Russell Matheson (Macarthur, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

I am thankful for this opportunity to acknowledge the significant role that police officers play in our community, and the great deal of risk and sacrifice that comes with the job. I felt compelled to raise the awareness of National Police Remembrance Day because I proudly served my community as a police officer for 25 years. I know what it is like to leave your family at home each day to go out and protect other families in the community.

Each year on 29 September thousands of people across Australia stop to pay tribute to the brave members of the police force who have lost their lives in the line of duty and to offer support to their grieving families.

The camaraderie in the police force is second to none. That is why so many police officers and former members of the police force stop to remember their fallen comrades on 29 September. A death within the police force is a solemn reminder of the dangers our police face and the risks they must take every time they go to work to keep our communities safe. When an officer is killed in the line of duty, there is no telling how many police officers are affected from all over Australia. Many officers will reconsider the risks they take every day and the family members they would leave behind if something were to go wrong.

In recent months, the dangers faced by members of our police force have only escalated. The risks faced by our AFP officers and Customs officials are becoming higher due to what is happening around the world and the possible threat to Australian citizens. The AFP continues to be concerned by the increasing risk of home-grown terrorists and the lone wolf/lone actor threat. This threat is intensified by the growth in self-radicalisation which is facilitated by new communication tools. We also have the joint counter-terrorism teams in each jurisdiction, comprising AFP, state and territory police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation officers and members from other relevant agencies. The teams conduct investigations to prevent, respond to and investigate terrorist threats and attacks in Australia.

I join the many people in the Macarthur electorate who have the utmost respect and admiration for members of the police force. These men and women take great risks every time they go out to work and they deserve much respect from the community for risking their lives to protect others. Macarthur has more than 300 police officers working in the Camden and Campbelltown local area commands, serving the local community. These men and women work very hard to fight crime and keep our residents safe. These officers serve our community with great integrity and honour. I hope that one day everyone will appreciate the sacrifices they make and the risks they take to protect us. It is not an easy job to do, and far too many officers have made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives doing it.

Unless you have worked in the police force or have a family member who does, it is hard to comprehend the dangers these men and women put themselves in every day to keep the community safe. In New South Wales alone, we have lost more than 240 police officers in the line of duty since August 1803, through a variety of causes. These include being shot by bushrangers, drowning while crossing a creek, being shot by an offender, being assaulted, and through injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents during pursuits. No matter how they died, it is terribly sad when men and women who have dedicated their lives protecting others are killed in the process.

Today I would also like to pay tribute to the Police Legacy organisations across the country. Police Legacy is a not-for-profit organisation which provides emotional and financial support to the widows and children of deceased police officers. I would like to acknowledge the good work of the Police Legacy organisation that looked after the remaining loved ones of police officers who have been killed in the line of duty.

My heart goes out to the families of all police officers who have lost their lives. I offer my heartfelt condolences. I believe it is important that we in this House continue to express our gratitude and reaffirm our support for the nation's 56,000 police officers, whose dedication and commitment ensure continuous peace and safety across our communities.

I would like to thank all my colleagues from both sides of the House who have come together to support our fine police men and women in this place today. I am looking forward to the contributions from the member for Solomon, whose husband, Paul, is a serving police officer in the Northern Territory; from the member for Fowler, whose father was a police officer; and from the member for Richmond, who is a former member of the Queensland Police Force. I thank them all for their contributions today.

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