Melissa McIntosh (Lindsay, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The last few weeks have been challenging for all of us, but my community has been hit particularly hard by coronavirus. But we're taking the initiative, keeping connected and working together.

The work doesn't stop; I have convened meetings with small businesses, community organisations, schools and families in Lindsay, and brought along some ministers for their expertise. Ensuring that local kids have the best access to education is so important to me, and the federal Minister for Education, Dan Tehan, joined school principals and me for a first-of-its-kind teleconference in Australia. We discussed supporting local students, social-distancing measures and how schools can prepare and adapt during the pandemic.

The Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Michaelia Cash, and I met with small business owners in Lindsay and discussed how we are supporting our business community and helping Australians to get back to work after coronavirus. We talked about the future of manufacturing in Australia and backing Western Sydney manufacturing, because we have such a great opportunity there if we're willing to fight for it.

Last Friday, the Indigenous and community organisations in my community met with the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, to hear about their coronavirus experiences and the work they're doing on the ground. We discussed education, mental health and the impact of social isolation on our young people. And, very importantly, the Minister for Aged Care, the Hon. Richard Colbeck, and I met with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner and families and residents of Newmarch House. We talked about the Commonwealth's response in providing assistance to these—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member's time has concluded.