Debates and Questions - Day 1 - 24 April 2020
Parliamentary Record 27
Debates and Questions for 13th Assembly 2019 - 2020; ParliamentNT; Parliamentary Record; 13th Assembly 2016 - 2020
2020-04-24
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Debates and Questions
Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
Darwin
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DEBATES AND QUESTIONS Friday 24 April 2020 8358 The charging for quarantining caused a lot of consternation. As the local Member from AraluenI assume people were probably not dissimilar anywhere else in the Territory. People were pouring back into the Territory in the early days. I think the border closed on about 24 March. Some people did not make the deadline so they had to contemplate the new system of charging for quarantining, where they would be quarantined and how much they would be charged. Lots of questions came through our office about the logistics of how this new system would work. To be honest, the answers unfolded quite quickly. There was a bit of a clogging up of the system with people not getting a response as soon as they wanted. But generally, it has been quite a good system given that it was put in place so quickly and was so new. A lot of people felt anxious and stressed about the provisions that were suddenly in place limiting their freedom and perhaps costing them a lot of money. Given the short period of time this all happened in, it is incredible how quickly people adapted. They have learned to pick up a telephone and find answers. Generally speaking the answers have come quite quickly. Well done to the Northern Territory Government officials who have been responsible for rolling this all out; it is incredible. I put in a request yesterday about a drive-by that is being organised for Anzac Day by a group of people in Alice Springs. It is a wonderful thing and a great idea. They have organised for a drive past the home of one of our most honoured and highly regarded Diggers, Sydney Kinsman. I put in a request to the Minister for Health, the Chief Health Officer, and through the Police Commissioner, and the response was great. We got a response today, which was fabulous. Those people are allowed to stay in their cars and drive past Syds place on Larapinta Drive, which is an amazing thing to happen. I understand he is looking forward to it. Despite the enormity of these changes to our lifestyle, the changes have been implemented quickly, efficiently and effectively. That is to the credit of the government. I do not want to overcook it of course; putting praise on the government, god forbid. You have done okay. Ms Fyles: Easy, tiger. Mrs LAMBLEY: There will be other comments, do not worry. Ms Fyles: I never fear. Mrs LAMBLEY: Good for you. One of the controversies last week, or the week before, was using the back section of the CAAAPU rehabilitation unit on Ragonesi Road in Alice Springsoriginally set up for Alcohol Mandatory Treatmentas a quarantine space for people with suspected and confirmed cases of Coronavirus. That created some controversy for a couple of days. Like the Howard Springs unit, word got out that it would be repurposed to quarantine people with COVID-19. That was probably not done perfectly. People in the neighbourhood got word that they were going to have a quarantine facility in close proximity to their homes, horses, kids and schools. There was a reaction. Once again, it was handled quite well. Chansey Paech, the local member, got onto it. I got onto it. People were given adequate information to realise that it would be okay. I do not know if it has been used at all. Has itthe back section at CAAAPU, I think it is called the Rossbeen used for the purpose it was set up for a few weeks ago? From the governments perspective, your feet have not touched the ground and people have been working overtime. The Minister for Health is on TV every night telling us all about what is happening and how it is happening and providing good, clear information about the changes. It has been quite a memorable period of our lives. In terms of the clarity, the legislation makes senseand how the charges for quarantine will be made. The sections pertaining to the initiative about the cough, spit or expectorate are also of value. I heard the President of the Northern Territory Police Association, Paul McCue, on radio yesterday afternoon saying that he and his members were very supportive of this being put in place. The police are one of the groups of workers that this pertains to. From the briefing yesterday, we were informed that it pertains to all workers, not just the police and emergency service providers. Why does it not pertain to everyone, not just workers? We all should be