Page 110 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 13 February 2019
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As Minister for Government Services and Procurement, I thank shared services staff who worked over the shutdown period to ensure that government employees were paid on time and that salary increases and back pay were processed as quickly as possible after the successful ballots on enterprise agreements for many ACTÂ government workers.
I also thank Ms Cody for her motion and for the acknowledgment of these workers. While the work they do varies greatly, they all provide important services to the Canberra community and it is appropriate that members in this place record their thanks on behalf of the community that we also serve.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Minister for Planning and Land Management, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Advanced Technology and Space Industries) (10.35): I thank Ms Cody for her thoughtful and very gracious motion before us today. Ms Cody, of course, is passionate about workers and those who do so much to look after us and this beautiful city. To borrow a phrase from the other side of politics, there is probably no better friend of workers in this place than Ms Cody.
As we embark upon another parliamentary year it is fitting and appropriate that the first private members motion before this place is about workers who did not get a break over Christmas, those Canberrans who were on duty across the public service, the hospitality sector and our first responders.
Many of those on duty over the holiday period were staff, officers and volunteers within my portfolio responsibility of police and emergency services. These Canberrans stayed on duty to keep our city safe, to protect us from harm and be ready to take care of us should the need arise. They are Canberrans who helped their fellow citizens and did not have time to enjoy the fun, relaxation and family time that the rest of us were able to.
I place on record my thanks and those of all government ministers and members to our paramedics, firefighters, police officers, SES and other volunteers along with support staff who stayed on duty over the Christmas and the new year period. We know you are at the heart of what makes Canberra great and we will continue to support you and to work with you as you go about protecting and caring for our city.
Ms Cody mentioned the stresses on those people, particularly shift workers, over that period, and the health and wellbeing of emergency services personnel is a key priority for this government. It is important that they are aware of available support services and that they know we fully support them in minimising exposure to stressors and in recovering from any ill effects experienced in their line of work.
The ACT Emergency Services Agency has delivered a number of initiatives that enable its volunteers and staff to better manage ever present stressors that are experienced by emergency services personnel as they seek to protect our community.
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