Labor's health spokesman and Illawarra MP Ryan Park has hit out at the way the NSW Government has handled the latest COVID-19 restrictions, saying he was baffled about the way they have been applied and communicated in the Illawarra.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Park said it was vital for the government to issue "clear and concise" information as case numbers in the state rise once again and said this had not occurred since the new restrictions - which limit household gatherings to 10 people and reintroduce the four square metre rule in some parts of the state - were brought in.
"But I'm very frustrated that in a pandemic, people rely on clear and concise and consistent information and we're just not getting it here," he said.
"What concerns me most is that people who want to do the right thing to protect their community are getting very confusing and inconsistent messages from the actual government and different arms of government."
Making the announcement about the rules on Sunday, Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Health Minister Brad Hazzard said they would apply to "Greater Sydney", and early media alerts about this roll-out also only mentioned Sydney.
Separately, people in the Greater Sydney area and the Central Coast, Illawarra-Shoalhaven, and Nepean Blue Mountains were asked not to visit aged care facilities unless it was critical.
Three hours later, however, the Premier and government ministers used social media channels to say residents in the Central Coast, Illawarra-Shoalhaven, and Nepean Blue Mountains would be subject to the restrictions.
But by Monday morning, the government information had changed again.
NSW Health issued a definitive list of the Local Government Areas - not regions - affected by the rules, and despite being part of the Illawarra/Shoalhaven - Shellharbour, Kiama and the Shoalhaven were not on it.
That means residents in these areas are still able to host up to 50 people in their homes, and venues do not have to reintroduce the four square metre rule. Indoor singing and chanting is also still allowed.
Of the region's council areas, only Wollongong - which is often classed as a metropolitan LGA - appears on the restricted list.
Confusingly, the Newcastle LGA - which is also classed as metro and is roughly the same distance from the Northern Beaches as Wollongong - is not being restricted at this time.
Mr Park said he was happy to rely on information from health experts regarding the inclusion and exclusion of certain areas, but
"They have made a decision that given our proximity to Sydney, our closeness and the way that people move in and out of the city that we're included," he said.
"It doesn't make sense to me that the Hunter and Newcastle is not included but Wollongong is, given the proximity to the hotspot of the Northern Beaches. And it's confusing that there's this separation between Shellharbour and Wollongong which is literally separated by a bridge or a rivulet."
Asked about the confusion over the Illawarra and Shoalhaven at the morning press conference, the state's Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant didn't issue any clarification of which areas where affected, but said areas with a large population base had been included.
"The restrictions are in place for the greater metropolitan Sydney, and I think everyone would realise the connectivity of Wollongong and Central Coast and Nepean Blue Mountains," Dr Chant said.
"It is where the vast majority of community live and where we have the most dense populations and the larger venues, so those capacity caps.
"The purpose of those restrictions are to decrease the risk of a seeding event, so if someone in those premises is doing what we're asking people do do, they're wearing a mask, it's more not packed, they're not moving around in those venues, they're not dancing and singing...
"My concern is around loud noise, talking loudly or singing. We know the most you have to shout or talk or raise your voice, it just increases the amount of aerosols in that room... it just poses a greater COVID risk."
With the state thrown into chaos a couple of days out from Christmas, Mr Park said the government needed to make it's future announcements about restrictions based on Local Government Areas, and provide people with an understanding of why certain areas were included or not.
He has also called for the state to mandate mask use in shopping centres, public transport and churches.
Mr Park said he was devastated for his constituents and businesses in Wollongong who were facing a restricted Christmas.
"I really feel for people, because I know the community I represent were looking forward to having their family and loved ones visit them for Christmas time," he said.
"It was a way for them to finish off what's been a very challenging year. I feel enormous stress for businesses, especially small businesses who have ordered stock and produce, or put on extra staff - these things can't just be open and shut.
"I'm hoping if we can get through the next 48 hours or so we will be able to open up again to the same level. All of our community deserve a better Christmas than what we're going to get as a result of this pandemic spiking again."
Our COVID-19 news articles relating to public health and safety are free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.
Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
