International Cleaners Day

Mr FULBROOK (Playford) (15:22): I rise to acknowledge International Cleaners Day, recently celebrated on 15 June, and to offer my sincere thanks to all cleaners across South Australia. Cleaners are a quiet force behind the functioning of our schools, hospitals, workplaces and public places. Their vital work is often done behind the scenes, outside the hours many of us keep. They keep our environment safe, healthy and dignified, and they do so without fuss or fanfare. In that spirit, since I have been elected I have made it something of a tradition to mark the occasion with a polite ambush, presenting a hamper to a randomly selected local cleaner. It is a small gesture but one that I hope shows just how much they are appreciated by me and the communities that I am privileged to represent.

This year, it was Ruchira at Riverdale Primary School's turn. He could not have been more gracious or more deserving. His kindness, warmth and pride in his work are evident in everything that he does. Last year, it was Lilly and Maria at Hollywood Plaza. I will never forget the joy on their faces when they received their goodie basket offered on behalf of a grateful community.

In my workplace, I also want to acknowledge Carla, who currently looks after our office. She may not share our usual working hours but she is absolutely part of the team. Her care and consistency make our space not only clean but safe and more productive. I also thank Dhrumil, who looked after our temporary office at the former Florey site with both diligence and pride. On my numbers, South Australia is home to around 10,000 cleaners working hard in schools to clinics to shopping centres to aged-care homes. They keep our shared spaces clean and safe and they are very much worthy of praise.

I may be stating the obvious, but we should not overlook their work and how it impacts our health, safety and our wellbeing. Cleaners prevent the spread of illness by removing germs or allergens, they improve our air quality and reduce risks like slips and falls. In kitchens, clinics and hospitals they play a crucial role in preventing infection and contamination.

During the COVID-19 pandemic their work was nothing short of life-saving. Thousands of lives were protected here in South Australia through their vigilance and efforts, and they maintained sanitised hygienic spaces under extraordinary pressure while others stayed home. They kept showing up quietly, consistently and with courage.

Cleaners also lift morale and improve productivity. A clean space helps people focus, feel safe, and be more effective. It creates strong first impressions, reduces absenteeism, and protects surfaces and equipment, saving money and extending the life of essential infrastructure. Above all, cleaners provide something deeply human: dignity. In every finished mop floor, every wiped surface and every bin quietly emptied there is a message—that this place matters, and so do the people within it.

That message is so often delivered by people who can at times receive little recognition, so today I want to pause and recognise them. You may notice that the names I have mentioned—like Ruchira, Carla, Lilly, Maria and Dhrumil—are names that, respectfully, may strike you as belonging to people born overseas, and indeed many of our cleaners are proud migrants. As someone who grew up around the Polish community I understand it can take time to find your voice in a new country. With this in mind, I stress that our gratitude must go beyond words.

It must include support when times are tough. While most employers do the right thing, we know cleaners often work to tight deadlines and under pressure. If ever they face unfair or unsafe conditions, please know that they are not alone just because a lot of their work happens when most of us are arriving, departing or fast asleep. We value their flexibility, note that they work odd hours, adapt to changing environments and carry out physically demanding work.

We may not always see them, but we always benefit from what they do, and we must therefore have their backs when things get tough. So this week, I encourage everyone at their local school, office, cafe or shopping centre to take a moment to say thank you. A small word of appreciation can mean the world. To Ruchira, Carla, Lilly, Maria, Dhrumil and the thousands of cleaners across South Australia, thank you. Your work is essential, you are valued and, on behalf of our entire community, we are deeply grateful.