Call for change to wood collection
A local politician is calling for firewood collection areas and limits to be reviewed in the face of the COVID19 pandemic.
Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath called on the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio to review and loosen firewood restrictions on behalf of Gippslanders.
“Many Gippsland households are dependent on wood heating and with so many people at home due to COVID19, far more firewood than usual will be needed to keep families warm this season,” said Ms Bath.
“With people’s movement’s restricted and majority of Victorians working and learning home, we need improved access to firewood to allow homes to be heated far more than usual.”
Under COVID-19 stage three restrictions, firewood can continue to be collected for home use.
Ms Bath said firewood was an essential for many households and it was legal to collect it from designated collection areas in state forests during specified times of the year.
“For many rural households, wood heating is their only form of home heating, while others are unable to afford the luxury of electricity or gas to warm their homes during the colder months,” said Ms Bath. “Due to the current circumstances, Minister D’Ambrosio must increase the number of designated firewood collection areas, increase the allowable limits and extend the collection season this year so people can keep warm as they are confined to their homes.”
Ms Bath said the designated firewood collection areas in
Gippsland continues to be an ongoing issue causing great frustration and angst, particularly with elderly constituents.
The Australian Government is urging Australians with chronic health conditions not to neglect their regular health care, but continue to consult with their doctors in order to best manage their condition.
The Government has expanded Medicaresubsidised telehealth services for all Australians and is providing extra incentives to general practitioners to support continued access to essential primary health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said it was vitally important regular health care checks continued.
‘If you have a regular follow up appointment booked with your doctor, please contact your medical practice to see if this can be carried out using a telehealth consultation, (by telephone, or video call), or if you need to see your doctor for a face-to-face consultation,’ Minister Hunt said.
‘If you are taking regular medication for management of a chronic condition, it is essential that you continue to take your medication. If you run out of medication, please contact your doctor or your local pharmacy to arrange a repeat prescription.
‘To further stop the spread of COVID-19 Australians can now have their PBS medicines delivered to their home from their community pharmacy of their choice through the Australian Government “COVID-19 Home Medicines Service”. There is no additional cost to have their medicines delivered to their home.’
Member for Monash Russell Broadbent
“Following the East Gippsland bushfires, the allocation this year has been labelled as unreasonable. Much of the available wood is green, while many collections areas are only accessible by fourwheel drive,” said Ms Bath. encouraged everyone in Monash to consider getting their flu vaccine over the coming weeks to protect them against the flu.
‘April and May is the best time to get a flu vaccine and people should contact their doctor or community pharmacy to book an appointment,’ Mr Broadbent said.
‘Many Australians including all Australians over 65 years of age, and children under the age of five, are eligible for a free flu vaccine through the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
‘If you have regular blood tests as part of the management of your chronic health condition, please continue to have your blood tests done at your local general practice or local pathology collection centre.
‘Whether in person, or through the expanded telehealth network, it’s critical that people continue to manage their general health throughout the COVID-19 health emergency. Your GP is there to help you follow your treatment plan and improve your health.’
Chronic conditions include arthritis, asthma, back pain, cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and mental health conditions. These are leading causes of illness, disability and death in Australia.
It is essential you continue to have screenings for important conditions, such as bowel cancer. We don’t want people to develop cancers which could have been easily treated if picked up early” Mr Broadbent said.