL ART AND CULTURAL ASSOCIATION INC. – SYDNEY CHITHIRAI FESTIVAL

Dr HUGH McDERMOTT (Prospect)—It was a pleasure to attend the Sydney Chithirai Festival hosted

by the Tamil Arts and Cultural Association Inc. at Blacktown Leisure Centre on Sunday 7th May with members

of our Tamil community in Western Sydney. The Sydney Chithirai Festival is an exciting daylong event,

celebrating the beginning of the Tamil New Year with vibrant showcases of Tamil language, culture, and art. Now

in its 11th year, more than 1500 individuals attended this celebration - mainly Tamils from India, Sri Lanka,

Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, South Africa and Mauritia. Members from other ethnic, cultural, and religious groups

in Western Sydney also attended the event – showing their support for the multicultural and diverse community

we are a part of. Tamil communities all across the world celebrate the Chithirai Festival. In Sydney, we were

lucky to host Tamil folk singers Senthil Ganesh and Rajalashmi a troupe from Tamil Nadu, India. There were also

community and food stalls, kids activities, and performances for all the attendees to enjoy. Thank you to Anagan

Babu, President, Tamil Arts and Culture Association Inc, committee members, and volunteers for organising a

wonderful 11th consecutive Chithirai Festival in Western Sydney.

CUMBERLAND CITY COUNCIL – 2023 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Dr HUGH McDERMOTT (Prospect)—It was an honour to attend the Cumberland City Council 2023

International Women's Day celebrations on Wednesday, 8th March to celebrate the achievements and

contributions of women in the Cumberland Local Government Area and around the world. The theme for 2023

International Women's Day is #EmbranceEquality – where we recognise the importance of striving towards a

world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination for women. Cumberland City Council hosted a wonderful lunch

for International Women's Day with women across our Western Sydney community. It was great to acknowledge

and celebrate the achievements of amazing women who have contributed towards improving our society.

Congratulations to all the women who won awards in their respective categories: Shaqaeq Rezai, Young Female

Ambassador Award; Janu Dhayanathan, Access and Disability Award; Michelle Pearce, Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander Achievement Award; Aynalem Tessema, Community Event Award; Pilar Lopez, Multicultural

Leadership Award; and Isobel Lorenzi, Local Business Woman of the Year Award. Thank you to Clr Lisa Lake,

Mayor, Councillors, and staff at Cumberland City Council, for organising this fantastic International Women's

Day celebration.

ELECTION OF ROB WILKINSON TO NORTH RYDE RSL BOARD

Mr JORDAN LANE (Ryde)—North Ryde RSL Community Club [NRRSL] recently held elections,

electing a new board of seven candidates. Notably, Rob Wilkinson, chair of Ryde Sports Foundation, joins the

board, bringing valuable experience as a long term community leader. At the AGM, the complete election results

will be announced, including the names of the returning board members, Jim Morris, Beth Ashcroft, Paul Stevens,

Fiona Osborne, Dick Reading and Barry Herbert. This group will shape NRRSL's future, representing the

community's interests with unique skills and perspectives. I pay tribute to former director Graeme Waldron for

his contributions to the board in previous years. The changes reflect the evolving needs of the club, emphasizing

effective governance and leadership. NRRSL looks forward to a promising future with the new board, guided by

its expertise and dedication to community service. The upcoming AGM will introduce the board, discuss club

development, and foster transparent engagement with members.

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MACQUARIE DRAGONS FEMALE FOOTBALL WEEK

Mr JORDAN LANE (Ryde)—On Sunday, I visited Waterloo Park in Marsfield to help celebrate Female

Football Week. Female Football Week is a Football NSW initiative to promote and celebrate women's

participation and involvement in football (soccer). The initiative was introduced to address the gender imbalance

in football and to create more opportunities for women to participate, coach, officiate, and support the game. By

highlighting the achievements and talents of women in football, Female Football Week aims to inspire and

empower more girls and women to get involved in the sport. It also raises awareness about the importance of

gender equality in football and encourages the development of inclusive and supportive environments for female

players. Macquarie Dragons hosted a fantastic gala day of Female Football, from minis to senior teams, with a

cake stall and free BBQ for all participants and their families. I pay special tribute to club president Kathy Tracey

and all the volunteers for all their hard work in making this important event happen.

EPPING BOYS OLD BOYS NETWORK

Mr JORDAN LANE (Ryde)—Epping Boys High School [EBHS] has launched EBHS Connect, an

initiative to create a network of "Old Boys" and community members, expanding student support and career

opportunities. Principal Jessica Schadel emphasizes its significance in fostering connections and identity in today's

fast-paced society. EBHS Connect focuses on maintaining alumni connections and supporting and guiding

students' careers. Simon Lightfoot, the EBHS Careers Counsellor, explains that the initiative establishes official

connections to benefit students' career transitions, leveraging the expertise of alumni and community

organizations. EBHS Connect has gained interest, with former students eager to contribute back to the school.

THese forums are a great opportunity for students to remain connected to their peers, even after leaving school.

Epping Rotary President Bruce Jacob supports the initiative, recognizing its potential to strengthen alumni-school

bonds and benefit students' post-school paths. Arjun Arora, an EBHS Year 12 student, appreciates the

opportunities EBHS Connect offers, engaging with alumni for insights on life after school. I encourage interested

individuals to reach out to the school, as EBHS aims to strengthen its network through enhanced connections and

partnerships. Congratulations to all involved!

MILLION PAWS WALK FUNDRAISER – ILLAWARRA RSPCA

Ms ANNA WATSON (Shellharbour)—Sunday 28 May marked the first Million Paws Walk fundraiser

in four years. This remarkable event, organized by the RSPCA, took place at Reddall Reserve in Lake Illawarra,

and provided dog lovers of all ages with the opportunity to embark on a 1.5-kilometre walk alongside their beloved

four-legged companions, irrespective of breed. The RSPCA showcases its dedication by hosting at least one walk

in every Australian State and Territory. The funds raised from these events enable the RSPCA to undertake a

variety of animal-focused initiatives. These include the implementation of community outreach programs, which

educate individuals about the importance of responsible pet ownership, as well as the ongoing maintenance and

expansion of RSPCA shelters. Furthermore, the funds contribute to the continuous fight against animal cruelty.

In this moment of reflection, I extend my sincere gratitude to the Illawarra branch of the RSPCA for hosting this

fantastic event. I would also like to express my appreciation to all those involved who generously donated to this

incredible cause.

CHELSEA NICOL

Ms ANNA WATSON (Shellharbour)—I congratulate Chelsea Nicol on her remarkable achievement of

being chosen to represent the state of New South Wales in the 2022 School Sport Australia Track and Field

Championships. Chelsea embarked on a journey to Brisbane, where she eagerly took part in a range of exhilarating

events, including the 100-metre sprint, Long Jump, Shotput, and the demanding 800-metre running race.

Throughout these events, Chelsea displayed remarkable dedication, perseverance, and skill, which undoubtedly

left a lasting impression on all who witnessed her admirable performance. It is my utmost pleasure to express my

gratitude for Chelsea's commendable efforts which are a testament to Chelsea's exceptional talent and

determination, making her a true inspiration for aspiring athletes within the Shellharbour Electorate. It is my

pleasure to shine a well-deserved spotlight on her emerging career as an athlete. She has showcased immense

potential, and it is without a doubt that Chelsea's future holds great promise in the realm of sports. May her

remarkable journey continue to unfold, and may she receive the accolades and recognition that her hard work and

dedication rightfully deserve.

OAK FLATS LIONS CLUB

Ms ANNA WATSON (Shellharbour)—I congratulate the members of the Oak Flats Lions Club for

graciously donating eight iPads to the Foreshore Centre at Warilla High School. This donation is more than a

material gift, it is a message to these students at Warilla High School that their potential is recognised and that

they can be successful in their own way. I commend and applaud the exceptional efforts displayed by the Oak

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Flats Lions Club. Their commitment to the betterment of our local community knows no bounds, as they

consistently engage in worthwhile projects and activities aimed at generating funds and resources to uplift and

support those in need.

TORONTO PUBLIC SCHOOL CAPTAINS

Mr GREG PIPER (Lake Macquarie)—I'd like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Abbie Williams

and Kobi Jones on being elected as Toronto Public School's captains for 2023. Both Abbie and Kobi have excellent

leadership skills and throughout their years of learning at Toronto Public School have shown exemplary behaviour

and have upheld the school's values of belonging, working together, opportunity and growth. After her mother

was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago, 12-year-old Abbie organised multiple fundraisers within the

school which have raised some much-needed funds for breast cancer research. Kobi, also aged 12, is a keen

sportsman who shows faultless sportsmanship to all. He often helps other students when in the playground and is

always the first person to congratulate someone on their achievements. Toronto Public School is certainly in

excellent hands with Abbie and Kobi working together as captains. I congratulate both Kobi and Abbie and wish

them well.

ARCADIA VALE PUBLIC SCHOOL LEADERS

Mr GREG PIPER (Lake Macquarie)—I want to acknowledge and congratulate four excellent young

students from Arcadia Vale Public School who have become some of the youngest role models in Lake Macquarie.

After receiving a resounding vote of confidence from their fellow classmates, Payton Smith and Mirriyanan

Mason have been elected as the 2023 school captains, while Archie Borrow and Zoe Palmer have been elected as

prefects. Peyton is an exemplary role model who is bright, bubbly and conscientious, while also a talented

performer and sportsperson. Mirriyanan is a natural born leader, charity worker and a champion for her culture.

She is artistic, proud and diligent. Archie brings spark and pazazz to the leadership team. He always has a big

smile and does his best to brighten everyone's day. Zoe is a wonderful role model who, through her growing

confidence at school, has demonstrated that taking risks can lead to personal growth. I acknowledge and

congratulate these four young leaders.

