Free parking for healthcare workers in NSW
Healthcare workers will be able to access free parking at public hospital car parks, the NSW government has announced.
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“Our healthcare workers are on the frontline of our battle with Covid-19 and we need to do whatever we can to support them during this difficult time,” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Friday.
“We hope this new measure makes life a little easier for our doctors, nurses and other hospital staff who are working hard to keep us all safe.”
It comes after the City of Sydney announced it would grant healthcare, childcare, social workers, police, ambulance and fire workers parking permits allowing them free and unrestricted street parking.
The City of Sydney said it is also working with the state government to increase the number of street parking available for essential workers. The Sydney Goulburn St and Kings Cross council carparks have so far been made available, while the City of Sydney has issued 1,000 permits to essential services agencies.
Concessional hospital parking fees in NSW are $5.60 for more than three hours, or $22.60 for a seven-day ticket.
“The initiatives are helping to address travel, transport and parking challenges faced by those working to contain the Covid-19 pandemic and helping vulnerable members of our community,” it said.
The Adelaide City Council this week also decided to allow Royal Adelaide Hospital staff to park on the oval opposite the hospital for free.
“This is part of making sure that everything is ready in the health system, in case (more parking) is needed,” Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor told The Advertiser.
The Adelaide city council will now debate on whether to issue permits to healthcare workers allowing them to park for free across the city during the crisis.
Healthcare staff in Adelaide have complained of receiving parking fines after shifts at hospitals.
Paediatric nurse Jess Mullan received a $69 fine after finishing a night shift in March.
“With everything that is going on... finish a night shift to come to a parking ticket,” Mullan wrote.
“You have got to be.. kidding me.”
Other workers, including a nursing student on unpaid placement, also complained of fines.
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