Tuesday, 2 May 2023

 Steve McGHIE (Melton) (15:56): I rise to speak on the tragic event that occurred in Campbelltown, New South Wales, approximately three weeks ago. Paramedic Steven Tougher was working night shift, trying to have a short rest break between cases. He was stabbed in the back of his ambulance. In my 38 years in ambulance both as a paramedic and the secretary of the union, I have been involved in and witnessed many traumatic and tragic incidents. This is the first time I think in Australian history that a paramedic has been murdered on the job. The hurt and trauma of this event will spread across the ambulance family throughout Australia. Everyone expects to go to work and to come home safe. This is a painful reminder of how dangerous it can be to work on the front line. No-one should think that they have the right to abuse, to assault or to murder frontline workers – our paramedics, our nurses, our emergency service workers – who work to protect our community.

This is my message, and I am sure there are people out there who need to hear it. If you have the inclination to harm anyone, especially one of our frontline workers, stop. Do not do it. Allow our frontline workers to continue providing their fantastic services to the community. Steven Tougher was just 29 years of age. He had been working as a paramedic for only 12 months. He had a long future in front of him, which was cut short in such tragic circumstances. I extend my condolences to Steven’s family, his friends, his paramedic partner on the shift and his work colleagues. Vale, Steven Tougher.