New South Wales Police have obtained an unedited video, provided by an Israeli influencer, featuring anti-Israeli threats made by two nurses from Bankstown Hospital. The video, which sparked widespread political outrage, was initially released by Max Veifer, the content creator. It showed an edited conversation on a video chat platform where the nurses expressed their hatred towards Israeli patients.
The pair have been identified and suspended by Ryan Park, the NSW Health Minister. Additionally, Mark Butler, the federal health minister, confirmed that the Nursing and Midwifery Council of NSW had suspended the nurses’ registrations. Consequently, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency updated its record on the public register of practitioners, effectively barring the two nurses from practising anywhere in Australia.
In the video, when asked about their reaction if an Israeli patient came to their hospital, one of the nurses responded with a threat to kill the hypothetical patient.
The NSW police commissioner, Karen Webb, stated that officers had visited the Bankstown Hospital and interviewed staff. The police are now awaiting the unedited video from Veifer to fully investigate the incident.
The two nurses, represented by their respective solicitors, are yet to be charged over the video. However, their solicitors have expressed their clients’ regret and the emotional distress they are currently undergoing.
In response to this incident, Ryan Park has assured that he would work hard to rebuild the trust of Jewish patients in the NSW Health system. He met with the hospital’s staff to discuss the matter and make his expectations clear.
Park also confirmed that NSW police and the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission would investigate the incident.
Max Veifer, the influencer who initially exposed the nurses, expressed his shock at the level of hatred experienced from so far away. He said his mission was to expose them.
The incident has been condemned by many, including the premier, Chris Minns, and the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, who called the footage “sickening and shameful”.
