Today in Parliament, Abigail spoke in support of a Greens motion calling out NSW Health’s proposed social media policy for seeking to silence health workers who speak out about unsafe conditions, warning that the policy undermines transparency, workers’ rights, and public accountability, and commending unions and frontline staff for courageously continuing to raise the alarm.

Abigail said:

I thank my colleague Dr Amanda Cohn for bringing this motion. She has brought a really important matter to the House, and I acknowledge the very diligent and hard work she has been doing on this matter behind the scenes to try to wind back some of the really grotesque proposed overreaches of this policy. The clear intent of the NSW Health social media policy, particularly as first drafted, was an attempt to stifle the voices of health professionals speaking up for safer conditions for staff and patients in NSW Health facilities.

It is no surprise that NSW Health has sought to crack down on its employees being able to raise the alarm over their working conditions, as the health system continues to groan under the weight of chronic staffing shortages and numerous contested industrial disputes on foot or only recently resolved. I have serious concerns that the proposed policy is not in keeping with the relevant industrial relations legislation in this State, which makes clear that an employer must not victimise an employee because the person engages or proposes to engage in industrial organising activities; engages in or proposes to engage in a public or political activity, unless it interferes with the performance of the employee's duties; or who makes a complaint about a workplace matter that the person considers is not safe or a risk to health.

This is just another example of a government that is allergic to transparency and scrutiny. The Government may not like it when the truth of a matter comes out, but the Government's convenience and comfort cannot be the guiding principle that rules the day. It is not only a slippery slide towards the stifling of personal and political expression for government employees, and a restriction on the industrial rights of health workers, but it is also a dangerous move to obscure and hide from public scrutiny the true conditions of NSW Health facilities. The public deserves to know the truth. Unfortunately, with the Government being so secretive, we are left to rely on the voices of workers who continue to raise the alarm. I thank my colleague Dr Amanda Cohn for raising this important issue and for standing up for the rights of political expression and speech for public sector workers. I also thank the health unions, who are doing fantastic work supporting their members across this State, protecting their rights and interests, and building and protecting the health system we all deserve.

Read the debate in Hansard here.

15 October 2025