Page 944 - Week 04 - Thursday, 7 May 2020
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I move:
That the Assembly take note of the paper.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
COVID-19 Emergency Response Legislation Amendment Bill 2020
Mr Barr, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.
Title read by Clerk.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Social Inclusion and Equality, Minister for Tourism and Special Events and Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment) (11.04): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
The COVID-19 Emergency Response Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 introduces necessary changes to our legislative framework to ensure that the government and the Canberra community are prepared and equipped to deal with the current public health emergency.
COVID-19 continues to impact every aspect of the social, economic and cultural fabric of the territory and, therefore, the wellbeing of all Canberrans. Because of this, every component of government operations has been considered in the construction of this omnibus bill.
These reforms are the next stage of protecting, as much as possible, the city’s economy, jobs and household budgets, and the essential functions of government. This legislative action complements the ACT government’s economic survival package and the commonwealth government’s major stimulus and support measures. These are unprecedented times, certainly in the life of self-government and in the life of most members of our community, and they require urgent steps, such as this bill, to give our city the best path to reopening and recovery.
It is worth reflecting on some of the changes that have occurred locally, nationally and internationally since the Assembly met last month and the first COVID-19 Emergency Response Bill was passed. As the Minister for Health has outlined, we have flattened the curve to a point where, for a short period, there were no active cases in the ACT, bar one more recently. On 2 April there were 87 cases, and just over a month later we have a total of 107. In April we had one death in the ACT and, sadly, we have had two additional deaths since the Assembly last met. But, overall, the month of April was one where the hard work of the ACT community paid off.
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