Hollie Hughes (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, I withdraw. Premier Andrews continues his grasping for emergency powers, as he claims that the state of emergency doesn't exist, due to his absolutely woeful incompetence. His management of the quarantine program led to the Victorian second wave—not that those opposite have acknowledged that these terrible and tragic deaths occurring in aged-care homes are because of the second wave. They are occurring in Victoria because of the actions of Premier Andrews and his incompetent cabinet, who are now, thanks to their incredibly poor legislative agenda at the beginning of this year, staring down the barrel of manslaughter charges for their incompetence. It's an extraordinary fact that those opposite have continually failed to acknowledge. You wouldn't know there was a state of Victoria. Luckily, a lot of these people in Victoria are locked away, unable to work, trying to stay safe and keep themselves away from the COVID spread as Premier Andrews gives himself more and more power, increases his reach into people's lives and ruins the Victorian economy—but let's not mention any of that.

It is a tragedy, but of course when COVID gets into the community it's going to get into our aged-care facilities. Of course we had planned for that, and Minister Colbeck had been working across the board to ensure those preparations and plans were in place. We have made sure there is a surge workforce available. Incredibly, many of the other state premiers suggested, volunteered and offered the assistance of workers from their states to go to Victoria—not that Premier Andrews could be trusted to acknowledge that, particularly after his disgraceful efforts in defaming the ADF and the offers that were made there. He seems to think that just because you say it on Zoom it doesn't count as misleading the parliament. But, anyway, that is Victoria.

Whilst these deaths are incredibly tragic, what is also incredibly tragic is the people who are dying alone. And they're not only dying alone in Victoria. People are dying alone across the country because of the actions of other Labor premiers who have implemented hard borders, keeping families and loved ones separated during a time when it is absolutely unnecessary. We have seen an unborn twin die because medical assistance was unable to be accessed. We are seeing a situation at the moment between Queensland and New South Wales that is absolutely tragic. We have boarders at schools who are supposed to be going home for school holidays, leaving areas in Queensland with no COVID and heading to their family properties 15, 20 or 50 kilometres south of the border as harvest kicks off. We've got the first good harvest in a number of years. As I'm sure Senator Davey will recognise here, farmers are finally looking like having a good year. But the kids aren't coming home to help drive the headers or muster the cattle, because if they do they won't be allowed back to school under the absolutely ridiculous and overzealous border closure which everybody can see is politically motivated for Premier Palaszczuk.

I wonder what's going to happen on 1 November. Are we going to get a change of heart from Premier Palaszczuk after the election? Let's hope it's former Premier Palaszczuk by November, for the sake of all Queenslanders.

We are seeing so many people being affected and yet those opposite don't acknowledge what Premier Andrews has done. They don't acknowledge the hard borders and the hardship being created for families on the border thanks to Premier Palaszczuk. We certainly don't hear any acknowledgement of Premier McGowan putting electronic trackers on the ankles of those in quarantine. It is an extraordinary breach of people's human rights, but those opposite, who decry all of these things— (Time expired)