The Federal MP for Maribyrnong has called for all residents to be removed from the Essendon home, which is in his electorate, regardless of whether they tested positive or negative.
“I’m shocked and really horrified to discover that between 26 and 31 cases of COVID-19 have been detected... at this facility,” he said standing outside the home.
“I think the facility needs to evacuate everyone. There’s been 13 or 14 residents who have tested positive out of 35 residents.”
“I understand that many staff have tested positive. I think this facility just needs to evacuate because we saw what happened at Newmarch in Sydney and I’m worried that we could see more people die here, perhaps because we haven’t acted when we can now.”
Mr Shorten added that all options were on the table regarding the home and the priority was to ensure the residents were safe.
“The nurses, the medical staff, the government authorities are doing everything that they can. I just think in this case – let’s learn the lessons of northern Italy, let’s learn the lessons of New York, let’s learn the lessons of Newmarch,” he said.
“Let’s just evacuate the facility, the numbers are not that big and we can make sure everyone is safe.”
“If we can stop people dying, that’s our obligation.”
Does the Government see it that way if it comes at the cost of Australia’s economic recovery however?
See this story.
