Justine Elliot (Richmond, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

[by video link] I also support the motion recognising National Police Remembrance Day, which is observed on 29 September this year. I acknowledge all the previous speakers and agree with their sentiments.

Police Remembrance Day commemorates police officers from all Australian police services who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our community. As a former police officer myself I'd like to thank and acknowledge all police right across the nation for the incredible work they do. I would also like to acknowledge the member for Fowler for again moving this important motion, and acknowledge his ongoing dedication to this day of remembrance and his continued advocacy in all areas of policing.

I note the motion:

(f) reaffirms its support for the nation's police officers and honours their courage, commitment and dedication in ensuring the peace and safety of our communities.

It also:

(a) acknowledges the crucial role police officers across Australia play in our local communities and the tremendous risk and sacrifice that comes with their duty.

Police Remembrance Day is a time for all of us to reflect and remember the very real risks our police officers face on a constant basis. I would also especially like to point out the increased duties our police have had since the pandemic started 18 months ago. There have been many challenges with increasing COVID-19 health restrictions across the nation—particularly in my home state of New South Wales, which is currently in lockdown.

Today I'd like to make special mention of all the police in my electorate of Richmond, on the New South Wales North Coast, who serve and protect our community. I want to thank all those officers serving in commands here specifically for their efforts during the current crisis. I know firsthand the outstanding work they do.

Police Remembrance Day is a time when we pause and honour the lives and memories of police who have had their lives tragically cut short in their work protecting us. It's also a very solemn and important day for police officers, their loved ones and the wider police family. In particular, we pay tribute to the men and women of the service who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Together we must ensure their legacies are preserved.

This year we specifically paid tribute to Senior Constable David Masters, of the Queensland Police Service, who was tragically killed on 26 June this year while trying to intercept a stolen vehicle. I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues. It's in these very difficult times that wider support is incredibly essential. On that note I wish to pay tribute to the very enduring work of Police Legacy, an incredible organisation providing services to police legatees across the state. It was established as an association in 1987 and became incorporated in 1991, and for more than 30 years it has been providing essential support and assistance to families. Today, NSW Police Legacy assists approximately 1,300 police legatees by providing that support, compassion and so many services and advocacy to those legatees.

As a former general duties police officer myself, I've seen firsthand some of the situations and complexities that police officers face day in, day out while serving their communities. They often have to face confronting, dangerous situations and also have to attend fatal incidents and horrific tragedies. I would like to acknowledge and commend police for their empathy, strength and professionalism in performing such work. I'd also like to acknowledge the post-traumatic stress disorders that some officers may carry as a direct result of their police experience. Recognising and responding to the issues, pressures and challenges that our police face is indeed essential, and we must raise the public's awareness of the realities that police officers face in their duties. There are so many specific challenges in policing and in regional areas like mine on the New South Wales north coast. As I've said publicly many times and commented on before, I'll continue to stand with my community in calling for more police and more resources for regional communities like mine on the far north coast of New South Wales.

On Police Remembrance Day, I encourage locals in my area and across the country to take the time to think about the role that police officers play within our community, in our state and indeed right throughout the nation. It's an occasion for us all to recognise those services and acknowledge the work they are doing to keep us safe, and particularly remember those police who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our community. I commend the motion to the House.

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