Anne Stanley (Werriwa, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

LEY (—) (): I acknowledge the member for Cowper and the story he told in the House this morning. I can imagine that serving with these men was a very difficult time for you.

September is the designated month to recognise police forces all around the country and the men and women who serve our community. Australia-wide, there are in excess of 66,000 serving police officers who put their lives on the line to serve their community and keep us all safe. They risk their lives every day, and their commitment to our community is unwavering. We are eternally grateful for their sacrifice and service.

Being a police officer is a unique profession. They can be confronted with dangerous situations hourly and often respond to the most distressing moments in people's lives. They show leadership, patience, integrity and empathy. It is the police officer who often makes the difference in how a person responds and recovers in the future after a traumatic event.

When our community of Werriwa were hit by floods four times this year, police officers were important in keeping us all safe and ensuring roads were closed. They put their lives at risk to ensure our community can get safely home to their families. Thank you does not seem enough to recognise police forces for what they do every day.

Recently, I was present at the 2022 Liverpool Police Officer of the Year Awards. The Liverpool awards are the second longest police awards in New South Wales and recognise the outstanding commitment and dedication of the Liverpool command to the people of south-west Sydney.

The awards have been held for over 20 years, with Mrs June Young as the passionate and tenacious organiser. June unfortunately was not able to attend the night due to illness, which, quite frankly, was really the only thing that would keep her from this event. June was missed, and all speakers recognised her organisational abilities and friendship. Over the years, it's been June and her committee who have rightly ensured that police have been recognised for the work they do.

This year's event was the first one held since COVID, with last year's awards being presented at the command instead of in person. In Werriwa, we are served by three highly skilled commands: Fairfield, Campbelltown and Liverpool. The awards at this event were for the Liverpool command. Chief Superintendent Whyte spoke about the work that they have been doing, especially over the last few years. He noted their work in lockdown. Police didn't just make sure that order was kept; they also assisted in delivering food packages, welfare checks and making sure the community were isolating as required. He noted how much our community came together to ensure the safety of each individual during COVID and how well everyone worked together.

The awards recognised both sworn and unsworn officers and their commitment to our community. Team One and Officer Lauchlan Kaye were the overall winners on the night. The hard work of police in our area can be seen in the excellent results with arrests, and all crime statistics in our part of the world are the envy of the rest of New South Wales. The Liverpool command is a very busy command, but the results in the area are a reflection of the hard work and professionalism of the officers and the leadership of Superintendent Whyte.

I also want to acknowledge the families of our police officers. I can only imagine how difficult and stressful it is to support police officers and worry about them every day as they go to work. Family and friends support officers in doing their difficult and sometimes distressing work. They are the ones who help them debrief. Since the 1800s, more than 700 police officers have lost their lives in the line of duty, and they are all commemorated at the National Memorial in Canberra. National Police Remembrance Day is one of the most significant days in the police calendar. As a nation, we should pause to remember those officers who have lost their lives fulfilling their duty to protect our community and honour their courage and commitment.

I also want to acknowledge Police Legacy, which provides financial and emotional support to the loved ones left behind. They ensure families have someone to help them. Police Legacy provides financial support so that children can still receive the education and opportunities they would have had if their family member had not died. Again, I acknowledge the police officers who serve our local community, Superintendent Whyte and his team for their dedication and for keeping us safe.

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