Page 756 - Week 03 - Thursday, 2 April 2020
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reasons we would essentially try to keep our entire local and global population inside as much as possible for weeks, and perhaps even months, on end.
The Greens support these simple clauses, which enable the minister, in relation to COVID-19, to declare a public health emergency for up to 90 days, where previously the legislation only allowed for a five-day declaration and two-day extensions. The government has been operating under the old legislation since 16 March, when the emergency was initially declared, and has required numerous extensions to continue it. This legislation will make such an emergency declaration period more administratively workable.
It introduces a clause which requires the Chief Health Officer to advise the minister on the status of the public health situation at least every 30 days, to enable the minister to fully evaluate whether the declaration should still be in place. The bill also allows the minister to revoke the public health emergency when it is no longer justified. The Greens will support the bill.
I have spoken briefly about some of the many impacts that COVID has had on us individually and on our community, be they jobs, education, finances, lifestyle or isolation. What is also evident is that mental health and wellbeing will be a significant issue as we battle this pandemic. We are acutely aware that COVID-19 and the implications that we are all experiencing pose a significant challenge to our mental health and wellbeing, and I suspect that there is worse to come before it gets better.
The current period of COVID-19 comes hot on the heels of the worst bushfire season for Canberra since 2003, an extended period of smoke that kept people inside during holiday time, and, of course, the hailstorm, each of which had quite an impact on our community. When we think about the mental health impact of COVID-19, we must note that it comes at a time when people’s resilience has already been tested.
There is high anxiety in the community over the unknown course of the COVID-19 virus. The virus is new and the next few months are uncertain. People are concerned about the impact on their health and that of their loved ones, as well as the significant economic challenges that come with job losses and financial insecurity. The coverage from other countries has at times been deeply confronting.
As the Minister for Mental Health, I have been working with the Health Directorate and Canberra Health Services on how we can help the community to keep as mentally healthy as possible. We know that Canberra Health Services and NGOs are experiencing an increase in contacts and requests for mental health information, help and support, with related anxiety, unease and confusion about the current situation.
To give additional capacity to provide in-situ care to the community, Canberra Health Services will be expanding the PACER model—the police, ambulance and clinician early response pilot—from four days to seven days a week from this Sunday. The PACER partners have recognised the capability of it in the diversion of people away from the emergency department, thereby limiting the COVID-19 exposure of healthcare workers and consumers in the hospital environment. We have also
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