Tate Papworth
Brimbank council has called for “unprecedented support” from the state government to help the municipality through its “bushfire moment”.
The council has again called for the establishment of a rapid response team and joint government and council taskforce to respond to the growing health, safety, wellbeing and economic impacts of the ongoing pandemic.
Mayor Georgina Papafotiou said the current situation was concerning.
“The numbers of coronavirus cases is incredibly concerning. Brimbank continues to be one of the municipalities at the epi-centre of Victoria and Australia’s COVID-19 pandemic crisis,” she said.
Cr Papafotiou said the council was continuing to work with the Department of Health and Human Services, but despite the best efforts of council, community leaders, the majority of residents and the state government, many people were still not staying home, not adhering to social distancing restrictions, and not wearing face masks.
She said the current approach needed to be elevated and bolstered.
“This is well and truly Brimbank’s bushfire moment, and now with the impact of stage 4 restrictions we need unprecedented support from government to help us combat and suppress the spread, keep people home, save lives, and help our community through the economic consequences of the pandemic,’ Cr Papafotiou said.
Brimbank has experienced some of the most significant COVID-19 clusters including in the aged care and meatworks sectors.
“What is happening across Brimbank is absolutely tragic. The fact is the virus is now spreading through working-class, blue-collar, migrant, culturally diverse and vulnerable communities in a way that is unsustainable, unfair, and unacceptable” Cr Papafotiou said.
“We now have some of our most vulnerable, frail and elderly residents in highly dangerous and precarious situations. Council’s thoughts and prayers are with residents and their families during this highly distressing time.”
Cr Papafotiou said the economic impact of the pandemic would be felt for a long time in Brimbank.
“Brimbank’s highly exposed businesses, industries and workforces, high unemployment, youth unemployment, lower than average educational outcomes, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, poorer rates of health outcomes, and vulnerable cohorts are each now sadly contributing to the fanning of the COVID-19 flame.
“As far as council is concerned, now is the time for the federal government and state government to partner with council to help us fight this before it is too late.”
