Page 996 - Week 04 - Thursday, 7 May 2020
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territories and the commonwealth; and in large part, with a couple of notable exceptions, a big degree—a strong degree—of bipartisanship in many instances.
We should not forget that the different stages of this pandemic are still being measured in days and weeks and we are still a long, long way away from this pandemic being over. It is not over, but there is now at least a glimpse of light. We have got to this point, a point that has exceeded expectations, because of the early and decisive action that was taken nationally and locally. I thank every Canberran for their efforts in making this happen.
But we cannot let our success so far lull us into a false sense of security. As history shows, pandemics come in waves, and not taking the time to plan for future waves would be tantamount to negligence. It would be putting peoples’ lives at risk and it would put our economy at further risk, due to longer shutdowns.
When it comes to schools, teacher engagement with professional learning in the final weeks of term 1 enabled the rollout of remote learning for term 2. We put in place a contingency that we would be able to continue to deliver education throughout term 2 in the circumstances of a strict and ongoing lockdown or equivalent restrictions and to ensure that there was learning continuity for students in such an environment. Due to the success of the suppression efforts locally and nationally, as we indicated several weeks ago and clearly outlined last Friday, we are in a position to begin a transition back. The ACT, like other jurisdictions on the eastern seaboard of Australia, has been working through these issues.
I have the benefit, obviously, of sitting in the national cabinet, so I get the benefit of those discussions and deliberations with the New South Wales, Victorian, Queensland and Tasmanian premiers that relate to issues on the eastern seaboard. Tasmania being somewhat different, I would hasten to add for the benefit of those opposite, Tasmania are not in a position where they are going to even begin a process of reopening their schools. But we have been talking and collaborating and working together within the national cabinet framework. Those discussions have also involved a degree of flexibility for jurisdictions to respond to their local circumstances.
This has been an important part of the functioning of the national cabinet and the decision-making processes. With a couple of notable exceptions—Minister Tehan’s brain explosion on Insiders on Sunday morning that, thankfully, he walked away from within several hours, by lunchtime on Sunday, and the Prime Minister initially saying one thing but then being very clear that in each state and territory parents should listen to their state premier, chief minister and education ministers—this very vexed issue of schooling has been well managed in Australia. Again, compared to other countries and other circumstances, we have done very well.
This is a once in a century global pandemic. It is not a political point-scoring opportunity and it should not be used as such. It is not a party-political decision around when schools go back. The evidence for that, obviously, is the decision of a Liberal premier in Tasmania and a Labor premier in Victoria who have made the same decision based on the epidemiology in their jurisdictions.
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