Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown—Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault) (12:19): I speak on the condolence motion moved by the Premier. It was meant to be the happiest day of a young couple's lives. Shortly after 11.30 p.m. on Sunday 11 June, that happiness was rocked by an unimaginable tragedy.
Ten people were killed and dozens more injured in a bus crash that has sent shockwaves across the Hunter region, across New South Wales and across Australia.
The loss is difficult for many of us to comprehend, and I simply cannot imagine the pain of those directly affected by the tragedy. The town of Singleton has been particularly devastated. A tragedy like that is difficult for any community but is felt even more in smaller towns.
I add my condolences to those offered by the Premier, the Leader of the Opposition and my colleagues on both sides of the Chamber. On behalf of the Charlestown electorate I say to the family members, the friends, the loved ones and the communities of those lost that we are with them.
The terrible, tragic collision affects the entire Singleton community and particularly, of course, the Singleton Roosters AFL club. All of the AFL clubs across the region have felt the loss of the five members who died in the crash—players and volunteers who were dedicated to their community and their club. It is a shattering event for the community—for the families, for their friends and for their loved ones—and it will be felt acutely for many years to come. The impact was felt more widely than just in Singleton and the Hunter, with communities across New South Wales and Australia holding services and memorials for their sons and daughters who were lost so young and so suddenly.
I mention one in particular, Bec Mullen, a young doctor at Newcastle's Calvary Mater hospital. Like the other nine people who lost their lives on that night, Bec had a life of incredible promise ahead of her. My love and my sympathies go out to her family. I went to school with Bec's mum.
While it must have been a terrible and deeply upsetting end to their wedding day, I extend to Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell my sincere wishes for a long and happy marriage together. I say to them and to everyone who is affected by the loss of the 10 special guests: Be kind to yourselves and take time to grieve, but also draw strength from your love for one another.
I also take this opportunity to acknowledge the first responders who were on the scene within minutes of the crash. As NSW Ambulance Chief Superintendent Paula Sinclair pointed out just hours after the crash, those first responders are paramedics every day of their lives, but they do not experience a job like that every day. The first plea for assistance from the NSW Ambulance inspector who arrived on the scene has been reported in the media.
He knew he was dealing with a tragedy on a scale that we had not seen in this State for decades, but he did not know how truly horrific the crash had been. Many of us have heard the radio coverage of what he said that night, and his words are haunting. But just as noticeable is the lack of panic in his voice—his control in the face of something that for many of us would be completely shattering. That exact level of professionalism and courage is the hallmark of our first responders, and I am incredibly thankful for the work that they undertake each and every day, often under trying conditions.
I thank our police, our paramedics, the retained Fire and Rescue officers who attended the scene, the Rural Fire Service and the health workers, who have all been part of the rescue and recovery. I acknowledge that the circumstances were, thankfully, unique. Those first responders met the challenge with the professionalism and skill that they bring to every call‑out, but we cannot overlook how devastating the event was. It is so important that first responders are supported as they come to grips with what they encountered that night, and I am very pleased that the Premier has announced a significant amount of support available to them.
The tragedy is difficult to get one's head around, even from a distance. I think about the strength and courage of the first responders; the grace and resilience demonstrated by the families, friends and loved ones of the victims; and the community spirit and empathy shown by Singleton, the Hunter Valley and all of New South Wales. Now we must and will give all those who are grieving the space and the support that they need. My thoughts are with each and every one of those people as they grieve and as they face the rest of their lives after the loss of their loved ones.
