Address to the Federation Chamber, House of Representatives, Australian Parliament House

The coronavirus pandemic has reminded all of us in our community just how important every worker is to our community, whether that be those that staff the checkout and stack the shelves at a supermarket, early childhood educators, waste management workers, farmers, cleaners or our teachers. They've all been essential to collective efforts to militate against the spread of the coronavirus.

However, I do want to give a special mention to our frontline health workers—our nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals. And I particularly congratulate our local members in Bean on receiving nursing and midwifery excellence awards. These awards recognise and acknowledge the exceptional contribution that nurses and midwives make to the lives of the clients they serve within the broader community and to their professions.

The recipients in Bean were Heather Needham for excellence in leadership; Mercy Lukose, for excellence in management; and Nikki Johnston, for excellence in quality improvement and research practice. I would also like to congratulate Lucy Kenny, from Capital Chemist Calwell, for being named the pharmacy intern of the year, and recognise the work of all in community pharmacy across the region.

It is great to see these local workers recognised for the extraordinary work that they do, particularly under the added pressures and challenges of COVID-19. On behalf of my constituents, the community, and my federal parliamentary colleagues, congratulations and thank you once again.

ENDS.