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Where are the vaccines, Gladys?

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Each and every day, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian urges people throughout the state to “get vaccinated”.

But, that’s easier said than done, according to Singleton Council and Singleton Business Chamber.

Both organisations feel Upper Hunter residents have been short-changed in their collective quest to do the “right thing”.

And, it’s a major source of irritation for mayor Sue Moore, especially after the government recently extended its stay-at-home orders until 10 September.

“With the continuation of lockdowns deepening the impacts on our local businesses, mental health and social wellbeing, the Premier has repeatedly advised that the only way out is for people to be vaccinated,” she said.

“However, that can be more difficult than it sounds when there appears to be a shortage of supplies.

“I share the angst and frustration of those in our community that there are limited options for residents to do ‘their bit’ for their own health and safety, the protection of their loved ones, and the good of the state.”

It’s come to light recently that several LGA leaders have struggled to receive answers from Ms Berejiklian.

And, Cr Moore admitted she was equally vexed there was no direct action she could take, in her role of mayor, to solve the situation.

“The provision of vaccines across our medical clinics and chemists, and the establishment of vaccine hubs, rests entirely with the other levels of government, who are at the centre of the call encouraging a speedy and mass take-up of vaccinations,” she said.

“In a continuation of the advocacy work I have led in this past term of council, I assure locals that I am pursuing the NSW Government in every way possible for more action to protect the people of Singleton by providing vaccination pop-up sites in our LGA.

“Hopefully, I’ll gain a response sooner than later.

“I also support any effort in our community to advocate for more options for people to be vaccinated, including the work of the Singleton Business Chamber, which extends to conversations with the mining industry.

“In addition, council continues to actively reach out to our local medical practitioners to see if or how we can support them and their abilities to expand the availability of vaccines and vaccination appointments in our area.

“Our community has endured every possible challenge in recent years, not least the series of lockdowns, fear and uncertainty that we continue to endure as part of the Delta outbreak in NSW, and the Hunter region.

“I am immensely proud of how we have come together to follow the directions and advice of the NSW Government and health authorities to keep each other safe, and to try to stamp out this virus and restore our way of life.

“I repeat the calls from our community for the NSW Government to help us now by taking more action so that we can be part of the solution, and to get those who can and wish to be vaccinated as soon as possible.”

Singleton Business Chamber president Sue Gilroy.

Singleton Business Chamber president Sue Gilroy expressed her disappointment, too.

“If lockdowns continue, alongside the lack of vaccines, we will not see our regions re-open in the same way they did in 2020,” she said.

“This year there will be many more business casualties.

“This is the honest reality we face.

“I’m regularly speaking with local business owners and hearing their harrowing stories of struggle.

“Upsettingly, one is now suicidal due to the current crisis.

“With diminished financial support, and flexibility for who can claim it, we are very sadly going to see a possible escalation of business owners in similar circumstances in the coming weeks.

“We need to take a look at how advanced our regional offerings are and ask ourselves what this will look like if our small, medium enterprises, plus some big businesses, are forced to close permanently.”

Ms Gilroy said she was pleased to hear Deputy Premier John Barilaro was considering options to ease restrictions where there were no active cases or exposure sites in regional areas.

“I hope this is a reality and happens before it is too late,” she stated.

“But, I do strongly disagree with him when he says that the regions are not committing themselves to the vaccine uptake.

“There is so much difficulty in getting vaccinated in the Upper Hunter.

“Residents are looking for somewhere to go – and are still not able to achieve a decent timeframe for receiving the jab.

“Not only is travelling in and out of LGAs a risk of the virus spreading, however it is totally inefficient.

“Where is our Upper Hunter max vaccination hub?

“Our GPs are quite literally defeated and on their knees.

“How can you lock regions down with no reasonable timeframes around vaccinations and re-opening?

“Our communities are desperate to do the right thing but are faced with challenge after challenge.

“Now, the lockdown and subsequent financial woes are about to have us at breaking point.

“We need a much greater and immediate response from our region’s representative, Deputy Premier John Barilaro, in solving these issues.”

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