The Health Services Union has called on every local authority that hosts a hospital to follow the lead of Canterbury Bankstown, which is providing free on-street parking to health and hospital workers at Canterbury and Bankstown hospitals.
Canterbury Bankstown Mayor, Khal Asfour, has announced all health and hospital workers would received a special COVID-19 exemption sticker, allowing them to park free near hospitals within council boundaries.
“This is a national first, and for exhausted hospital workers it’s a significant benefit in a time of serious stress,” said Gerard Hayes, National President of the Health Services Union.
“Hospital workers are already exposed to COVID-19 at work. They don’t want to increase their exposure by also catching public transport. We have already had disturbing reports of uniformed hospital workers facing harassment and intimidation in public areas.
“We are confident the NSW Ministry of Health will follow the excellent leadership of Mayor Khal Asfour. But what we really need is every health department and every council across the nation to follow suit, by suspending parking fees in and around hospitals for the duration of this pandemic.
“Now is the time to promote public safety, and ease financial strain. I’m deeply appreciative that Labor frontbenchers, Chris Bowen and Jason Clare are also supporting this important initiative.”
Canterbury Bankstown leads way
