COVID-19
Ms KILKENNY (Carrum) (10:04): I know people are worried, uncertain and even anxious and scared about the coronavirus, and this is completely understandable, particularly when it can feel like we have no personal or individual control of the situation. But we do, and you have stepped up and even gone beyond what is being asked of you by our leaders around personal hygiene, physical distancing and home quarantine. The acts of kindness and compassion I am seeing and hearing about are heartwarming. So today I wish to thank my community for not only their compassion but their commitment to helping us slow the spread of infection and making sure we are best placed to look after some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. Thank you also to our small businesses. I know you are doing everything you can to keep your workers, particularly casual workers, in paid employment. Thank you to our health workers and all of our hospital support staff and the people who keep the hospitals going: the cleaners and laundry staff, the cooks, the patient transport workers, the volunteers, our Frankston Hospital pink ladies. And of course there are the workers at our supermarkets. These are some of the most difficult circumstances you will ever work in, but you are doing us so proud.
Finally, I want to thank the banks—those banks that have already taken steps to offer help and support to our communities, our small businesses, by deferring mortgage and loan repayments, offering interest-free loans, passing on all interest rate cuts and providing working capital for business cash flow. I now call on all Australian banks to do the same. As Victorians we will proudly be defined by our compassion and our commitment to looking after some of our most vulnerable community members during the difficult weeks ahead.