HERITAGE COLLEGE CAPTAINS

Mr GREG PIPER (Lake Macquarie)—I'd like to congratulate Heritage College Lake Macquarie's three

newly-elected school captains. Joshua Ryan, Talitha Ryan and Caitlyn Williams are all standout students who

have been popularly elected by their peers after continuously demonstrating commitment to the school and clear

leadership qualities. 17-year-old Joshua is well known for his enthusiasm and involvement in various school

activities, and recently had a key role in the college's musical production of Annie. 17-year-old Talitha is a natural

leader and constantly sets a great example for her fellow students to follow. Her teachers regard her as

hard-working and friendly, and I note that she also played a major role in Annie. 17-year-old Caitlyn Williams is

a resilient student who is well known for her positive outlook and friendly attitude towards others. She constantly

shows great kindness and an eagerness to help others whenever she can. Well done to these young leaders. I wish

them all the best in leading their school in 2023.

BRADEN STOREY

Mr PAUL TOOLE (Bathurst)—Congratulations to Bathurst's Braden Storey who has been named the

Caterpillar Dealer Top Apprentice for 2023, outperforming 11 other apprentices across the globe to claim the title.

It means Braden is now regarded as one of the best in the world when it comes to his knowledge and expertise of

Cat products. Winning the program will see him travel to America for two weeks of training and a tour of the

company's facilities in the USA. Braden, who has been undertaking his apprenticeship at WesTrac's recently

upgraded state of the art Tomago Institute, spent his childhood around Cat machines on his grandfather's farm

near Bathurst. This was where he recognised his calling to pursue an apprenticeship from a very young age. I know

WesTrac's management are incredibly proud of Braden's efforts which show his hard work, dedication and talent

is paying off and that they look forwarding to seeing him further develop his skills over the coming years.

TERRY BELL

Mr PAUL TOOLE (Bathurst)—Loyalty is a great trait to have and that certainly applies to Oberon

Council employer Terry Bell. Terry has received accolades from across the community after being recognised for

50 years service to his employer. He started out with Oberon Council in March 1973 and over five decades has

done just about every outside job there is and has worked on every piece of plant or equipment that council uses

to maintain and manage the shire. Terry, who carries the inevitable nickname "Ringa", is respected by everyone

he has worked with and gets on with the job during both good times and bad. He assists in all sorts of community

events and shows in the good times and cleared up after storms and snow as well as fighting floods and bushfires

in the not so good times. Giving back to the community has been demonstrated by

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Terry's involvement in the Rural Fire Service while he is also the president of the Oberon Heritage and

Collectors' Club. Congratulations Terry Bell, you are described as an exemplary public servant and an

exceptionally good bloke and on behalf of the Oberon community I say a big thank you.

LIBBY MILLIGAN

Mr PAUL TOOLE (Bathurst)—It's fair to say that Bathurst local Libby Milligan has spent more hours

at the Cook Hockey Complex than anyone would care to count. Much of that time has been in the bitter cold, but

Libby is one of those selfless volunteers who wouldn't have it any other way. Be it as a player, a spectator, umpire,

coach or committee member, the Souths stalwart has a local involvement going back almost four decades. Indeed,

it was her efforts as a volunteer during her time with her beloved Souths that saw Libby recently receive a Hockey

NSW Special Recognition Award. Libby is already a life member of Souths and Bathurst Women's Hockey and

justifiably so. While finding success on the field as a player, it's off the field that Libby has been a shining light

as a volunteer. These include acting as the president of Bathurst Hockey and coaching representative sides along

the way. And not to be outdone, she's also become on umpire which really shows there's no role that Libby can't

fill. I am sure the wider sporting community joins with me on congratulating Libby who thoroughly deserves her

Hockey NSW Special Recognition Award.

DEBORAH COLLINS – CANOPY KEEPERS

Mr RORY AMON (Pittwater)—I pay tribute to Deborah (Deb) Collins for her work as Convenor of

Canopy Keepers. Canopy Keepers is a non-partisan community group borne out of the shared heartbreak of seeing

the canopy perforated on a daily basis in Sydney's northern beaches. A group of passionate people now work to

educate our community to value and preserve the canopy and support the threatened wildlife, while lobbying

council to affect changes to policies that are outdated and not keeping pace with modern development trends. Deb

is instrumental in her efforts as Convenor of this wonderful organisation. Our local environment is richer for the

work of Deb and the many volunteers of Canopy Keepers. Deb has recently been campaigning for increased

financial penalties for the illegal removal of trees. I support this campaign, I am pleased that these words of thanks

will now be preserved in the records of the oldest Parliament of our country, as a small recognition of your

contribution and service. Thank you for your service.

BILGOLA PLATEAU PROBUS CLUB

Mr RORY AMON (Pittwater)—I congratulate the Bilgola Plateau Probus Club. The Club recently

commenced in October 2022 and his hit the ground running. I acknowledge the management committee, Di Cross,

Mary Musgrave, Jan Monnock, Maree McEvoy, Mary Wearne, Peter Marcer, Shelley Barwick, Anne Kellick,

Joyce Moody, Jan Turnbull, Sue Walker and, particularly, Patricia Ryan, the founding president and now

immediate past president. Probus is a wonderful concept and organisation which connects the semi-retired and

retirees, about 110,000 across Australia and New Zealand. This helps create a more vibrant and inclusive Pittwater

community. I am pleased that these words will now be preserved in the records of the oldest Parliament of our

country, as a small recognition of the commencement of the Bilgola Plateau Probus Club.

MANLY WARRINGAH BASKETBALL, ELISA SPANO & RAFFERTY (RAF)

Mr RORY AMON (Pittwater)—I pay tribute to Elisa Spano, and her son Raf. Whilst Raf is in a

wheelchair, this does not define him. Raf is defined by perseverance and an outward looking focus. Even though

Raf is 10 years of age, this does not hold him and his mum back from seeking to improve the lives of others who

are wheelchair abled. Recently, Elisa and Raf inspired and instigated the commencement of a wheelchair

basketball competition and training on the Northern Beaches. Previously, Raf and Elisa had to travel 36km to

Dural for a competition. This is an activity for all – I know, having joined in late last year for a session – it was A

LOT of fun. I also acknowledge local Councillor Ruth Robins for championing this cause. I pay tribute to Raf,

Elisa, and coaches, retired Paralympians Koen Jansens and Lisa Edmonds, for your efforts in championing and

facilitating this competition. I also pay tribute to Raf's dad, Bradley Stevens. You are all inspirations. I am pleased

that these words will now be preserved in the records of the oldest Parliament of our country, as a recognition of

your contributions.

WHITEBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES

Ms JODIE HARRISON (CharlestownMinister for Women, Minister for Seniors, and Minister for

the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault)—Whitebridge High School is continuing its tradition

of supporting top young athletes in following their dreams. Congratulations to students Lacey Barnes and Hamish

Ihle who have recently been selected to compete in the world children's games in South Korea as part of Team

Lake Macquarie. Congratulations to Lacey, who will competing in Athletics and Hamish, who will be part of the

Swimming squad. Lake Macquarie will be represented by athletes in Athletics (Track and Field), Swimming,

Tennis and Volleyball. The International Children's Games is a unique opportunity for young local athletes. It is

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a chance to compete in international competition, make new friends and develop an understanding and respect for

people from other cultures. I am incredibly proud to have been Mayor of Lake Macquarie when we hosted the

first International Children's Games to be held in the Southern Hemisphere. The 55th International Children's

Games will be held over five days from 5-10 July 2023 in Daegu, South Korea. There will be a contingent of

students from Lake Macquarie heading to the event, so you can expect to hear more about our student

achievements in the coming months.

DELIA BRIGHT TURNS 100

Ms JODIE HARRISON (CharlestownMinister for Women, Minister for Seniors, and Minister for

the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault)—It was my pleasure to attend the 100th birthday

celebration of Delia Bright the February. Mrs Bright has lived a vibrant and colourful life, including raising three

children and two grandchildren. She lived in Charlestown for 69 years and is a well-known personality who has

been involved in a range of local community groups. She was a member of the Hunter Labour History group for

many years and is a life member of the Lake Macquarie and District Historical Society. A green thumb, she has

also been recognised as a life member of the Hunter Valley African Violet Society. Up until 2019, when she

entered residential care, Mrs Bright attended all the Society's meetings, and was a regular at the Legacy and War

Widows gatherings each month. Mrs Bright has always found ways to stay connected with her community. In

2019, well into her 90s, she joined a penpal program with students from Swansea High School. Mrs Bright was

the oldest participant in the program. Delia's celebration was held at the Warners Bay Guide Hall, where Delia

was a guide leader for many years, helping to fundraise for the Hall's construction. Congratulations and thank

you, Delia!

2023 COASTLINE CREDIT UNION GREATER PORT MACQUARIE BUSINESS AWARDS – PART

A

Mrs LESLIE WILLIAMS (Port Macquarie)—I am proud to announce today the local businesses in my

electorate who received recognition at the 2023 Coastline Credit Union Greater Port Macquarie Business Awards

held las month. The winners include; People's Choice – Any Occasion Cakes & Party Food. Accommodation and

Excellence in WH&S – Mantra The Observatory. New Business – Amegilla Studios. Automotive Services – Get

Detailed by Joseph. Restaurants & Café – The Chip Shop. Childcare, Education & Training – The Nature School.

Professional & Business Services (6 or less employees), Excellence in Large Business (6 or more employees) –

Men And Women At Work. Community & Social Services, Outstanding Community Organisation and Business

of the Year – Liberty Domestic & Family Violence Specialist Services. Financial Services – Mortgage Choice –

Kelly Carter. Food Production & Catering – Char Bar Catering. Hair & Beauty Services – Plum Studio. Health &

Wellbeing, Employer of Choice (Under 20 Employees), Excellence in Innovation – Port Medical Aesthetics

Clinic. Hotels, Clubs & Bars – Port City Bowling Club. Outstanding Young Business Leader – Willow Rissel –

Brows by Willow. Creative Services & Communications – Lucy Humphries Photography. Construction – Pycon

Homes. I congratulate the winners and wish them well in their future endeavours.

