Page 99 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 8 February 2022
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The ACT has taken a very effective approach to the pandemic, based on the best medical evidence, and this is supported by our community. It is a dreadful side effect of this health response, though, that this does negatively impact businesses and livelihoods and economic activity generally. This is one of the defining challenges that this virus has presented to decision-makers: how do we weigh up these competing interests? Is it reasonable to restrict economic activities so severely as we seek to protect the population’s health? We have seen decision-makers grappling with this right across the world, and they have landed in different places along the spectrum, which I will come back to.
The Greens support the strong health-based approach to the pandemic that we have pursued in the ACT. This government has taken a sound and thoughtful approach, guided by the best advice from our public servants and our experts. Of course, we would not endorse restrictions being in place for longer than they are required, based on the evidence. But, unfortunately, they have been required, and we support this government for doing what is necessary to protect the health of our population. Imposing these restrictions on business means that it is reasonable to support business through these difficult times, and I believe that the ACT government has been very attentive to the needs to business and the struggles they are facing in this very strange and unprecedented period of upheaval.
I noted that Ms Castley’s remarks were bereft of any reflection on the circumstances we find ourselves in, in early 2022. There is undoubtedly fear and uncertainty in the community, and there has been a lot of talk, in the shadow of lockdown, of people not going out because they are uncertain about the situation that we find ourselves in in Australia as a result of the Omicron wave. But I heard no reflection by Ms Castley of the decisions led by the New South Wales Premier, championed by the Prime Minister, that we should open up as quickly as possible, remove many restrictions and go for broke. That is the ideological position that was adopted by key leaders in this country, which, I think it is fair to reflect, have driven the Omicron wave and have created a lot of the fear and uncertainty that our community is now experiencing. I think it is worth reflecting on that because we could have, potentially, had a lot better summer if we had not been so desperate to open up and get going as quickly as possible.
Members would have heard as well, during the Chief Minister’s economic update this morning, that the economy and business remains a focus for the government, going forward. The economic recovery and creating and protecting local jobs are front and centre. On that note, the Canberra Times this morning also quoted me, on behalf of the Greens, advocating that this economic recovery focuses on and assists vulnerable cohorts in our community who are too often left behind and who, in many ways, had their already difficult circumstances exacerbated by the pandemic. That is something that the Greens will certainly be advocating for across all our roles, both inside cabinet and out, as we progress through 2022 and look at the ongoing recovery efforts that will be needed to assist our community.
That is one of the reasons many of the incentives that the government has provided are not just business related. There are a range of supports designed to assist people
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