John Alexander (Bennelong, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to inform the House of a special achievement of a member of my community in Bennelong. Ms Kate Hackett of Ryde has been awarded the Public Service Medal in this year's Australia Day honours. Ms Hackett is the director of nursing and midwifery at Westmead Hospital and has been at the forefront of the fight against coronavirus in Australia. Since the first cases emerged in January last year, Kate has been leading the nursing team at Westmead Hospital through this extremely challenging period of our national life. Ms Hackett's recognition is a timely reminder of the debt we owe all frontline workers for their extraordinary efforts in fighting COVID-19.

This unprecedented public health challenge has put heavy demands on frontline workers, many of whom have worked longer hours in uncertain and dangerous conditions for months on end. I'd also like to thank the government for establishing a dedicated COVID-19 honours roll to acknowledge the service and achievement of so many Australians in dealing with this challenge. Fortunately, Australia has avoided the tragic mass infections that have ravaged other countries. This has only been possible because of the quiet and diligent work of many hundreds of thousands of Australians working together so that we all remain safe and healthy. We owe you so much. Thank you.