I make a brief contribution to debate on the Criminal Legislation Amendment (Knife Crimes) Bill 2023. The incidence of knife crime is still too high. As the Attorney General said, "The tougher maximum penalty will send a strong message about the gravity of knife‑related crime." The police Minister said:

The Operation Foil results show the determination of the Minns Labor Government and NSW Police Force to get these dangerous weapons off our streets. The operation also sought to engage with young people before they get hold of knives to try to steer them in better directions.

In addition, the Attorney General said:

The government is acting to address understandable community concern given the high-profile tragic events involving knives that we have seen in NSW over the last couple of years.

We want to ensure that people in the community are safe and feel safe.

We believe we have struck the right balance with these reforms, sending an important message to people engaging in criminal behaviour of this kind but also not being overly punitive in its application.

Whilst many of my colleagues have covered or will cover myriad issues, I will raise some points that my constituents have brought to me. The bill is the Government's way of leading the charge on reducing knife crime across the State and making New South Wales even safer. A point that was raised with me is that everyone has the right to go to work, to head out into their daily lives and to feel safe. Instances of violent knife crime mean this is not the reality for some.

The news of paramedic Steven Tougher being stabbed to death was beyond devastating. He was a remarkable young man who made an impression on everyone he met. He was a boisterous, happy, lovable guy. He was doing work that he loved. Everyone has a right to go to work and feel safe. As the mother of a paramedic, I want my son to work and be safe. Today I stand with all paramedics and acknowledge their hurt, anger and ongoing shock at the loss of their colleague, and their request for legislative reform. Similarly, when Uati "Pele" Faletolu went to work at the Royal Easter Show last year, he had a right to feel safe in his daily routine and his work. Instead, his life was taken; he was stabbed to death.

Sending our loved ones out into the world will always be fraught with concern, and we will never stop worrying about them, but those boys could have been any of our children. The bill honours their lives and seeks to make society safer for everyone. Furthermore, as someone who has always fought for a woman's right to safety, I believe the bill also stands to further protect women in domestic violence instances. In the past year in New South Wales there were over 450 cases of domestic violence-related assaults with a knife. This legislative amendment will mean New South Wales is leading the way in seeing those numbers decline. I commend the bill to the House.