Gerard Rennick (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators Brockman and O'Sullivan, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

  (i) the tremendous sacrifices made by all Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic,

  (ii) the more than 100 deaths that have occurred in Australia as a result of the virus,

  (iii) the millions of livelihoods disrupted by shutdown of businesses and resultant job and income losses,

  (iv) the negative mental health outcomes caused by social distancing for many in the community,

  (v) that there are many worthy causes, gatherings and significant occasions which have been disrupted, including ANZAC and Labour Day Marches,

  (vi) the importance of political leaders leading by example in all matters, and

  (vii) the comments of AMA President Tony Bartone that the protests over the weekend were held "in defiance of public health warnings"; and

(b) calls on members of this House and the other place who attended the protests over the weekend:

  (i) to lead by example,

  (ii) to comply with public health laws and directives, and

  (iii) to acknowledge that their actions represent a failure of leadership and are an insult to all those who have suffered during this period.