Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Patrick for the question and for some prior notice. Senator Patrick, I have been able to obtain the following information for you. The Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus is already being implemented. It brings together the successful actions we've taken to date as a government to contain the virus. The plan is in response to the COVID-19 outbreak and is based on the Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza, which has been in place for many years. The plan is the result of coordination, consultation and collaboration with the sector and with our state and territory colleagues. It also outlines clear responses and actions we can escalate, should the risk increase. It ensures we target resources and public health interventions to most effectively protect the health of all Australians.

To date, we have been able to contain the spread of the virus in Australia and we will continue to do all we can to hold this position. But the COVID-19 outbreak could post significant risks to Australia, to people's health and to our economy. The response we have had to date has been one based on the principle of precaution and minimising risk. We have been working closely across all levels of government, implementing strategies to minimise the spread of the disease, through strong border measures and widespread communications activities. The plan we have released goes beyond what we are already doing and looks at what we now know about COVID-19 and how we move forward as this outbreak unfolds. It will be updated as we learn more about the virus, its key risk groups and when potential treatments or vaccines become available.

Australia's plan to manage the COVID-19 outbreak is based on these pillars: monitor and investigate outbreaks as they occur; identify and characterise the nature of the virus and clinical severity of the disease; contribute to the rapid and confident recovery of individuals, communities— (Time expired)