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

It is critical we remain vigilant to ensure we do not risk further outbreaks. That just happens to be our reality as a country. As the Chief Medical Officer has said:

But make no mistake, this virus is still in our community …

The OECD research has made it abundantly clear today that the risks of a second wave are real and a second wave would have both profound health and economic impacts. The OECD does expect Australia to rebound, despite the global economy facing the deepest recession since the Great Depression. The OECD's outlook for Australia is the third best amongst all 36 OECD nations, but a second wave of COVID-19 infections would wipe out four years of economic growth in Australia and expose highly indebted mortgage holders to possible mass defaults.