Thursday, 6 February 2020

COVID-19

Mr HAMER (Box Hill) (17:04): (1838) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Health in the other place. The action I seek is for the minister to come out to the eastern suburbs of Melbourne to show support and solidarity for the many local businesses that have been impacted by concerns regarding the coronavirus outbreak.

The identification of any new virus naturally raises concerns about how we as a community are best able to protect ourselves against it. These concerns are only heightened as the outbreak occurred at a time when many Chinese Australians were enjoying a summer holiday and Lunar New Year celebrations with friends and family in China.

I want to thank the minister, her staff, the officials from the Department of Heath and Human Services and Victoria’s chief health officer for providing regular updates about the virus in English, simplified Chinese and traditional Chinese, which I have been able to disseminate throughout my community.

Unfortunately, social media has been the source of many unfounded rumours about how the virus is spread and the risks of infection. This has created heightened anxiety, particularly amongst members of the Australian Chinese community. I am also aware of reports of discrimination and harassment experienced by some members of the Chinese Australian community simply on the basis of their race, including being refused entry to venues, being asked to stop spreading the virus and people refusing to shake their hands. These are not sensible public health precautions. This type of behaviour makes people feel unsafe, and as a society we cannot allow it to become normalised. The coronavirus is not an excuse to vilify members of the Australian Chinese community. As the Premier said earlier this week:

The only way to respond to a health crisis is with compassion and consideration for each other—not division and distrust.

I urge all people of all backgrounds to avoid panic and division and to listen to the medical advice provided by the chief health officer and their own GP. I look forward to the minister’s response.