2023 COASTLINE CREDIT UNION GREATER PORT MACQUARIE BUSINESS AWARDS – PART

B

Mrs LESLIE WILLIAMS (Port Macquarie)—Today I join in celebration to commend the winners of

the 2023 Coastline Credit Union Greater Port Macquarie Business Awards held last month. Our leaders in business

were recognised on Saturday night to mark achievements in innovation, creativity and customer service over the

past year. The award receipts include; Industry, Manufacturing & Engineering – BeautPress Pty Ltd t/as Port City

Steel. Professional & Business Services (5 or less employees) – Belle Property. Retail (5 or less employees),

Excellence in Micro Business – Mid Coast Uniform Solutions. Retail (6 or more employees) – Hastings

Co-operative Ltd. Tourism & Attractions – Arts & Health Australia and Hello Koalas Sculptural Trail. 2023

Wayne Jackson Outstanding Community Service Award – Erin Denham – Make a Difference PMQ. Highly

Commended: Allan Gordon – Hastings Co-op (posthumously). Creative Services & Communications – Lucy

Humphries Photography. Outstanding Business Leader – Catherine Shaw – The Nature School. Community

Impact Award – To Create a World Worth Living In – Self Seen. Outstanding Employee – Claire

Mathews – Colourworks Australia. Employer of Choice (Over 20 Employees) – All Disability Plan Management.

Woman in Business (Hastings Business Women's Network) – Jo Hollis from All Disability Plan Management.

Excellence in Small Business – Thrumster Business Park.

MONIKA DI MAIO, NETBALL CONVENOR NSWCHSSA

Mrs LESLIE WILLIAMS (Port Macquarie)—I rise to recognise Miss Monika Di Maio, Netball

Convenor for the NSW Combined High Schools Sports Association. I would like to congratulate Monika for

doing an exceptional job in coordinating three days of high-class netball at the NSWCHS Netball Championships

in Orange last month. Monika was responsible for ensuring the tournament ran smoothly, organising each element

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involved in hosting 11 regional teams to play 55 games of elite netball. A significant result of the championships

is the selection of the NSW State Open team. Monika also manages the Under 15 NSW All Schools team and is

a member of the NSW All Schools Netball Committee. Players on the Under 15 team are selected from both

public and independent schools across NSW. Previous members of these State teams have gone on to play for the

Australian Diamonds, representing our country at an international level. Monika also holds the position of Head

Teacher Human Society and Its Environment, Hastings Secondary College, Westport Campus. Thank you,

Monika for your outstanding commitment to netball in our State, and the exceptional job you do in supporting

secondary students in pursuing their love of this sport.

SHELLY BEACH BRASS MONKEYS AND ELSIE SUNRISE SWIMMING CLUB

Mr MARK SPEAKMAN (Cronulla)—I congratulate the Shelly Beach Brass Monkeys and Elsie Sunrise

Swimming Club on celebrating its 25th anniversary in May. Club members can be found swimming at Shelly

Pool all year round at sunrise, in all water temperatures. The club has 60 members who enjoy getting their daily

dose of exercise together, with some foundation members still swimming every day, including Les Hokin at age

94. The reason for the first part of the club's name is obvious but the "and Elsie" at the end honours their

much-loved matriarch Elsie McNaughton who passed away in 2021 at 103, having swum at Shelly Beach for

more than 50 years. The club has also just celebrated the first full repainting of its heritage club rooms that

members have helped maintain since the group started in 1998. Congratulations to the club on reaching 25 years

of helping keep people active in a friendly sunrise community.

NOAH PRINS

Mrs TANYA THOMPSON (Myall Lakes)—I rise to recognise Noah Prins from Taree. At 13 years old,

Noah is an extraordinary young man who was recently invited to perform onstage at the Manning Entertainment

Centre as part of a local Youth Arts Festival organised by Taree Universities Centre and Headspace Taree. Noah

experienced severe bullying at school and through Headspace Taree, Noah was introduced to Scott Greenaway

who was finalising a course in music therapy and it was at this time Noah picked up the bass guitar. In the time

Noah spent with Scott, Noah developed a great love for the bass guitar. He and Scott worked on two songs together

in his sessions. Scott mentored Noah for a month helping to prepare him to get up on stage, not only to play his

bass but to sing the song he had written. Noah pushed himself, practiced and got up on the stage for the first time

in front of almost 200 strangers to perform. Noah should be incredibly proud of what he has achieved, and I urge

Noah to keep going forward even when things get tough. Noah, you are an inspiration to us all.

HARLEY BUNYAN

Mrs TANYA THOMPSON (Myall Lakes)—I rise to recognise Harley Bunyan of Taree. Harley is a local

that is truly passionate about his home and the community. At just 16 years of age, Harley is actively involved in

many community events such as Tastefest and Love Taree. Harley plays with the Cundletown Cougars Hockey

Club and assists with the junior players. Studying at St Clare's High School, he is also actively involved in many

school events. Harley is also a huge advocate for Hannahs Blue Butterfly's Road Safety Awareness Foundation,

raising awareness on the importance of safe driving practice. I am confident that Harley has a very bright future

ahead of him. He dedicates so much of his time to helping others through his volunteer work and genuinely wants

to make a positive change to the world around him. Thank you Harley!

OSCAR YEATES

Mrs TANYA THOMPSON (Myall Lakes)—I rise to recognise Year Six student from Holy Name

Primary School, Oscar Yeates. Oscar recently represented the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Schools Office in the

Da-Vinci Decathlon competition for Year 5 and Year 6 students, which was held at Bishop Tyrell Anglican

College, Fletcher. To be selected on this team is a remarkable achievement with just eight Year 6 students across

the 44 Primary Schools in the diocese being selected to compete on this team. Oscar represented Holy Name with

pride and performed exceptionally well, with his team being awarded first place in the Ideation category.

I congratulate Oscar on his outstanding achievement in a very challenging competition.

NORTH HEAD SANCTUARY FOUNDATION

Mr JAMES GRIFFIN (Manly)—I rise today to recognise the fantastic work done by the North Head

Sanctuary Foundation the "Custodians of North Head". The North Head Sanctuary Foundation is a community

organisation that does important work such as weeding and planting in the North Head nursery to ensure the

propagation of native species to be used for revegetation in the sanctuary and nearby areas. Further, the volunteers

work hard to construct "vegetative links" - small areas of dense foliage where the bandicoots can take refuge,

forage and hopefully soon start to nest. The Foundation also operates the "Bandicoot Heaven" Visitors Centre and

conducts citizen science projects to help provide a head count of native species such as Bandicoots and Echidnas.

I thank all the members for the fantastic work they do and hope to see them soon to lend a hand.

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SES WOW DAY

Mr TIM JAMES (Willoughby)—The State Emergency Service [SES] do extraordinary work to keep our

communities safe. WOW Day, or 'Wear Orange Wednesday' was a fantastic opportunity for our community to

honour and give thanks for the work of our local SES. Falling on 17 May this year, communities across Australia

are encouraged to wear at least one item of orange and thank all SES volunteers who generously give their time

to help communities during flood and storm emergencies. Locally in Willoughby we thank the NSW SES

Willoughby-Lane Cove Unit who selflessly give their time to keep us safe in times of need. Our SES volunteers

have had a tough few years with severe weather and continue to serve us with courage and distinction. I know the

community are grateful and thank these wonderful volunteers for all they do to save lives and protect us and our

communities.

THE POST – BIGGEST MORNING TEA

Mr TIM JAMES (Willoughby)—I thank local North Shore community newspaper The Post for hosting

the 'biggest morning tea' on Thursday 18 May in Roseville. The Morning Tea was a fundraiser for the Cancer

Council. Tragically, one in two Australians will have cancer in their lives and we can all make a difference by

supporting fundraising initiatives like this. I commend the Cancer Council for the invaluable work it does to fund

world-class cancer research, cancer support services, cancer prevention programs, and advocacy for governments

to improve cancer policies. I would like to congratulate Tina Brown of The Post for all her work behind organising

this Morning Tea to raise funds for this cause – one that is close to my heart. Sponsored by Bendigo Bank branches

in Sydney's North, the Morning Tea was a great success. I would like to thank Jo Marx from It's About Us for

being a wonderful guest speaker who outlined the precious work her organisation does with and for cancer

patients. Together, we must support community efforts to combat the scourge of cancer.

WILLOUGHBY SCHOOL LEADERS

Mr TIM JAMES (Willoughby)—It was a pleasure to speak to the Secondary Student Leadership Program

at Parliament House on 31 May about the importance of leadership. Representing the electorate of Willoughby

were six outstanding school leaders from St Pius X College, Willoughby Girls High, and Chatswood High School.

Leadership is not just about holding a position or a title, but about service to others. An ideal greater than oneself.

It is servant leadership that most inspires and empowers. It's about having the courage to take responsibility and

make a positive impact in our communities. As I said to the students, leadership is not limited to the boundaries

of a school; it extends to every aspect of our lives. Whether it's standing up for what is right, being a voice for the

voiceless, or taking initiative to address issues that matter. I commend our young leaders on their journey of

leadership and am proud to serve them and their communities – and I thank them again for their service as leaders.

MACARTHUR MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL

Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie FieldsMinister for Better Regulation and Fair

Trading, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister for

Building, and Minister for Corrections)—A future full of tolerance, respect, and community harmony comes

by promoting these values to our children. This is the mission of the Macarthur Multicultural Children's Festival,

which was held in May in Koshigaya Park, Campbelltown. Launched in 2018, the festival is one of the biggest

multicultural events of the year in the Macarthur region. The motto of the festival is that children who play together

live together in harmony. Through vibrant cultural performances, food from across the globe and various

children's activities, the festival brings children, families, and community together to celebrate our rich cultural

diversity. I commend and congratulate Festival Director and 2023 Campbelltown Citizen of the Year, Brian Laul,

and everyone involved in the Macarthur Multicultural Children's Festival on delivering a community celebration

to foster harmony in our community. I am a firm believer that there is more that unites than divides us. I trust that

the Macarthur Multicultural Children's Festival will continue to promote greater cultural awareness and

understanding for years to come.

