I am delighted to contribute to debate on the Parliamentary Remuneration Amendment Bill 2023. The member for Wahroonga's positive assessment of the former Government's record was well off the mark. The fact is that the former Government has left our State in a dire mess, and the people of New South Wales have tasked the Minns Government with cleaning up that mess. The aim of the bill is simple: to provide for a wage freeze until 30 June 2025 on increases to the basic salary of members of both Houses of the Parliament of New South Wales by amending the Parliamentary Remuneration Act 1989.

I am proud to contribute to debate on the amending bill, which was one of NSW Labor's commitments heading into the 25 March 2023 election. The fact that the bill is before the House speaks volumes about the Minns Government's determination to honour its election commitments. When the Minns Government makes a promise, members on the Government side of the House keep that promise. That notion is blatantly foreign to members on the other side of the House. The former Government was notorious for breaking promises and failing to deliver on its commitments. The Minns Government has shown in a matter of months that it can do more than just talk the talk; it can also walk the walk.

This amending bill proposes to insert a new section into the Act that would ensure that the tribunal does not fix an amount that would increase an MP's current basic salary. It is a smart, practical and sensible decision. The public service workforce went backwards in terms of pay under the former New South Wales Government. For years those public service workers have been crying out for a fair wage increase to help them tackle the rising cost of living. It is a very reasonable request. The fact of the matter is that many public service employees have not been paid fairly or adequately. Let us look at our nurses as an example. It was our State's nurses that were on the front line in the fight against COVID-19. The vast majority of the State was forced into lockdowns in order to prevent the spread of the virus. It was an inconvenience, sure, but at least we were limiting our exposure.

Nurses did not have that luxury. Every day they went to work and risked their own safety and welfare to look after others. They risked the safety of their families as well by potentially bringing home the virus. They did so because that is what nurses do. It is not a profession that anyone enters into because of the pay cheque. They chose that career out of a desire to help others—it is that simple. However, it does not mean the financial needs of nurses or their loved ones should be dismissed. The same can be said for teachers. Teachers play an incredibly important role in shaping our youngest generations. Teaching can be a thankless job at times. However, I can assure every teacher throughout the Heathcote electorate and the State that the Minns Government acknowledges and appreciates their efforts. Their passion, dedication and perseverance are nothing short of admirable and inspirational.

I have had the pleasure of visiting a number of schools throughout my electorate since being elected as the first female member for Heathcote, and I always express my gratitude to the teachers and staff for what they do on a daily basis. The Minns Government has shown its appreciation for teachers and staff on multiple occasions, whether it be by creating 10,000 new permanent positions or by going to the negotiating table to ensure they receive better pay. We are certainly committed to ensuring teachers and staff get the pay and respect that they deserve. In a previous life, I worked in an office at a local school, so I appreciate how hard everyone throughout a school community works and just how much they care for each individual student. I have never spoken to a teacher or a staff member at a school who said they chose their career path for the dollars. They chose it because they were passionate about education. I cannot speak for those on the other side of the House, but I know that I did not enter this place for the pay cheque either.

I ran for the seat of Heathcote on multiple occasions because I believed that, as the local member, I could help make the local area a better place. As the member for Heathcote, I am committed to working with our community to ensure the electorate can thrive. Make no mistake, as MPs we are compensated fairly, particularly when compared with the wages of public servants like nurses and teachers. If a pay freeze for members of Parliament helps eat away at the incredible debt accrued under the former Liberal‑Nationals Government, then I am all for the freeze. If a pay freeze for members of Parliament helps provide a much-needed wage increase for public servants like teachers and nurses, then bring it on.

We are elected to this place to serve our community and the people of New South Wales. We are not elected to this place to serve our own self-interest, despite what those on the other side of the House may think. I am fully supportive of the bill, and I believe there would be many New South Wales residents who would feel the same way. I urge those on the other side of the House to support the bill and to prioritise the needs of public service workers ahead of their own. I thank the House.