Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In this great country, we have a fine tradition of recognising those who serve in uniform. At the top of the tree, of course, are those who serve in the uniforms of the Australian Navy, Army and Air Force, but we also award medals to non-military personnel. We have, for example, the Australian Police Medal, the Australian Fire Service Medal and the Australian Ambulance Service Medal. So I ask the House: why not have the Australian Correctional Officer Medal? Our prison officers do wonderful and sometimes dangerous work—work which plays an important role in the maintenance of law and order in our society. I believe them to be worthy of the same sort of recognition enjoyed by others serving in the uniforms of government forces and agencies.