Tuesday, 16 November 2021

COVID-19

Dr CUMMING (Western Metropolitan) (11:44): My question is to the Premier. Does he support the view of the chief health officer expressed in an article in the Medical Journal of Australia? The chief health officer has criticised the federal government for not addressing the economic and mental health effects of the pandemic in its national COVID road map. To quote the article:

The continuing mental health effects of disruptions to life during 2020 and 2021 are already being seen in the health system, and, as with natural disasters, they will need to be managed for years, not weeks.

It is:

… as if we could all soon heave a sigh of relief and … move on.

The recovery phase after public health emergencies normally includes addressing their economic effects and managing the mental health impacts.

This is from the chief health officer.

Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (11:45): Dr Cumming, you have sought a response from the Premier. I believe you have asked for an opinion of his in relation to the comments that you articulated are present in that article referencing the chief health officer. I will forward your question to the Premier for a response.

Dr CUMMING (Western Metropolitan) (11:46): Thank you, Attorney. I look forward to the Premier’s response. Does the Premier acknowledge that the economic and mental health effects of COVID are due to the harsh lockdowns and restrictions imposed by the chief health officer? Victoria has suffered the harshest lockdowns anywhere in the world. Victorians were locked up in their homes for over 20 hours a day. They were homeschooling their children. They were working from home. They were separated from their friends and their loved ones, from their support systems. They lost their jobs and their businesses. And then they were coerced into getting a vaccine or locked out of society—all supposedly in the interest of keeping us safe and well. I am looking forward to the Premier’s response.

Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (11:47): I will pass that on to the Premier.