Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

We heard today that 462 people have, sadly, lost their lives in aged-care facilities across this country due to COVID-19. That is an absolutely tragic number. It represents not just 462 lives but 462 families who right now are grieving and who right now are no doubt really, really distraught at the loss of their loved one, whether it be a family member or a friend. What we've seen here today—and not just today, but for this whole sitting fortnight—is, time and time again, the Labor Party really, I would say, besmirching the memory of these individuals and the families that are dealing with it by coming in here with cheap politics, coming in here with smear and coming in here to make a political point. Ultimately, as much as those on the other side hide behind their bravado and the loud noises that they like to make, they're really doing it at the expense of those 462 individuals, their families and their loved ones.

They come in here with their confected outrage, but really what they should be doing is coming in here and asking questions about what the situation actually is and how things might be improved. No-one on this side is saying that all is perfect. No-one on this side has said that it's all gone to plan. Of course there have been times throughout this pandemic where we've had to recognise and adapt to the necessary circumstances and changes to make sure that we're responsive and are implementing plans that are dealing with the pandemic. But this is a pandemic. These are unusual circumstances. These are unusual times. But the Labor Party doesn't want to acknowledge any of that.

And, as we heard from Senator Hughes before, the Labor Party aren't coming in here and mentioning at all the source of the pandemic and the crisis that is prevailing right now in Victoria. The fact is, because there was no effective control of the virus and of the people who were in quarantine in Victoria, we have had the outbreak that we've seen. It's the preparedness of the state government in Victoria that has caused this problem that we're now debating here today.

I reflect that in Western Australia, thankfully, we've actually managed quite well with the health crisis. Businesses are back open. Businesses and cafes are enjoying great trade. Holiday spots, north and south of Perth, have enjoyed a terrific winter season—thankfully. I was up there in Kalbarri and I got to see some magnificent new infrastructure that's been built by the parks and wildlife department. It's magnificent. But the reality is I'm concerned about whether or not we're actually fully prepared. Because what the WA government has done is put up this hard border and convinced the population that we're safe behind this hard border. And do you know what? The border does provide some protection. There is no doubt about that. But what happens when one of those 450 trucks that necessarily come across the border to bring food and produce and necessary supplies is driven by someone who has the virus, because they come from a virus hotspot? Or what happens if someone breaks out of a quarantine hotel, like we saw over the weekend in Perth? Someone broke out, went down to the pub and had a few drinks. They were from Queensland and they didn't come from a hotspot, but what if that person had actually come from an area where there was the virus and they themselves had the virus? Is WA prepared? Is WA actually ready? Have we got the testing capability? Have we got the capability to deal with it? I wonder whether we do.

What we need to see is a refocussing on our efforts to ensure that we are protecting our states. We didn't see that in Victoria. We didn't see a preparation. We didn't see a preparedness to take the tough decisions to ensure that we've got the capability across the systems to ensure that we lock up the virus where it breaks out. I want to encourage Premier Mark McGowan to look at the system and make sure that we're prepared. (Time expired)