Tonight I acknowledge some major gift-giving in the Blacktown city area. The Community Foundation of North Western Sydney, headed by President Rajiv Chaudhri, has kindly provided back‑to-school kits for students whose families may be struggling financially to provide some of the basic essential items to get a good start in their schooling career. Unfortunately, one in six children is living in poverty. That is almost 1.2 million children and youth across Australia under the age of 24 living in poverty. If that is translated to western Sydney, it averages at around 20 per cent. To give a child a fair start in their education changes lives. Rajiv and Community Foundation of North Western Sydney provided over half a million dollars of equipment, from folders, binders, pens, calculators, exercise books, notebooks and whiteboard markers through to book shelves and even bookends—a range of items. We were able to distribute them across dozens of schools in the Penrith area, Blacktown and Londonderry. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Leader of the Labor Party, Prue Car, and I went out there to see the goods distributed amongst the schools. Domestic violence assistance centres and youth support groups have also benefited.

The gift-giving does not end there. CEO of Signature Projects Atul Kumar runs a family business as a property developer. He lives by the philosophy that giving and supporting the local community is the best way to serve the community. Over the past three years he has donated over a quarter of a million dollars to various groups, including in 2019 to the Sanctuary, which provides shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence; to the MonSTaR Foundation, which serves people, especially children, who are affected by motor neurone disease; and to the Aboriginal church of Riverstone, operating in the Vineyard area. In 2020 donations went to NSW Police Legacy and the Blacktown Youth Services Association, known as BYSA, which works with disadvantaged youth in our local area. Last Christmas at his Christmas party Mr Kumar donated money to the Blacktown Women's and Girls' Health Centre—which is a leading organisation providing advocacy, health and support for women, as well as those suffering from domestic violence—and the Community Foundation of North Western Sydney. Part of the programs I have just talked about is the gift-giving to local schools, but they also provide wonderful local community initiatives, such as hospitality training for people with various abilities and disabilities. The Lisa Harnum Foundation provides domestic violence support, education and safe spaces. Rough Tracks provides opportunities for youth who are going through hard times by offering holistic, flexible and long-term support. Atul and his family also gave to local projects. Not only do they give money, but they also help out with their expertise in building. They helped with the development application for Nurragingy Miniature Railway, which was delivered by North Western Model Engineers, Inc., a not-for-profit organisation. If Signatures Homes did not support this project, it would not have happened.

In conclusion, today we saw the nurses on strike and blocking off Macquarie Street. I pay tribute to all of the frontline health workers, especially those in my local area, the Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals, where the nurses, doctors, allied health and support staff have worked under immense pressure to support COVID‑affected patients. I am disappointed with the health Minister's ill-informed comments, saying that he was disappointed by the strike action and warning that those participating could face disciplinary action. I hope that the Minister understands that this is a democracy and that people have the right to strike and show their concerns. Having blocked not only Macquarie Street but 40 locations simultaneously across the State shows the amount of passion in the community. I hope the Minister does not go through with his threat. This is not a fascist state. We are here to support health workers, not to discipline them.