Premier launches probe into Bankstown Hospital newsletter following ‘vile’ video

The government will investigate why a woman wearing a ‘free Palestine’ T-shirt was featured in an official Bankstown Hospital newsletter, amid revelations the under-siege hospital deleted social media images which featured more staff sporting the slogan.

The government will investigate why a woman wearing a “free Palestine” T-shirt was featured in an official Bankstown Hospital newsletter, the Premier says.

The August 2024 newsletter includes an update on “multicultural connection,”accompanied with a photo showing a woman in the political T-shirt. It is believed the woman does not work for NSW Health. The photo has now been removed from online.

Asked by Opposition Health spokeswoman Kelly Sloane if there is a “systemic problem” with anti-Semitism at Bankstown Hospital, Mr Minns said he would investigate.

“I don’t know about this particular political message, of course we will investigate that,” he said.

“If any member anywhere has information about that kind of political messaging that could undermine public confidence, we want to know about it,” he said.

The inclusion of a political T-shirt in a NSW Health newsletter is being investigated. Supplied.

It comes amid Sky News revelations that Bankstown Hospital deleted evidence of the staff member wearing the “Free Palestine” shirt, scrubbing their social media pages which showed even more staff wearing pro-Palestine slogans.

Meanwhile, Mr Minns revealed he spoke to Israel’s ambassador to Australia about a “vile” video over which two NSW Health workers have been stood down.

Mr Minns said he assured the ambassador that the government will “ensure” the workers never return to NSW Health.

“We are taking this incredibly seriously, and we will ensure that these individuals do not return to public health in NSW,” Mr Minns told parliament.

Premier Chris Minns has condemned a video of two NSW Health nurses boasting about ‘killing’ Israeli patients. Picture: Thomas Lisson

“Ultimately, at the end of the day, we all have an obligation to stand up against this vile anti Semitic racism.”

In the video, the man says: “You have no idea how many [Israeli people] come to this hospital … I send to Jahannam”.

Jahannam is the Arabic translation for “hell”.

Ryan Park said the individuals had been stood down and will be sacked. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

The man and woman then go on to claim they “won’t treat” Israeli people, before the woman said “I’ll kill them” in the video.

Mr Park said at this early stage there was no indication claims Jewish patients had been hurt or killed by the pair were true.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park on Wednesday confirmed the health workers in the “vile” video had been stood down from their jobs as nurses at Bankstown Hospital.
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Originally published as Premier launches probe into Bankstown Hospital newsletter following ‘vile’ video