Gavin Pearce (Braddon, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You won't find a stronger, more tightly knit community than in the electorate of Braddon. The region has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, which has tested our resilience like never before. We have been challenged, we have made the sacrifices needed, and together we've saved lives and contained the virus. Sadly, we have lost loved ones, and I extend my sincere and heartfelt condolences to all those Tasmanians affected. I thank the region's frontline health workers and other essential workers who have risked their own health and safety to tirelessly deal with and adapt to the devastating outbreak in our region. On behalf of the electorate, I'd also like to thank the members of the Australian Defence Force and the health professionals from the AUSMAT team who ensured that the emergency department at the Burnie hospital remained open during our lockdown phase.

The COVID-19 challenge has brought out the best in individuals in the electorate. Today I'd like to mention a few. Devonport's Southern Wild Distillery has produced 15,000 litres of hand sanitiser. Burnie's Mark Acheson has created a website that links volunteers to vulnerable people, and Smithton based IT consultant Mark Dabner has volunteered his own 3D printers to produce face shields for Primary Health Tasmania. We still have a long way to go, but I know the good people of Braddon will rise to whichever challenge is placed before them.