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

I first pay tribute to all of those paramedics and ambulance workers across the country who are doing such a great job. I'm happy to concede that at the current time, particularly in New South Wales, they are under severe pressure. There is significant transmission of COVID-19 in the community at the moment, and I know that they are working very hard and very diligently to meet the demand.

We have put significant additional resources into the national health system, across the country, particularly focused on COVID-19. In fact, on 13 March 2020 the Australian government and all state and territory governments signed a national partnership to respond to the virus. We have been working on this and ensuring the capacity was there for a long time.