‘Hypocrisy’ in healthcare system exposed

“I think it’s the biggest hypocrisy there ever was,” Sharon Stoliar told The AJN about the rally staged by the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) to stand in solidarity against hate speech.

Around 100 nurses and midwives gathered last Thursday with signs displaying the messages “no hate in health care”, “care without bias” and “be kind, be inclusive”, in response to the two Bankstown Hospital nurses, Ahmad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, who were stood down after claiming on video they would kill Israeli patients and had already done so.

“The NSWNMA reiterates its condemnation of all forms of racism, bigotry and hatred, including acts of antisemitism and Islamophobia,” the association said in a statement. Yet this is the same union whose members have joined pro-Palestine rallies and chanted “from the river to the sea”, while wearing their official healthcare uniforms.

“The Nurses and Midwives Association has been extremely pro-Palestine,” said Stoliar.

“They have previously publicised events with a midwife called Amar Hamed, who is viciously pro-Palestine. The president of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association O’Bray Smith has also posted pro-Palestine content.

“So I find it extremely hypocritical that they would come out with this ‘no hate in healthcare’. It’s all just a show for media because they’ve been driving it, they’ve been absolutely driving it.

“Why are they talking about international politics at all?”

Stoliar said she was not shocked at all by the viral video, which was made by Israeli influencer Max Veifer, after the midwife has spent months trying to expose allegations of rife antisemitism in the health system.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” she said.

“I was disgusted, but I wasn’t shocked that they had the guts to say what they said without batting an eyelid, as if it was the most normal thing to say and do at work.”

Stoliar is hopeful that now some of the “filth” has been exposed, action will finally be taken.

Victoria’s Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas has taken a stand by ordering healthcare staff to remove anti-Israel and pro-Palestine badges or other markings at work, saying political clothing in hospitals is “unacceptable”.

“Quite frankly, our hospitals are not the place for any political badges, flags or anything that makes patients in any way feel unsafe,” said Thomas.

“The wearing of Palestinian badges does not create a safe environment for patients and will not be tolerated. It’s not acceptable.

“Our health services know this, and I know that they are working hard to make sure that their staff know this as well.”

It comes as the Coalition has urged taxpayer funding be stripped from Muslim organisations linked to signatories of a joint statement criticising the reaction to the sacking of the two Sydney nurses.

The ‘United Muslim community statement’, shared online by Stand For Palestine Australia, includes more than 60 signatories stating they “condemn the hypocrisy over [the] nurses controversy”. It criticised what it called “coordinated outrage” and claimed the response to the two nurses’ comments was “manufactured” to serve a “political narrative”.

“The most revealing aspect of the reaction to the nurses’ video is not the [footage] itself – but the speed, intensity and uniformity of response from certain political leaders and media outlets.”

The statement was also signed by controversial Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir Australia, which is part of a network that is designated as a terrorist group in the UK but not Australia.

The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) held a rally to stand in solidarity against hate speech.

Coalition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said the list of signatories was “alarming” and he pressured Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to strip grant funding from organisations linked to the letter.

“It is alarming that so many representative bodies and Muslim community leaders think it is appropriate to downplay the seriousness of the nurses’ misconduct,” said Paterson.

“Tony Burke must put the national interest before his political interest and rescind grants from any organisation which signed this statement. Taxpayers’ money should never be spent excusing extremism.”

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park also responded to the statement, stating, “We need to unite against hatred, and these comments are divisive and unwelcome.

“The NSW government’s swift and decisive response was critical to restoring faith in the state’s health system.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the nurses did not deserve sympathy, “what they deserve is the condemnation that they’ve gotten”.