STRAIGHT SHOOTERS, ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND JABBING AWAY
I LIKE straight shooters and the state’s chief health officer has won the trust of so many Queenslanders for telling it like it is.
John Gerrard’s messaging is succinct and pragmatic. He confirms we are past the Omicron peak, that we are truly learning to live with Covid and that now is the time to start rebuilding our lives.
Of course, we must – and should – maintain social distancing and wear masks if the regulations require such measures. Similarly, our agedcare facilities deserve the highest protection.
As I have said throughout this pandemic, the best advice is to get vaccinated, and get a booster as soon as you can. The winter months will test our defences but as mayor, I am delighted with how Dr Gerrard has conducted himself since being appointed.
I recall some criticism when I publicly asked Dr Gerrard if it was a reasonable observation to compare the Omicron strain with the common flu.
In preparing my question, I outlined that Omicron was clearly more contagious than the flu, given the widespread infection rates sweeping Queensland at the time. My question was straightforward: Is Omicron more lethal than the flu?
Dr Gerrard publicly replied that the question was certainly valid. His over-arching message was there wasn’t enough comparative data at that stage to draw conclusions. He concluded by reminding us all we must continue to put in place measures to protect those at risk. I agreed and we have.
Soon after, I called on the state government to scrap the QR code check-in system given people were ignoring it and the state was no longer listing hotspots or undertaking contact tracing. That call went unanswered at state level until a fortnight ago, when the QR code check-in was largely scrapped across Queensland. Common sense does eventually find its place.
On every measure, we appear to be tracking out of this Covid pandemic and now, more than ever, is the time to get behind every one of our local businesses. Buy local, eat local, holiday locally and support local wherever you can. The council’s Buy Local procurement policy has been heavily revamped in recent years and we now inject about $750m annually into “mum ’n’ dad” businesses thanks to this refreshed policy.
From a state perspective, I support the aviation stimulus package and applaud the airport operators for putting their dollars on the line. I support a return to music events, sporting spectaculars and large-scale business-tobusiness conferences.
From a workplace perspective, we must stand united and follow Queensland health advice and that’s what we are doing within council. I often hear the voices of the prochoice/anti-vax brigade that claim their health choices are theirs and theirs alone. That’s true. But so are mine and I want to ensure those who have done the right thing and got the jab are afforded the same support as anyone else.
In my view, being triplevaccinated is the way forward and if the next round of booster jabs was required, I’d be the first to roll up my sleeve.
As this year gets into full swing, the best way we can help our economy bounce back and to see the Coast brimming with confidence again is to give our local businesses a hand up, not a handout.