Meryl Swanson (Paterson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At 11.30 pm on Sunday night 37 people were aboard a bus, after a wedding on what was a magnificent Hunter day at Wandin Valley Estate in Lovedale. I can't stop thinking about those 37 happy souls. Thirty-six of them, including the driver, had been to a wedding. Wandin Valley, for those of us old enough to remember, was named after the TV show A Country Practice because the producer, back in those days, bought a vineyard.

Those people travelling on that bus very tragically were involved in an accident, where the bus toppled onto a guardrail. Nine died at the scene and one later in hospital. Fourteen of those people remain in hospital and two are in ICU. The Hunter is a place that sticks together. Deputy Speaker Claydon, with you being the member for Newcastle, I know that I can extend your condolences and my own to our neighbour, friend and colleague Dan Repacholi. This accident happened about 200 metres from the border of our electorates. The driver was from my electorate of Maitland, and I know this will have ripples throughout our community.

I want to thank those first responders, who must have gone onto an unspeakable scene. They acted swiftly and professionally. To those families whose lives have been changed, we send you our deepest condolences.