Information vacuum creates community anxiety

Tasmanian Labor
  • Tasmanians worried they don’t have enough information
  • No coordinated approach to event safety
  • No leadership from Liberals
  • The Liberals must do more to ensure Tasmanians have access to the best information to help them effectively respond to the threat of coronavirus.

    Shadow Minister for Health Sarah Lovell said there’s widespread confusion about whether activities should be cancelled or are safe to proceed.

    “On one hand we see community groups cancelling events such as the Estia Greek Festival, and on the other we have the organisers of Agfest saying the rural fair will absolutely proceed.

    “What’s common in all these cases is that community leaders don’t have clear advice from the government about whether it’s safe to hold large gatherings.

    “Tasmanians need to know what social distancing measures are appropriate as this rapidly evolving situation unfolds.

    “That means information flow to communities needs to keep pace with the changing advice from medical experts. That’s not what we’re seeing in Tasmania.”

    Ms Lovell said Labor offices have been inundated with calls from community members, who are either worried by or angry about the lack of clear guidance form the government.

    “At a time like this, government should be working closely with community leaders and making use of the connections they have to ensure the dissemination of good advice.

    “Instead, people are getting information from the internet or social media and using that to guide their decisions, but it’s difficult to be sure how much of that is credible information.

    “The things people are worried about are whether communities should prepare for school closures, whether they’ll be able to access medical care, and whether it’s safe to attend public events where many people are gathered.

    “All sides of politics in Tasmania should be coming together to deliver an effective response; Labor wants to work with the Liberals to keep to a minimum the impact of coronavirus on our state.

    “Sarah Courtney and Peter Gutwein must show leadership by taking up this offer of collaboration at a time when the community most needs reassurance and clear advice.”

    Sarah Lovell

    Shadow Minister for Health

    /Public Release. View in full here.