Cessnock MP Clayton Barr is calling on his constituents to “do the hard yards, suck it up and help each other” as the region faces further time in lockdown.
The NSW Government this week extended the state-wide “stay at home” orders until Sunday 28 August, even though the LGA has only registered one positive COVID-19 case in 2021.
It’s a similar situation at Singleton, with a solitary infection this year, and Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter, who are yet to record any occurrences of coronavirus.
Despite those figures, Mr Barr fully supports the restrictions, especially if it means keeping locals safe and sound.
“I understand some people are asking why, but many, many people move into/out of our LGA,” he said.
“To the east, we have Newcastle/Lake Macquarie LGAs – big employers, however not everyone lives there.
“To the west, we have mining industries; more big employers, which see thousands of workers venture to the area.
“NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard, chief medical officer Dr Kerry Chant and her team, and the rest of the state government cabinet are making important decisions each day, based on the best advice that they have.
“Things can move very, very quickly, as they did in the 24 hours leading up to the Hunter lockdown [last weekend].
“Anyone who has played plenty of sport realises that you make the best decision that you can, in that instant.
“You can’t second guess – you just have to go for it.
“It’s not always perfect and hindsight has won plenty of grand finals in the minds of those who lost on the day.
“Brad [Hazzard] has my full support.
“Hopefully, we can control the spread of COVID-19 with the outstanding support of our communities.”
Surprisingly, Cessnock residents and businesses have copped the recent restrictions on the chin, according to Mr Barr.
“As an MP, I represent and serve about 75,000 people,” he said.
“To be honest, I’ve had concerns raised by about 20 of them.
“The big chunk of these is from small businesses that are just trying to survive.
“I 100% hear them, have concerns for them and have tried to assist them.
“It must be bloody tough.
“Then there is a very small number, less than a handful, who are trying to tell me that COVID doesn’t exist and that the lockdowns are an imposition on their ‘rights’.
“If the science and global experience hasn’t convinced these people that what we are dealing with is real, then nothing I could say will convince them.
“Interestingly, they tell me they will never vote for me in the future – I guess honesty doesn’t pay if you’re a politician.
“By comparison, I have 50 times the number of community members raising concerns with me about the dingbats from other hard lockdown areas of Sydney who are still travelling into our LGAs and putting us all at risk.”
Mr Barr said there were measures in place for those who were under pressure.
“MP’s offices are all dealing with people who are really, really struggling at the moment,” he told the Newcastle Weekly.
“Money is a problem for many.
“The future looks bleak; loneliness is a dark cloud.
“I have not experienced a more difficult time, with my staff, to be the voice on the end of the phone for people.
“There are some supports available for workers affected, those who are renting that are affected, (some) businesses that are affected.
“However, everyone is having trouble getting this assistance to turn up in their bank accounts.
“We, as a collective of politicians, have to do better and make these systems work.
“Some people out there simply need a phone call from a friend, a neighbour or a family member to say hello and have a chat.
“There are numerous fantastic charities dealing with issues around getting food into homes, meals to put on the table and urgent household supplies.
“Bravo to each of them.
“Our domestic violence charities are working overtime, sadly, with the stress of COVID-19 making things on the homefront difficult.
“Our mental health support services; be they charities, churches or funded health services are being flooded for assistance.
“Right now, many, many, many people are doing it tough, including MPs and their teams.
“We really need to support each other, have enormous compassion, empathy and understanding, and we will get through this.
“I am too young to remember any of the war periods for our nation, but this pain might just be something comparable.”
Even though it seems all “doom and gloom”, Mr Barr is confident we’ll get through – together.
“We in the Hunter are a wonderful, beautiful and caring people,” he said.
“In the years ahead, these weeks right now will be a blip in our memories, simply because we all did the right thing.
“We all chipped in for the greater good.
“We put aside our selfishness and we helped our humankind.
“The 10% of people who are looking, right now, to assert their ‘rights’ to free choice (ie: have concerns about the existence of COVID-19 or concerns about getting vaccinated) just need to park that thought while we are in the middle of this crisis and let’s all have that debate another day, when we all know we are safe.
“There are many, many things that we do that are for the broader good.
“Vaccines got rid of polio, seatbelts save lives, WHS in the workplace prevents injury and disease and our wonderful police and law and regulations (some will call red tape) make sure that we all get a fair crack at being safe and prosperous.
“If you drive a car, you have more to fear than anyone who gets vaccinated.”
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