New COVID support welcomed, now vaccinations must be expedited: ALGA

Joint Federal and NSW government financial
assistance for businesses and households impacted by the Greater Sydney
lockdowns has been welcomed by the Australian Local Government Association
(ALGA).

The $5.1 billion package includes payments
for businesses and households impacted by current lockdowns, and followed calls
for support from Local Government NSW, an ALGA member.

A Federal Government commitment to extend
the support package to any other state or territory that experiences an
extended lockdown has also been welcomed by ALGA.

ALGA President Linda Scott said she was
pleased the sector’s calls have been heeded.

“This latest COVID outbreak threatens the
locally-led economic recovery councils have provided for their communities
following a horrid 18 months of natural disasters.

“These efforts have not only expedited the
recovery process but helped create thousands of brand-new local jobs.”

Cr Scott said job-creation and economic
recovery efforts are being stymied by the slow pace of COVID vaccinations, and
she reiterated local government’s offer of using council-owned buildings like
town halls, childcare centres, health clinics, and libraries as mass vaccinations
hubs.

“Ramping up vaccinations to ensure
community coverage is the quickest way to circumvent the need for future
lockdown,” she said.

“Since the start of the pandemic, councils
have worked individually and with state and federal governments on a range of
COVID responses, and local government stands ready to assist in ramping up
vaccinations.”

She said other opportunities to expand
local government’s role in administering vaccines were being overlooked because
the sector has been excluded from National Cabinet.

“All three levels of government need to be
working together on lifting immunity rates so that economic recovery is not
further delayed by lockdowns.

“That means including local government in
the National Cabinet so that the views and experiences of local communities are
heard.”

“More Australians would already be
vaccinated if local government had a seat at the table of National Cabinet as
it did at COAG,” Cr Scott said.

ENDS