Leadership lacking at crisis time

THERE are some serious communication issues right now as the threat of coronavirus escalates in Townsville and Australia.

This is a time when the free flow of information is critical. People need to feel they are being kept up to date so they can make informed decisions.

It is one of the most fundamental principles of crisis management.

The only way Townsville found out about Andre Reynaud was through a social media post by a dance school.

Credit to Ann Roberts School of Dance for letting their pupils and the public know. But why was it left to them? Where was Queensland Health?

Mr Reynaud flew to New Zealand, causing “significant complications” as Queensland Health now puts it.

Why weren’t those complications outlined earlier?

It’s a serious question. People need and want to know so they can make a decision.

When rumours begin to swirl, that’s when panic understandably sets in.

Already there has been panic buying in Townsville and around the country.

As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, getting accurate and timely information to the public is critical to preventing undue alarm.

The second case that’s been confirmed in North Queensland was confirmed by a mining company, again not Queensland Health.

Unfortunately the Townsville Hospital and Health Service is being told to redirect queries to Brisbane.

Clearly Queensland Health is under pressure dealing with a million things at one time.

So would it not make sense to allow the Townsville Hospital and Health

Service to speak on this subject to help inform the public.

One would hope they would have direct first-hand information on what’s going on locally.

So let them inform the public. What our community needs is leadership from local health professionals as the virus spreads to this region.