LUZ GUTIERREZ 5 YEARS OF SERVICE MOUNT DRUITT ADMINISTRATION VOLUNTEER

Mr EDMOND ATALLA (Mount Druitt)—I wish to recognise Luz Gutierrez for her 5 years of service

as an administration volunteer at Mount Druitt Hospital. Luz, who is a resident of my electorate, was recently

recognised for her dedication and contribution to Mount Druitt Hospital, where she was presented with a

certificate, for her years of volunteer work. Luz is truly a kind and compassionate individual who has dedicated

her time to the patients and families using the Mt Druitt Hospital. This much deserved award recognises and

appreciates all the work and commitment Luz has performed through her service and I take this opportunity to

thank her for her continued support to the Mount Druitt Community.

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JAI MENSER

Mr ADAM CROUCH (Terrigal)—I want to recognise an outstanding individual within my electorate,

twenty-one-year-old Jai Menser. Jai is embarking on a challenge to complete the fifty in fifty marathon to fund

raise and awareness for the Top Blokes Foundation, which sees runners complete fifty forty-two point two

kilometre marathons in a fifty day period. Following this, he will finish with a one-hundred-kilometre loop run in

September at Terrigal, as well as a twenty-four-hour run up and down Terrigal Skillion in October. Jai has already

completed twenty-one half marathons in twenty one days, six marathons and one-hundred and thirty five laps up

and down Terrigal Skillion which is beyond impressive. Jai's sheer determination and passion will be a recipe for

success in the future, and I have absolutely no doubt that he will be successful in his challenge to complete the

fifty in fifty marathon. Thank you Jai, what you are doing is an astonishing act and I am sure the entire Terrigal

electorate and the Central Coast will be backing you all the way.

MACS FRIENDS HELPING NEIGHBOURS

Mr ADAM CROUCH (Terrigal)—In light of the recent volunteer week, I would like to recognise the

excellent "Macs Friends Helping Neighbours" and founder Jill Danks. Inspired by another great local organisation

in my electorate, Killy Cares, Macs Friends Helping Neighbours is a volunteer-based organisation that assists

local residents with their various needs. Whether that be needing a lift to a doctor's appointment, doing the

shopping or small chores, this valuable organisation is available to assist anyone in the community. Ms Danks

was inspired by Killy Cares and similar services offered by the Macmasters Beach Ladies Social Club in

establishing this organisation, and it is always heartening to see volunteer-based organisations like this one do

much valued work in the community. These volunteers not only help others in need, but strengthen the sense of

community – something that we on the Central Coast are proud of. Thank you Jill, and thank you Macs Friends

Helping Neighbours for all the work that you do.

CELEBRATING WAMBERAL SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB

Mr ADAM CROUCH (Terrigal)—I would like to recognise one of my local surf clubs, Wamberal Surf

Life Saving Club for hosting their successful senior presentation night where they celebrated the outstanding

achievements of the club members. It was pleasing to see eighteen individuals recognised by the Club for over

fifty plus hours of patrol, which is no easy feat – a massive thank you to these members for keeping our beaches

safe! As a total, the members have undertaken an exceptional three-thousand hours of patrol, with one-hundred

and twenty-two patrolling members across eight teams. Their continual commitment to the Club is remarkable.

These patrol hours amount to over seventy full days of patrol which highlights the pure dedication of these

Wamberal Surf Club volunteers. Further, it was a pleasure to witness the induction of the Club's newest life

member, Mister Adam Phillips who was presented with his life member jacket by Mister Peter James OAM.

Thank you to the Wamberal Surf Life Saving Club for inviting me to your fantastic event and congratulations on

hosting a successful presentation night.

NATALIE PECKHAM

Mr DUGALD SAUNDERS (Dubbo)—I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the talents

of Wiradjuri artist and Tubbagah man from Dubbo, Nathan Peckham. Nathan is the creative director and founder

of Yurana Creative. Inspired by the learnings from his Elders, Mr Peckham weaves together a vibrant mixture of

modern digital media and methods to breathe life into his unique brand of artwork and design. His artwork will

shine during Vivid Sydney with his original designs transformed into light art sculptures for Wild Lights at

Taronga Zoo Sydney. Wild Lights at Taronga see's Australia's unique wildlife transformed into a light display

showcasing some of the country's most iconic species including the echidna, emu, dingo, koala, platypus and

possum. Nathan believes that we have a truly diverse way of expressing art throughout our Aboriginal

communities, so if that gets people to think and sparks their curiosity to learn more than that is a win for him.

I applaud Nathan for his creative vision and his commitment to sharing Aboriginal art and culture through his

artwork and I encourage those who can visit Wild Lights at Taronga Zoo Sydney to do so.

WELLINGTON SOLDIERS MEMORIAL CLUB BINGO PLAYERS

Mr DUGALD SAUNDERS (Dubbo)—The bingo players at Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club have

been saving a percentage of Undercover Bingo ticket purchases for more than 12 months, with one goal in

mind – to raise $10,000 for the Cancer Council. What makes this donation truly special is that every single dollar

will be funnelled back into the Central West communities, through the Cancer Council hubs in Dubbo and Orange.

The impact of this contribution will be far-reaching, and will touch the lives of those who need it most. Through

the sales of Undercover Bingo game books, they have managed to raise close to $120 every week, and the

organisers were passionate about directing these funds towards the Cancer Council western region, ensuring that

the money remains within our community, supporting crucial programs and services. The Cancer Council

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expressed its sincere gratitude to the Wellington community and the bingo players for their extraordinary

contribution. Well done to the Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club bingo players for your unwavering

commitment and shining example of community spirit!

NICOLA HARTLEY

Mr DUGALD SAUNDERS (Dubbo)—I would like to congratulate Dubbo's Nicola Hartley, who recently

received the $3,000 Dubbo Regional Council scholarship, which is offered to Charles Sturt University students

from the Dubbo area. Nicola, who is currently studying a Bachelor of Animal Science, expressed her gratitude in

receiving the scholarship. The scholarship will assist Nicola with accommodation costs, and everyday expenses,

and also allows her more time to focus on course materials and learning, while also staying involved in the

community. Nicola's choice to pursue Animal Science stems from her passion for biology, agriculture and primary

industries, which she cultivated during her high school years. When she completes her degree, Nicola aspires to

be a positive influence on her community, with plans to continue her study through a Bachelor of Teaching

(Secondary), to utilise her knowledge and skills to teach the next generation. Well done Nicola, and all the best

for your future studies!

MACARTHUR YOUNG CHAMPIONS AWARD

Mrs SALLY QUINNELL (Camden)—I congratulate the winners of the 2023 Macarthur young

champions awards on their outstanding achievements. This year's awards recognised twenty-nine different

individuals outstanding achievements and dedication across a variety of different endeavours, including education,

community service, the environmental, fine and performing arts, leadership, sport, employment and technology.

Congratulations to all the winners, Mia Ransom, Malyah Arnold, Amelia Hilyander, Nandan Trivei, Elliana

Wilson, Laila Butler, Ayush Krishna, Gypsy Lee, Luna Fordham-Nagy, Emmy Gelardi-Bunyi, Maddison Bell

Bohar, Ruby Fagedine, Tahlia Yule, Sakura Murakami, Georgia Potter, Eli Uluibau, Amelia Noble-Murray, Shay

Jensen, Tiana Vella, Malik McDonald, Triple T Dance, Macarthur Youth Ballet, Jack Jones, Jasmine Belbin, Blair

Geraghty, Heidi Lewtchenko, the Tag 20 Team and Daniya Syed. These young people have gone above and

beyond in several different fields and in doing so have had a positive impact upon the Macarthur community.

I would particularly like to congratulate Georgia Potter for winning the Champion of Champions Award for being

the young person who had consistently achieved and given her best over a number of categories, a truly remarkable

achievement and well deserved not to mention she turned 18 on the awards night!

CULTURE AND COMMUNITY IN THE CENTER OF CAMDEN

Mrs SALLY QUINNELL (Camden)—When faced with the difficulty of trying to find last minute gowns

and jewellery in to celebrate the end of Ramadan, members of the Multilingual Community and Culture group

discovered a lack of services in the Camden area. To fix this problem they held the Inaugural Eid Chand Rat

Henna Night on April 21 in Harrington Park Community Hall. A fantastic festival of glamour, participants were

able to purchase dresses, scarves and jewellery from stalls within the Hall, but it was the incredible Henna art that

seemed to grab the most attention. Food and Music were also featured creating a festival atmosphere that heralded

in the celebrations of the weekend to come. Congratulations to the Multilingual Community and Culture Group

for a fabulous evening of shopping and entertainment. It was a wonderful event. Congratulations to my friend

Eliza for your never-ending advocacy for your community in Camden.

CAREVAN BLACKTOWN

Mr MARK TAYLOR (Winston Hills)—I use this time to recognise the hardworking volunteers at

Carevan Blacktown and thank them for continually providing charitable services to locals in need across the

Winston Hills Electorate. Carevan Blacktown was founded in 2012 as a branch of The Carevan Foundation formed

by Dr John Brabant. Members of the Blacktown community saw a need for the Carevan service In the Blacktown

local Government area and decided to form their branch. Members of Carevan Blacktown diligently meet each

Tuesday evening at the Lalor Park Community Hall and offer their services to community members. The hall is

opened to everyone in need and serves hot meals and various goods to attendees. Carevan Blacktown is funded

by generous donations of money and resources from local businesses which support their weekly meal services

and deliver of other goods such as clothing and hygiene products. I extend my sincere thanks to Carevan

Blacktown and its many volunteers for their sacrificial work in our community.

