2020-03-04
Greens spokesperson for Health and public health specialist Dr Richard Di Natale will quiz senior government officials on the Australian and international response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) response at Senate estimates this morning.
Dr Di Natale, who is a GP and Public Health specialist, has worked in infectious disease control and outbreak investigations.
Dr Di Natale will seek information from senior Department of Health executives and the Minister representing the Minister for Health on the health emergency. Senator Di Natale will interrogate the government’s response so far, the capacity of the Australian health system to appropriately manage a potential pandemic, cooperation between the states and territories, as well as the international coordination efforts.
“As a public health specialist with direct experience in managing infectious disease outbreaks, I will be quizzing the government on their response and on what the Australia public should expect next” Dr Di Natale said.
“In this unfolding situation, all response measures should be informed by expert advice, and the Australian public deserves to know the detail of our government’s response.
“It is absolutely essential that our health workers have access to the best possible protections and that there are robust plans in place to protect those most at risk, like older Australians.”
Senator Di Natale will question health officials on the Coronavirus response from 10am today (Wednesday 4 March).