Page 1245 - Week 05 - Thursday, 4 June 2020

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(e) there has been inconsistent and confusing messaging on what is permissible; and

(2) calls on the ACT Government to support ACT households, community groups and businesses by:

(a) issuing direct advice about what is permissible;

(b) explaining the rationale for the staging outlined in the ACT Government’s plan;

(d) providing the medical and health advice to support the decisions made for the easing of restrictions; and

(e) easing restrictions such that they are at least comparable with NSW, especially noting the Chief Minister’s statement in March that the ACT and our region should be in step.

The Canberra Liberals stand here as advocates for Canberra families, Canberra businesses and all those that are doing it tough in the ACT as a result of decisions taken to help manage COVID-19 in Canberra. Those decisions have had a devastating impact on the livelihoods of thousands of Canberrans. Every day we are hearing the stories of businesses that have collapsed, people who are unemployed, and families whose lives have been turned upside down. We owe it to all those people to make sure we are doing everything we possibly can to safely reopen our economy such that things can get as close to normal for them as possible.

Just yesterday I visited the George Harcourt Inn at Gold Creek. That business is one of hundreds or even thousands in the ACT that is struggling with onerous restrictions on its operation. Earlier today, in question time, we heard that a household can have 20 people in it, yet a pub is also restricted to that number. It just does not stack up. The rules regarding enclosed spaces are vague and have left a considerable amount of uncertainty and lack of confidence amongst many people whose lives and livelihoods have been rocked as a result of these decisions.

The ACT has done relatively well, especially compared to New South Wales and numerous other jurisdictions in Australia. Canberrans have been responsible; Canberrans have done the right thing. As a result of that hard work, the heavy lifting and being conscientious, one of the benefits should be that Canberrans are trusted and that we back them in. Instead we have a government that come at it from a totally different perspective. They do not trust Canberrans. They do not trust Canberra’s businesses to do the right thing.

We have this absurd situation where New South Wales is going faster than the ACT, despite the fact that the ACT is in a better position with regard to COVID-19. There are many costs with being a small jurisdiction, but one of the benefits should be that we are nimble and are able to have a response that is very much suited to Canberra. Instead, we have had a lazy approach from the government that has not given confidence, has not given guidelines, has not given rules to people and has made it so difficult.

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