Gladys Liu (Chisholm, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I second the member for Mallee's motion advocating for Victoria to fully reopen in a COVID-safe manner. This means opening the doors of businesses, restoring the cherished freedom of Victorians and ending the crippling uncertainty that has afflicted regional communities in our state, particularly in the border regions.

In my electorate of Chisholm, I have witnessed the dire effects of the Andrews government's draconian lockdown measures. Small business has been given no respite or quarter. Small business is the lifeblood of our country and the communities within. The Victorian Labor Party has time and time again stood in the way of small businesses trying to survive this period. The Andrews government's response was extreme. It was an extreme solution designed to make up for their equally extreme mishandling of hotel quarantine. We wish the Victorian government had handled this crisis with the same care and competence that our neighbours in New South Wales did, but what is done is done. It wasn't Victorians' fault, and I am so proud of the courage and perseverance displayed by Victorians in getting through the worst of the latest crisis. The epidemiological data for Victoria is now at the point where health experts believe it is safe to reopen our state fully so long as we also stay COVID safe. The Victorian health system has recovered and built its capacity to deal with this pandemic.

Because of the Victorian outbreak, many business owners have been forced to shut their doors. Sadly, many of those doors won't ever open again. It is these business owners I am talking to when I offer my commiserations. It is truly gut-wrenching to know that many small-business owners have had to close the door permanently on their life's work. We will do whatever is in our power as a federal government to put Victorians back on their feet and to encourage all states to work together to avoid the border closures that have disproportionately affected regional border communities. This coalition government will continue to act decisively in the nation's interests, to help us to bounce back from the economic consequences of this disease.

But it's not just the economic front on which we are continuing to fight. We realise that this virus and the measures taken to combat it have caused significant issues in the space of mental health and general wellbeing. This is particularly the case in Victoria, where the outbreaks and lockdowns were so much more severe. So we want to send a message loud and clear: protecting the nation's interests necessitates protecting Victorian interests. That is why we have invested $29.6 million to establish 15 HeadtoHelp clinics across regional and metropolitan Victoria. These clinics will operate free of charge and significantly boost the capacity of our existing mental health system over the next year. This means more accessibility and more help for Victorians who need it.

But some Victorians are still being left in the lurch by the current restrictions enforced by the Andrews government. A business in my electorate, Vogue Ballroom, located in Burwood East, are still unable to operate. They have been continually forced to push bookings back and can't get any peace of mind. For them, this lockdown has not been eased, and they are still paying the penalty for Daniel Andrews's lockdown policy. My colleagues and I believe that it is time to unleash Victoria again, and that's why I firmly support the member for Mallee's motion today. (Time expired)

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