LYNWOOD PARK PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENTS AND CITIZENS ASSOCIATION

Mr MARK TAYLOR (Winston Hills)—I take this time to recognise the Lynwood Park Public School

Parents and Citizens Association for their community engagement both within their school and the broader local

area. Parents and Citizens Associations are important groups which support the development of community spirit

in local schools. These bodies are responsible for the organisation of school-wide events and activities to involve

students, parents and careers. The Lynwood Park Public School P&C are a diligent group of volunteers who meet

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regularly to support the growth and development of their school. The P&C organise events such as the coveted

election-day barbeque, arranging welcome packs for new students, a number of fundraisers across the year and

several stalls where students can purchase items for mothers-day, fathers-day, Christmas, easter and others. I thank

this local P&C for their hardwork in organisation across this year. I particularly congratulate the newly elected

2023 executive, including President Madeleine Kassab, Secretary Jasmine Monger and Vice President Sherrie

Price. I wish the P&C nothing but the best for the remainder of this year and beyond.

SURF LIFE SAVING ILLAWARRA

Ms MARYANNE STUART (Heathcote)—Every summer, beaches throughout NSW become a hotspot

for locals and tourists alike. I have often said that the beach is my happy place. And I know there are many, many

other people that feel the same way. However, ensuring the safety of beachgoers is – and must always

be – paramount. In the Illawarra, ensuring the safety of beachgoers is a responsibility that falls on the shoulders

of Surf Life Saving Illawarra. Surf Life Saving Illawarra is made up of 17 surf life saving clubs and about 9,000

members. That is an incredible amount of people who volunteer their time to a great cause. The organisation was

originally formed in 1917 and called the South Coast Surf Bathing Association. However shortly after the decision

was made to affiliate with the Royal Life Saving Society. This was formally adopted in late 1920. In 1924 the

organisation changed its name to the South Coast Branch of the Surf Life Saving Association of Australia. Another

name change, this time to the Illawarra Branch of Surf Life Saving Australia, occurred five years later. On behalf

of our community, thank you to every member of Surf Life Saving Illawarra for your dedication.

ILLAWARRA SHOALHAVEN SUICIDE PREVENTION COLLABORATIVE

Ms MARYANNE STUART (Heathcote)—It doesn't seem that long ago that mental health was seen a

taboo subject. However, thankfully that attitude has shifted as the importance and awareness of mental health and

wellbeing has improved dramatically. One organisation in the Illawarra region focused on mental

health – specifically suicide prevention – is the Illawarra Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Collaborative. The

collaborative's aim is simple – to work together to reduce the number of suicides throughout the Illawarra region.

Since its launch, the ISSPC has introduced and established a number of programs and services. Those programs

and services include: Question, Persuade and Refer Training; Youth Aware Mental Health Training; Safe Spaces;

the Where To Go For Support resource; and Nextsteps. The Nextsteps program is particularly important as it

provides an aftercare program for those who have presented to an emergency department for a suicidal crisis. The

incredible passion and dedication of those involved with the collaborative has no doubt not only changed the lives

of many Illawarra residents, but also saved lives as well. On behalf of the Illawarra region, I would like to thank

you to every member of the Illawarra Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Collaborative.

VOLUNTEERS OOLONG CREEK

Mrs WENDY TUCKERMAN (Goulburn)—I rise today to recognise the work of the Volunteers at

Oolong Creek, in Gunning. The removal of blackberry and elm suckers is by no means an easy feat. With a strong

team of ten local Volunteers, a staff member from Ozfish - and not to mention a good pair of welding gloves,

which come in very handy when removing the blackberries from Oolong Creek. This essential task was undertaken

to enhance the habitat for the local endangered Southern Pygmy Perch. I sincerely thank and acknowledge the

group of volunteers who came together and continue to work collaboratively to enhance and improve the

environment, supporting the ecological biodiversity within our electorate. The sense of community and dedication

to this work is to be commended. I thank you all for the work that you have undertaken thus far and truly

acknowledge the spirit and altruism of volunteering.

HUME CONSERVATORIUM

Mrs WENDY TUCKERMAN (Goulburn)—Today I rise to recognise the Hume Conservatorium - a

music education centre located in Goulburn, servicing the Southern Highlands and Tablelands of NSW. The Hume

Conservatorium – affectionately called "The Con" has been providing enriching and accessible music programs

for the community, no matter a person's age or abilities since its establishment in 1985. With a community of over

1000, the facility offers a valuable and diverse range of music programs - including Early Childhood Music,

tertiary courses offered through the University of New England, and numerous community ensembles. Through

the Con's In-Schools Music Program, they actively support schools near and far in the area, especially through the

annual Goulburn Community of Public Schools Music Festival, and work closely with The Arts Unit (Department

of Education) to enhance high school music programs. The Hume Conservatorium is so much more than just a

music school – it is a regional community of music makers and creatives that every day enriches the lives of

students and the community. I celebrate the Hume Conservatorium and the wonderful impact it has on educating

and sharing the joy of music across the Goulburn electorate.

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TALLONG APPLE DAY

Mrs WENDY TUCKERMAN (Goulburn)—I rise today to recognise Tallong Apple Day. Held on the

7th of May 2023 it was once again a wonderful day filled with excited families and locals celebrating the proud

apple orchard history of Tallong. The dedicated local volunteers once again put together a variety of enjoyable

activities – the apple pie-eating competition always a highlight. I thank Chrissy Wursten, Kerry Lawrence, Dennis

Dovale, Jackie Dovale, Karen Beeston, Andy Beeston, Maureen Hollows, Rodney Hollows, Pam Cochrane,

Mangus Agren, Bel Agren and Geoff Schnider for their efforts in creating the day. The Tallong Apple Day is one

which is full of excitement and a diverse range of activities from whip cracking to wood chopping, medieval

battles and bake-offs. The Tallong Apple Day is a terrific community event put together through generous

sponsorship by local businesses and countless hours of hard work by dedicated volunteers. Tallong Apple Day is

not just a celebration with all proceeds of hosting being returned to the community, with the goal of funding a

new skate park. Congratulations Tallong Apple Day on another successful year.

HUNTER REGION BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2023

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (MaitlandMinister for Regional Transport and Roads)—I was honoured

to attend the Hunter Region Business Excellence Awards organised by the incredible Kerry Hallett and her team

from the Hunter Region Business Hub. Nominees were all of a very high calibre and clearly demonstrate how

business acumen, customer service and innovation are growing and flourishing in the Hunter region. 2023

Business of the Year award went to local Morpeth business Uaine Candles owned by the sparkling Andrew and

Mason and his partner Suzanne. Offering unique hand-crafted candles for many years, dedicated to sustainability

and customer service, they have set the benchmark for others in the industry and are a very deserved winner of

the prestigious accolade. I was honoured to present Business Woman of the Year to Brodie White and the Young

Entrepreneur of the Year to Amy Foster, both very deserving winners. Having won many of these awards in my

time in business, I know just how hard it is to achieve this recognition, and the hard work that goes into each

nomination. Congratulations to the winners, the finalists and all the nominees, and thanks to Hunter Region

Business Hub for a wonderful and successful evening.

LOCAL WOMAN OF THE YEAR NOMINEE KATRINA SHARMAN

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (MaitlandMinister for Regional Transport and Roads)—Congratulations

to Katrina Sharman on being nominated in the Local Woman of the Year Awards for Maitland. Katrina has been

working with Mai-Wel for more than 18 years, meaning she's been in embedded in our community for a long

time. Starting as a volunteer, she completed work experience in the disability sector and had a passion and a desire

to help people less fortunate than herself. From volunteer, to Disability Support Worker, to Lead Support Worker

and now a Senior Manager, she is an inspiration to many women. Katrina leads a passionate team, which run a

series of creative and purposeful programs; whether it is writing a book, becoming an artist or singer, recording a

pod cast, participating in group sports or much more. Katrina has been working with people in our community

and empowering those individuals to reach for the stars for many years. Katrina has worked tirelessly with her

team to be able to support the Maitland community and people with disability in so many ways. Congratulations

on your nomination Katrina.

NATIONAL WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL DAY

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (MaitlandMinister for Regional Transport and Roads)—Thank you to

local school crossing supervisor Gillian Jones, who has been working at Rutherford Public School for three years.

I joined Gillian and Principal Andrew Brown and representatives of Transport for NSW to greet students and

parents and carers on Friday 19th of May – National Walk Safely to School Day. There are more than one million

students travelling to and from school each day in NSW. Now in its 24th year, National Walk Safely to School

Day is an annual nation-wide event by the Pedestrian Council of Australia where all primary school-aged children

are encouraged to walk and commute safely to school. It is a community event promoting road safety, health,

public transport and the environment. Teaching our children how to get to and from school safely is one of the

most important things we can do. Hold your child's hand, choose safe places to cross the road and explain to your

child why they are safe choices. With more than 1,400 Transport for NSW supervisors at over 1,170 crossings

near 950 schools across New South Wales, these local heroes are helping our kids learn about the safest place to

cross. Thank you!

KIAMA VOLUNTEER EXPO

Mr GARETH WARD (Kiama)—Today the Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges the

wonderful turnout to the Kiama Volunteer Expo held in Coronation Park on Wednesday, 24th of May 2023. Over

30 volunteer organisations turned up to show the good work they've been doing a recruit more volunteers from

the community. Heather Milroy represented WIRES Illawarra, which helps rescue native wildlife. Steve

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Whitmore was there from the Rural Fire Service, giving kids a chance to ride in one of their service vehicles.

Dianne Tierney, Sandra Hansen, Julia Howe and Mara Koplin from the Country Women's Association displayed

their fundraising activities supporting students at Kiama High School. Alison McCaig and Lisa Beckett were there

to promote the work of Hammond Care, working to improve the quality of life of people with complex healthcare

needs. Colin Hollis and Jill Millbourn represented Friends of Peace Park, which maintains Peace Park in Kiama.

