HANSARD TRANSCRIPT – MEMBERS STATEMENT

Mr BARTON (Eastern Metropolitan) (10:00): I rise today to send good luck and best wishes to the many people in the hospitality businesses across my Eastern Metropolitan electorate and indeed the state who have been able to reopen their doors this week as restrictions ease. I have been proud to see my Eastern Metro community pull together during these times. Our local councils of Nillumbik, Banyule, Manningham, Boroondara, Whitehorse, Monash, Maroondah, Knox and the Yarra Ranges have all lead by example, and although they face many challenges of their own, they have used their resources to assist and promote local businesses, community groups and individuals and families in need.

COVID-19 has not gone—it may never be—but our health system now is ready and can cope, and I hope in the coming months we can all look back and say that this was worth it. We should all be very proud of what has been achieved. I say to all that we need to support each other, buy local, support our business owners and their staff, and consider who benefits when you buy online—a struggling local business or an offshore provider. We need each other, so support your community, stay safe, stay local.