Page 2462 - Week 07 - Thursday, 4 August 2022
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
and to ensure that they remain accessible, legal, safe and free. I will continue to do that for all my time in this place and for all the time when I am not here. It is something I have fought for pretty much all my life. I will continue to make sure that those rights are protected and that the appropriate gains are made to improve on what we have now.
I commend my motion to the Assembly and thank everybody for their contributions to the motion.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
COVID-19 pandemic—government response
MS DAVIDSON (Murrumbidgee—Assistant Minister for Families and Community Services, Minister for Disability, Minister for Justice Health, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Veterans and Seniors) (5.58): I move:
That this Assembly:
(1) recognises that:
(a) COVID-19 continues to affect every member of the Canberra community to varying degrees—from our health outcomes to changes in the way we work and live;
(b) the pandemic is far from over, and with the height of the winter months now upon us, including a sharp increase in COVID-19 case numbers, enduring support for Canberrans at most risk is imperative;
(c) reducing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses where possible is critical for protecting people at high risk of severe health outcomes;
(d) the combined impact of years of natural disasters, in addition to the ongoing pressures of COVID-19 on our essential workers, young people having to study at home, and throughout our community who may be impacted economically by reduced income or increased social isolation, means that large numbers of Canberrans are physically and mentally exhausted; and
(e) Commonwealth Government measures, such as pandemic leave payments, provide support for people who are unable to access paid leave due to being COVID-positive or isolating as a close contact, which helps reduce transmission and reduces the economic impact of COVID-19 for those who can least afford it;
(2) notes:
(a) clear and open lines of communication remain between all ACT Government Directorates—especially ACT Health and the Community Services Directorate—to ensure sharing of information on how the COVID-19 situation is impacting the disability sector;
(b) targeted communications continue through the ACT Government’s extensive network of service providers and our community organisation partners, and social and traditional media platforms, about the ways we can best protect those most at risk;
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video