Wednesday 24 June 2020
O’Brien calls for ADF support to avoid a second wave
Liberal Leader Michael O’Brien has called on the Victorian Government to immediately request the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) support to secure quarantine hotels and roll out further COVID-19 testing.
Victoria has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases in recent days, including the development of clusters around hotels used to quarantine returned travellers. Victorian quarantine hotels are currently supervised by private security, some of whom have contracted COVID-19 and spread it in the community.
Too many Victorians who are seeking testing are being turned away or told to wait an unacceptably long time.
The response of the Victorian Government has been inadequate, putting public health at risk.
That is why I am calling for the support of the ADF to help Victoria avoid a second wave of Coronavirus.
Comments attributable to Leader of the Opposition, Michael O’Brien:
“I’m calling for the Victorian Government to bring in the Australian Defence Force to assist Victoria’s response to COVID-19.
“Let’s have the ADF assist with rolling out new testing centres and extending their hours – so we can avoid four hour waits.
“Let’s have the ADF secure our quarantine hotels – as they are already doing in NSW – instead of poorly trained private security who have caught and spread COVID-19.
“It is time for Daniel Andrews to admit that Victoria has a problem and we need help.
“The ADF helped Victoria during this summer’s bushfires – let them help us again.”