Karen Fowler and Glenys Watson have formed Kiama Boomerang Bags, recycling donating fabrics into stylish

bags to rid our community of plastic shopping bags. I am deeply proud of the spirit of community and service that

was on display at the expo.

KIAMA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Mr GARETH WARD (Kiama)—Today the Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges two

outstanding students from Kiama High School, Koffi Brookfield and Jannali Morgan of Year 10 who have recently

been selected to represent the Dharawal Nation 16s Nations of Origin tournament in July 2023. Congratulations

to these two legends Koffi Brookfield and Jannali Morgan from Kiama High School for this super effort. Nations

of Origin is a multifaceted sport, cultural, education and leadership program that culminates around NAIDOC

week annually. Each year around 1,400 Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people represent their Aboriginal

Nation in Rugby League, Football fives, Basketball, Netball and Gymnastics to promote reconciliations within

communities and celebrate Australia diverse Indigenous culture. In July 2023, the Nations of Origin tournament

will be held in Western Sydney. A huge congratulations and well done to both Koffi Brookfield and Jannali

Morgan both in Year 10 from Kiama High School on your selections to participate in this tournament next month.

I have no doubt you will both be outstanding representatives for our Illawarra, Kiama and South Coast region.

BOB AND DIANNE SMITH

Dr JOE McGIRR (Wagga Wagga)—Wagga Wagga South Lions Club describe themselves as 'Ordinary

people doing extraordinary things', and they are well known for making extraordinary contributions. For more

than 20 years, Bob and Dianne Smith have been active members of Wagga Wagga South Lions Club. Both have

held leadership roles in the local club and in the broader District. Currently, Bob is President of the club and

Director for the Save Sight Foundation for the District, while Dianne is Cabinet Secretary for the District. Bob

and Dianne's ongoing commitment to helping where needed has led to them developing an admirable legacy

within the club. The ongoing success of clubs like Wagga Wagga South Lions is thanks to the work of humble,

generous individuals such as Bob and Dianne. Bob and Dianne also serve in other role. Beyond Lions, they both

volunteer weekly with Meals on Wheels, volunteer with Mainly Music working with local children, are active

members of Wagga Wagga Veteran and Vintage Motor Club, while Bob also volunteers at the RAAF Base Wagga

Heritage Centre and Dianne's a member of Wagga's Day VIEW Club. Thank you, Bob and Dianne, for your

exceptional contributions to our community.

JULIE SMITH, EVOLUTION MINING

Ms STEPH COOKE (Cootamundra)—A huge congratulations are extended to Julie Smith from

Evolution Mining in the Bland Shire as recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Tradeswomen, Operator or Technician

Award. Julie was presented this award at The NSW Women in Mining awards night on 30 March. Julie has been

described as a pioneer and role model for women seeking a career in mining. Starting her career in Mining in 2008

with Northparkes Mining as a truck driver, Julie then operated trucks, rollers, water carts and dispatch for a further

nine years. During 2010 Julie also became a member of the Cowal Gold Operations Emergency Response Team

[ERT]. Julie's career advanced in 2018 where she was able to get back into a grader whilst also getting promoted

to crew trainer. Julie has also completed a trainer assessor qualification through the State Emergency Service

[SES]. Additionally, Julie is a First Aid Trainer and can operate three different sized loaders. In 2022, Julie was

selected as a Health Safety Representative through the SES. Julie will now represent NSW at the Women in

Resources National Awards, hosted by the Minerals Council of Australia. Congratulations Julie.

AMY MANWARING – ANZAC DAY COMMEMORATIVE BOOKLET

Ms STEPH COOKE (Cootamundra)—I would like to congratulate Jugiong Public School's Amy

Manwaring for her ANZAC day story, winning her publication a spot in the annual ANZAC Day commemorative

booklet. The Riverina competition saw more than six-hundred and fifty entrants from across roughly thirty

primary and secondary schools. At just eleven years old, Amy managed to win one of the four sections available

for Primary School students. For her efforts Amy will also receive a book prize from the Australian War Memorial,

her story was written about a young man called upon to serve in World War I. Watching the creative minds of our

youth at work is fantastic. It is great to see our smaller schools being afforded the opportunity to enter competitions

such as this one, made available through the Jugiong Public Schools writing program. Amy is one of just twenty-

two students at Jugiong Public School and is also a year 6 leader. Amy, I am sure you have made your teachers,

peers, and family very proud with your story, well done.

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RECOGNISING FRAN STEAD

Ms STEPH COOKE (Cootamundra)—I wish to celebrate constituent Fran Stead who is our Local

Woman of the Year for the Cootamundra electorate. Fran has been recognised for the amazing support she has

provided to the community of Cowra and beyond, as CEO of the Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre.

In this role, Fran has shown tireless dedication and advocacy in the support of local people who may be

experiencing socio-economic disadvantage and other challenges. The community of Cowra is so fortunate, and

all the richer, to have Fran in their corner. Supported by a fantastic team, Fran has led a suite of programs to

engage with locals, and in doing so, she has shown a commitment to inclusivity, and new ideas, designed to break

down barriers. Last year, Fran was the driving force behind the Barefooting Lachlan Women project which gave

local women the opportunity to develop skills in financial management. I am so proud to have nominated Fran as

part of this annual program which recognises and celebrates the support women give to their local communities

throughout NSW.

HANIYA SYED

Mrs TANYA DAVIES (Badgerys Creek)—It is with great pleasure that I extend my congratulations to

Haniya Syed, an exceptional student at Oran Park High School on her recent award at the 2023 NSW Women of

the Year Awards. Haniya was awarded the NSW Advocate for Children the One to Watch award for her

extraordinary achievements in robotics and art. Haniya has excelled in multiple national and international robotics

championships, most notably earning a silver medal with Team Australia at the first Global Robotics Challenge

in Switzerland last year. Her talent, courage and hard work were recognised by then Minister for Women Bronnie

Taylor, who described Haniya as a shining example of the bright future for young women throughout NSW.

Haniya's achievement is not only a testament to her remarkable skills, but also an inspiration to all young women

in our community. I extend my warmest congratulations to Haniya and wish her all the best for her future

endeavours.

GLENMORE PARK FOOTBALL CLUB

Mrs TANYA DAVIES (Badgerys Creek)—I rise today to congratulate the Glenmore Park Football Club

on their 30th anniversary in 2023. For three decades, the club has been providing a safe and inclusive environment

for kids and families to enjoy football. In 2022, the club had a successful season with eight teams making it to the

Grand Final weekend, including the ladies' Premier team and the boys Under 13's team, both of which won their

Grand Finals. These achievements are a testament to the skill, talent, sportsmanship of the club's players and to

the tireless efforts of their coaches and volunteers. As we celebrate this milestone, I look forward to the jubilant

celebrations that will acknowledge their 30 years of keeping kids active, creating healthy competition and bringing

families together. The Glenmore Park Football Club's commitment to promoting the benefits of sports and

physical activity in our community is truly invaluable and we are proud to have them as a vital part of our

community. On behalf of the community, I would like to congratulate the Glenmore Park Football Club and wish

them continued success in the years to come.

WALLY AND MARGARET COX

Mrs TANYA DAVIES (Badgerys Creek)—I rise today to extend my warmest congratulations to Wally

and Margaret Cox who celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary last year. Wally and Margaret, both proud locals

of Mulgoa, first met in 1968 at the Luddenham Progress Hall. They first met while dancing together and their

lives were forever changed for the better. Over the years, they have built a beautiful life together raising two

children and eight grandchildren. Family means everything to Wally and Margaret, their commitment to each

other and their loved ones is truly inspiring. Their enduring love and dedication to one another is a testament to

the power of love and the strength of our community. I would like to congratulate Wally and Margaret Cox on

their 51st wedding anniversary. Their love and devotion to each other serve as an inspiration to us all and we are

grateful for their contributions to our community. We wish them both continued health, happiness, companionship

and many more years of love. Thank you Wally and Margaret for being shining examples of what it means to be

devoted partners and valued members of our community.

BINGARA CENTRAL SCHOOL TEACHERS' SERVICE AWARDS

Mr ADAM MARSHALL (Northern Tablelands)—I recognise Mrs Fiona Craddock and Ms Lisa Moore

of Bingara Central School for their combined 50 years of dedicated service to the education of primary and

secondary school children in our region. Over this time, they have continuously encouraged their pupils to develop

a love of learning and a desire to succeed. I congratulate Mrs Craddock on her 20 Years Service Award for

teaching infants in the lower primary school and more recently, transitioning to upper primary classes, this year

teaching a Year 6 class. I congratulate Ms Moore on receiving her 30 Years Service Award. Ms Moore began her

teaching career in the field of Personal Development Health & Physical Education [PDHPE] and later retrained

Thursday 1 June 2023 Legislative Assembly- PROOF Page 89

in Mathematics. Whilst Ms Moore has worked in many schools in the region, most of her time has been at Bingara

Central School. I commend Mrs Craddock and Ms Moore for their dedication to their students, education and their

schools. They continue to maintain the highest integrity and of behalf of the electorate, I thank them for their

service.

TYLER MURRAY AWARDED TAFE EXCELLENCE AWARD

Mr ADAM MARSHALL (Northern Tablelands)—I recognise the achievements of Tyler Murray, who

has been awarded the TAFE Excellence Award for Trainee of the Year! Tyler started his Traineeship in 2020, is

studying Agriculture and is a role model for his Pathfinder workmates and friends in the Armidale area.

I congratulate Tyler for this award, as well as the other candidates who were celebrated at the recent awards in

Mudgee. Tyler has been recognised for being the most outstanding graduate in terms of academic excellence, as

well as his personal, workplace and community achievements. I commend Tyler for his award and thank his

Pathfinder supporters and mentors, along with TAFE NSW for their recognition of such a worthy participant.

