Page 2403 - Week 08 - Thursday, 5 August 2021
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representatives to pick up their feet with regard to looking after police.” We agree with the AFPA and today we are acting.
I recognise Mr Troy Roberts, from the AFPA, who is here in the gallery today. I also recognise the work that the AFPA does, as an organisation, in representing its members and the advocacy that it provides on their behalf to governments and to oppositions. I commend it for that.
At this point, I would also like to acknowledge the presence in the gallery today of Jason Taylor. Jason’s story makes these points from lived experience. I would like to share some of his own words:
I am an ordinary person. I used to be an Australian Federal Police Officer. An ACT Policing Officer.
I graduated from the AFP College in 2007 and commenced with ACT Policing, where I have spent my entire 13-year career serving the Canberra community in several roles.
Whilst a difficult job at times, I loved what I did. I’ve been lucky to have had an amazing career as a police officer. I was a designated Detective, and I was a Sergeant.
My life changed on Friday 31 January 2020, when I was cowardly and viciously assaulted whilst on duty.
I have relived the incident, and that terrifying moment when I knew I wasn’t going to get up off the ground again, over and over again for 14 months.
It won’t leave me. It hurt then – physically – but it hurts now so much more psychologically.
Thankfully my colleagues acted swiftly and with courage. They did what they needed to do to get the offender off me and save my life.
Since 31 January 2020 my life has been horrendous at times.
I am no longer a Police Officer and I never will be again. I’ve been in mental health facilities. I’ve contemplated suicide.
I was assaulted for doing my job. A job I swore on oath to uphold.
This job involves dealing with the worst humanity has to offer without letting it harden us too much, so we can continue to care for and empathise with those who need us, who we are trying to help and protect.
We do not deserve to be treated as punching bags for members of the public who don’t like it when we do our jobs.
If you assault a Police Officer doing their job you deserve to go to prison. You SHOULD go to prison.
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