Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | Hansard source

I think it's disappointing that Senator Sheldon would seek to make such a direct comparison between the circumstances of the very tragic bushfires last year and the circumstances of the pandemic right now. Clearly in New South Wales the situation is extremely difficult. The New South Wales government has placed significant lockdowns on large proportions of the New South Wales community and across all of New South Wales in an attempt to manage the current outbreak and suppress the spread of the virus. Suppression of the spread of the virus has been part of the national strategy on COVID-19 since the outset of the pandemic in 2020.

We value the contributions of all medical providers in relation to the management of the outbreak. And at all times, both at a state level and a national level, we have relied significantly on the medical advice from our health professionals at a national level to guide us in establishing the national plan for COVID-19, and we know that the chief health officers have played an absolutely pivotal role in the advice to the states and territories with respect to the management of the virus. I am certain that they will continue to do that. They provide very valuable information and advice with respect to the management of the pandemic and, through national cabinet, the states and the territories are working together with respect to the management of the virus and the pandemic across the country. We'll continue to do that: to take the advice that's been provided to us by the professionals who are leading the pandemic response and continue to work with them on managing the particular outbreaks in all the jurisdictions. (Time expired)