Page 1252 - Week 05 - Thursday, 4 June 2020
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
respect to Mr Coe’s call in (2)(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”, we do not agree with that. It appears that New South Wales has, in some instances, gone well past the nationally agreed ideas as to what we should do in terms of restriction easing. I am happier with sticking with the health advice rather than New South Wales’s ambition. Hopefully, New South Wales have not been too reckless in their advice. If we take a little bit longer, that is probably the best thing to do.
In saying that, I also bear in mind the very strong evidence that the COVID-19 committee received from a number of businesses that, if they reopen their business, that is great, but if they have to close it for a second time, that will basically be it. To reopen will take all of their financial reserves, and they cannot afford a second closing and a failure.
We have to be very aware that the health advice is that we cannot be confident that this is over yet. There may yet be a second wave. We need to proceed with all reasonable caution so that we are not in a second wave. We need to be confident that when we start reopening it is sustainable, and that people do not lose their livelihoods because they were optimistic and thought that things were sorted when things were not sorted and we have to have restrictions again.
I thank Mr Coe for this motion because it is really important. There are balances to be made. The Greens and I will be supporting Mr Barr’s amendment, while recognising that we are all basically on the same page with respect to point (1)(a), in that we are concerned about the health and welfare of Canberrans.
MR PARTON (Brindabella) (3.31): There are a lot of things in here that we disagree on, but one that we would agree on is that it is the job of the opposition to scrutinise government policy. That is why we are here; it is why they pay us. Often, in periods of emergency and periods of crisis, we will stand in lock step alongside the government for the sake of unity. I think that is a sensible thing to do and, by and large, for many weeks and on just about every issue, we have done that during this crisis. I would note that it was something that we also did during the bushfire crisis earlier in the year. But there does come a time when we cannot continue to be silent on some matters and when it would be a dereliction of our duty to remain silent. With regard to the reopening of the economy, that time has certainly come.
As the shadow minister for gaming and racing, I must point out that I am speaking here in my portfolio area. I am not the shadow minister for sport and rec; I am not the shadow minister for small business. I am not talking about those areas. I am talking about the area within my portfolio space. I have watched with much frustration as the COVID restrictions have been ever so slowly eased in that sector, despite them moving much faster over the border. I do not think anyone can argue about that. Indeed, I think we all agree that that is the case just over the border in Queanbeyan.
From my perspective this is about jobs. It is about the livelihoods of people. Many of them are low-paid workers. Many of them have not been eligible for JobKeeper and, in many instances, they have not even been eligible for JobSeeker. This is about their
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video