LOCAL FINALISTS IN NSW SHEARING AND WOOL HANDLING

Mr ADAM MARSHALL (Northern Tablelands)—I recognise the achievements of Jack Lockyer and

Brooke Newberry of Guyra, who were finalists in the NSW Shearing and Wool Handling Competition. Jack

gained 1st place in the Intermediate Shearing and Brooke gained 2nd place in the Novice Wool Handling finals.

I congratulate Jack and Brooke for these accolades, as well as the other competitors celebrating the awards in

Dubbo recently. These awards are a culmination of 12 months of competition across the Rural Show network,

with there being an outstanding commitment shown by competitors to the Wool Industry. I commend both Jack

and Brooke for their awards in their individual pursuits and for making the NSW Development Team. We wish

them every success when they compete at the National Titles at Jamestown, South Australia later in the year.

FIRE & RESCUE NSW – OPEN DAY

Ms SONIA HORNERY (Wallsend)—On 13 May, Fire and Rescue NSW held their annual Open Day,

an opportunity for members of the public to attend their local fire station, meet the crews who protect our

community and see firsthand the equipment and processes these amazing people do every day. In the electorate

of Wallsend, I have four stations: Minmi, Wallsend, Lambton and Tarro. I was able to visit Tarro station on the

Open Day. The crew at Tarro are always welcoming and very community minded, it was my great pleasure to be

able to see their brand-new truck, replacing a much older model and allowing the Tarro team to have updated

technologies and capabilities to better protect the Beresfield, Tarro and surrounds from any fire dangers that may

present. It was great to see so many of our community come to the station and support our amazing Tarro crew.

The other stations in the Wallsend electorate were equally well attended and I look forward to catching up with

them all soon.

WEAR ORANGE WEDNESDAY – THANKYOU SES

Ms SONIA HORNERY (Wallsend)—Wednesday 17 May was Wear Orange Wednesday, a day to thank

our amazing State Emergency Services [SES] volunteers. Whenever we have severe weather, our SES are on call

to attend fallen trees, downed power lines, accidents of a variety of natures, and the SES volunteers attend bravely

and do their bit. SES volunteers come from all walks of life, some are ex-emergency services while others are

people of all ages without any prior experience in emergency rescue but simply want to contribute to their

communities and assist. Whenever a severe weather warning is released, I post about it on my Facebook. On each

post is the same line "If you require emergency assistance for storm damage, call NSW SES on 132 500." These

heroes of our community are there for us, we need to always be grateful for their dedication to their community

and their immense bravery. Thank you to NSW SES and NSW SES – City of Newcastle!!

SURVIVORS ARE US

Ms SONIA HORNERY (Wallsend)—Survivors are Us are a charity based in Cardiff who provide food

relief, friendship and support to victims of domestic and family violence, those going through hardship and

poverty, people experiencing homelessness and unemployment. Survivors R Us offer daily breakfasts, a discount

food warehouse called "the Pantry" and have an onsite op shop. They also supply dignity bags, children's toys and

occasionally household furniture to those doing it tough. Founded by local legend, Ann-Maria Martin, herself a

survivor of domestic violence, and run entirely by the hard work and good will of volunteers, Survivors R Us are

a staple organisation in our region for support to those doing it hard and most at risk. I have been thrilled to visit

Ann-Maria and Survivors R Us on multiple occasions, most recently to a fashion show fundraiser which was an

absolute blast and a really good time. Thankyou Ann-Maria and your crew of exceptional volunteers, you all do

amazing work for the community.

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KATHLEEN YORK HOUSE

Ms KOBI SHETTY (Balmain)—Today I bring to the attention of the House the work of Kathleen York

House, a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation service for women in our community. Kathleen York House

does crucial work supporting women to overcome substance dependence and reduce its negative impacts on their

lives, families and communities. It is one of the few services where women can live with their children in a

welcoming, safe and home-like environment. Operating since 1991 under the governance of the Alcohol and Drug

Foundation of NSW, Kathleen York House has supported scores of women to return to independent living. I want

to acknowledge all the staff, as well as Alcohol and Drug Foundation of NSW CEO Latha Nithyanandam, for

their ongoing contributions to this important work.

BLACKWATTLE BAY SSC LEADERS

Ms KOBI SHETTY (Balmain)—Today I bring to the attention of the House the Year 11 and 12 school

leaders at Sydney Secondary College Blackwattle Bay Campus. Last week I had the pleasure of hosting the Year

11 leaders Avin Dabiri and Bede Warnock at Parliament as part of the Secondary Student Leadership Program

which gives students the opportunity to develop their knowledge of constitutional and parliamentary processes.

I want to acknowledge and recognise Avin and Bede for the important contributions they are making to their

school community – we all benefit when young people get involved in making our schools and communities a

better place.

SORRY DAY CEREMONY – LIVERPOOL REGIONAL MUSEUM

Ms CHARISHMA KALIYANDA (Liverpool)—On Friday the 26th of May, I was invited to

commemorate Sorry Day 2023 at the Liverpool Regional Museum. An important day in our national calendar,

National Sorry day invites us to reflect on the pain and suffering felt by Stolen Generations survivors and recognise

the need for reconciliation, healing and truth-telling in NSW and across Australia. The event featured poignant

remarks from Aunty Pearl Wymmarra and Julie Dannevig, as well a wreath laying ceremony at the Stolen

Generations memorial tree. Accompanied by touching performances from Nulungu Dreaming, the event brought

home the importance of the day. Moreover, I enjoyed speaking with Uncle Darrell of the Gandangara seniors'

group and sharing in his valuable knowledge about the history and customs of the local Darug peoples. I would

like to acknowledge the efforts of the Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council and Tharawal Local Aboriginal

Land Council in putting the event together, as well as the Liverpool City Council for helping honour the strength

of Stolen Generations survivors.

TWEED BYRON POLICE AWARDS

Mr GEOFF PROVEST (Tweed)—I had the honour of attending the Tweed Byron Police District Medals

and Awards Ceremony recently held in Tweed Heads, where hard-working officers were recognised for their long

service and dedication to duty in keeping our community safe. I attended alongside NSW Police Commissioner

Karen Webb APM, Commander Northern Region Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna APM and NSW Police

Minister Yasmin Catley MP and it was a proud morning for many officers, and their families, who in recent years

have faced challenges such as fires, devastating floods and a pandemic that resulted in the closure of the

Queensland border. Hosted by Commander of the Tweed Byron Police District, Superintendent David Roptell

APM, medals and awards presented included the National Police Service Medal, National Medal and Clasps,

NSW Police Medal and Clasp, including a Clasp for 35 years of service, Commissioner's Emergency

Commendation, National Emergency Medal and District Commendation. Two Tweed residents were also

recognised for their bravery in assisting police officers in their duties. Thank you to all those recognised at the

awards ceremony, your service and dedication to the Tweed community is greatly appreciated.

MIRANDA NORTH PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENTS AND CITIZENS ASSOCIATION

Ms ELENI PETINOS (Miranda)—I acknowledge Miranda North Public School's Parents and Citizens

Association who are the successful recipients of $17,902 from the NSW Government's 2022 Community Building

Partnership Program. Miranda North Public School is a welcoming community that provides quality education in

a nurturing and innovative learning environment. The school is at the heart of our community and is part of the

Share Our Space Program which allows young people to access the school's playground during the school

holidays. Through this funding, the school has installed 4 new water drinking stations to give students and

community members access to drinking water when using the school's wonderful facilities. Of course, none of

this is possible without the hard work and dedication of the Parents and Citizens Association. I acknowledge

Executive Committee members Vanessa Gale, Brett Robinson, Sharon King, Martyn Stephens, Rebecca Abrook

and Megan Chimiak for their efforts, as well as school Principal Ross Angus for his leadership. I thank the

members of Miranda North's Parents and Citizens Association for bringing the importance of this project to my

attention and look forward to seeing the positive impact it delivers to our community.

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M.J. BALE BIRKENHEAD POINT OUTLET CENTRE

Ms STEPHANIE DI PASQUA (Drummoyne)—I wish to congratulate a business in my electorate,

M.J. Bale Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre. Last month, M.J. Bale won the 2023 Inner West Local Business Award

for the Fashion category. Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre is a destination for not only locals, but those all over

Sydney. The Local Business Award winners are chosen based on votes placed by customers and visitors. This is

evidence of the outstanding customer service provided by the staff at M.J. Bale Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre.

I congratulate the managers and staff for their hard work, especially during busy sale periods, and for their positive

attitude when helping those visiting. A well-deserved win in the 2023 Inner West Local Business Awards! Well

done!

CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY - 19 APRIL 2023

Ms STEPHANIE DI PASQUA (Drummoyne)—On 19 April, I attended the City of Canada Bay

Council's Citizenship ceremony. Congratulations to Salona Allimia, Waseem Allimia, Froz Abdul Wahab Ameer

Ahamed, Mosab Amin, Androulla Angelides, Jennifer Arens, Marco Aria, Aditya Bajaj, Aaron Bartram, David

Battistin, Chrizza Bonifacio, Duy Khoa Cao, Xuelan Chen, Xunchi Chen, Sanjeeb and Purba Choudhury and

family, Mikhali Churbanov, Iuliia Baiandina, Dario Cutrono, Kunal Dasgupta, Deepa Intwala, Edel Bridget

Doolan, David Mikhael, Marian Escander, Percy Kevin Fernandes, Fabio Ghiani, Irem Gul, Dong Han, Shazhou

Huang, Dushan Sachindra Indrakimar, Karishma Jamwal, Karana Nendan, Jennifer Sandra Jeczmyk, David

Phillip Joyce, Alan Kelly and Xi Lan, Siu Lin Lau, Yiu Keung Lui, Samuel Lewis, Heloisa Calegari Santos, Yan

Lin, Maria Annabelle Teano Macayana, Giovanni Magnone, Siwei Mu, Baoqing Qin, Ranjeeta, Parastoo

Samadiamin, Amir Shakiba, Kimya Sokhansanj, Si Shi, Claire Steedman, Darren Steedman, Anita Tashevska,

Fabio Trifone Tortelli and Michael Young. I sincerely wish our newest Australian citizens all the very best and

extend my deepest congratulations.

CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY - 6 APRIL 2023

Ms STEPHANIE DI PASQUA (Drummoyne)—On 6 April, I attended the City of Canada Bay Council's

Citizenship ceremony. Congratulations to Katrina Avery, Joseph Azar & Elizabeth Seissian, Tohid Azimi,

Maurizio Bruno, Srimanteja Burra, Gokhan Buyukyilmaz, Diego Delgado Lages & Claudia Gomes Pereira Lages,

Zhenyu Dong, Behnam Ebrahimi & Nastaran Tavakoli, Camilo Gamboa Aguilera & Mayra Malavera Angarita,

Aleksandar Georgiev & Tsvetina Simeonova, Liam Hanrahan & Eloise McKenzie, Artem Kamnev & Daria

Podrezova, Xiaoli Li, Ruilin Liu, Diego Lopez Garavito & Laura Zapata Ruiz, Mapahamillage Mapa, Talita Meira

Silva Guimaraes, Flavio Oliveira, Jessica Patane, Richard Poole, Zheng Qu, Guillermo Quevedo Heredia &

Juliana Thomaz Olivieri, Islam Sabbar & Hiba Alrawashdeh, Grainne Scarry, Tatiana Schonhobel Sanchez,

Dinara & Sabina Shakirova, Varsha & Nikunj Shrivastava, Vikas Soni, Sherwin & Aiza Soriano, Grazia

Sunderland, Linda Urlich, Ana Vitorino Murakawa, Meltem Yasaroglu, Nazia Zabin, Parsa Zahe & Farahnaz

Vahdati, Hanfeng Zhang, Yexuan Zhou, Liesl & Shaun Zuccolotto. I sincerely wish our newest Australian citizens

all the very best and extend my deepest congratulations.

IRENE OMEROS

Mr CHRIS MINNS (KogarahPremier)—As part of National Volunteer Week, I wish to acknowledge

and celebrate the work of Kogarah resident, Ms Irene Omeros. As President of the P&C committee at James Cook

Boys Technology High School, Ms Omeros has successfully increased parent and community engagement over

the past 3 years. Ms Omeros led the Return and Earn program that has not only raised much needed funds for the

school but has also educated students on their responsibilities to recycle and reduce their environmental footprint.

Irene and the P&C have also organised and led numerous fundraising events with the aim of promoting the school

to the broader community and raising money to improve the school's facilities. The money that has been raised

went towards school improvement initiatives such as building new bike racks, developing an agricultural STEM

garden that supports student learning and the beautification of the school's quadrangle area. Ms Omeros passion,

enthusiasm and dedication towards the school community is an inspiration to us all.

GORAN MARJANOVIC

Mr CHRIS MINNS (KogarahPremier)—I wish to acknowledge and celebrate, Mr Goran Marjanovic

for his outstanding and continuous volunteer service to the Sydney Futsal Club. Mr Marjanovic has been with the

club for almost 10 years and has been serving as a committee member for the past 7 years. As a Futsal Club with

little over 200 registered players and officials, it's all about multi-tasking and Goran does it all! From facilitating

in getting the players and officials registered, to ordering and handing out the Clubs gear for players, coaches and

managers, running home match days from 8am to 7pm. On our home match day, Gordan is even the facilities DJ

which helps keep the parents relaxed and entertained between games. Being the Club's registrar and treasurer is

almost a full-time job and Gordan takes it on with a smile. I wish to express my deepest appreciation to

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Mr Marjanovic for his dedication and commitment to helping the Sydney Futsal Club and ensuring the local

community enjoys the experience of playing Futsal.

LILY KURUVITA

Mr CHRIS MINNS (KogarahPremier)—I would like to acknowledge and celebrate the work of

life-long volunteer, Ms Lily Kuruvita. Lily has been volunteering with the 3Bridges Early Years Support service

since 2017. The Early Years Support Service provides home visits for new mothers to improve their health and

wellbeing, offering practical support and critical connections during pregnancy and into motherhood. In particular,

3Bridges supports women with depression & anxiety, adjusting to motherhood and women who are socially

isolated due to being from a non-English speaking background. At the age of 83, Lilly supports not one, but two

families every week, dedicating 4 hours of her precious time to each family. She offers wonderful practical support

for the mothers, sharing recipe ideas and demonstrating how to cook quick simple meals. Lily is kind & patient,

offering mothers a great deal of comfort during the exciting yet challenging time of bringing home a newborn

baby. I would like to thank Lily and express my deepest appreciation for the wonderful work she does for 3Bridges

and most importantly for our local community of mothers and families.

FIRE AND RESCUE NSW OPEN DAY

Mr JIHAD DIB (BankstownMinister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Minister for

Emergency Services, and Minister for Youth Justice)—On Saturday 12 May 2023, Fire and Rescue NSW held

their annual open day to welcome communities across NSW to see the important work they do. The Fire and

Rescue NSW open day is an outstanding way for communities to come together to learn more about how to stay

safe and save lives. It was an honour to spend time among thousands of locals at the Fire and Rescue NSW

Academy in Orchard Hills. I was joined by my colleague, the Member for East Hills, Kylie Wilkinson MP at the

combined Bankstown and Revesby Fire Station Open Day. Children had fun seeing fire trucks, learning new skills

from firefighters, and learning about rescue missions, all whilst wearing firefighting equipment. Unfortunately,

the older kids weren't allowed to jump into the fire trucks or test the fire hoses, but I did get to meet Chase from

PAW Patrol. Firefighters do a great deal more than just fight fires. Their skills in rescue and disaster response are

second to none. When we run away from danger, they are the ones holding the line. Thank you to all firefighters

for all you do.

JIEH HSC ACHIEVERS AWARDS CEREMONY 2023

Mr JIHAD DIB (BankstownMinister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Minister for

Emergency Services, and Minister for Youth Justice)—On Wednesday 15 February, I had the pleasure of

attending the Jieh HSC Achievers Awards Ceremony 2023 at the Jieh Clubhouse in Belfield along with my

colleagues the Hon. Sophie Cotsis MP, Jason Yat-Sen Li MP, and Canterbury-Bankstown Councillors. This is an

annual event to acknowledge the students who have achieved outstanding results in their HSC. All students were

recipients of awards which recognises their dedication to education and the importance it has in our community's

future. I look forward to seeing all the students succeed in life and contribute to a better society for all. This

recognition shows that no matter where you come from and what your family history is you can achieve greatness

in Australia if you put your mind to it. In a community as diverse as ours, organisations like the Australian Jieh

Community Club give a voice to and structure a cohesive Christian Maronite community in Australia and provide

outreach to the wider community. I greatly value my relationship with the Australian Jieh Community Club and

its leadership and thank them for extending this invitation to me. I wish them well in all their future endeavours.

NATIONAL ELECTRICAL AND COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION ELECTRICAL

APPRENTICES GRADUATION 2023 AT THE CHULLORA CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

Mr JIHAD DIB (BankstownMinister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Minister for

Emergency Services, and Minister for Youth Justice)—On Friday 3 March, I had the pleasure of attending the

National Electrical and Communications Association's (NECA) Electrical Apprentices Graduation 2023 at the

Chullora Centre of Excellence. It was the first annual event to acknowledge the work of the 66 hardworking

students who completed Certificate III in Electrotechnology. Through the efficiency of NECA, the class of

2022/23, who had their studies disrupted by COVID, was able to switch to an online delivery model within three

days of the lockdown occurring. Apprentices studying at some other facilities endured delays of up to six months

in their course delivery. 15 per cent of apprentices at NECA's Chullora Centre of Excellence are women, compared

to a national average of just 2 per cent. This can only happen because of NECA's mentoring and support programs,

offering a range of services to ensure that apprentices are well-supported throughout their studies. I greatly value

my ongoing relationship with NECA and its leadership and thank them for extending this invitation to me. I look

forward to seeing all the students succeed and go on to fulfilling and successful careers.

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NATIONAL WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL DAY

Mr DAVID HARRIS (WyongMinister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, Minister for Gaming

and Racing, Minister for Veterans, Minister for Medical Research, and Minister for the Central Coast)

Warnervale Public School students and teachers participated in the annual event National Walk Safely to School

Day on 19th May. I joined the students and teachers at this community initiative event that aims to raise awareness

of the health, road safety, transport, and environmental benefits that regular walking especially to and from school,

can provide for the long-term well-being of our children. Regular exercise, like walking to and from school, has

a positive impact on anxiety and depression which is why we encourage primary school aged children to walk for

National Walk Safely to School Day. There has never been a better time to build walking into our kid's daily

routine, by walking to and from, school, not just today but every day.

WYONG CREEK PUBLIC SCHOOL

Mr DAVID HARRIS (WyongMinister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, Minister for Gaming

and Racing, Minister for Veterans, Minister for Medical Research, and Minister for the Central Coast)

Wyong Creek Public School will be taking part for the first time in the popular Harvest Festival, held in my

electorate across the hinterland over the June long weekend. On Saturday, June 10 the school ground will come

alive between 10am and 3pm, with a fun-filled entertainment program to suit all ages, a display of local artists,

live music including Lucy Beveridge and a program to inspire gardeners. There will be good old country-style

competition, entertainment in the cow pat guessing and a raffle to win a grand finalist signed 2023 Central Coast

Mariners jersey with the winner being drawn at 2.30pm on the day. For gardening enthusiasts, the propagation

station will offer valuable tips and tricks from gardening experts and there will be a plant sale. This school festival

promises to be a fantastic opportunity for the local community to come together, have fun and support the school.

It's also a great opportunity to take in the beautiful scenic hinterland along Yarramalong Road on the way out to

the school.

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