Statement from Tanya Plibersek and Catherine King on Ebola today: Labor is gravely concerned the Abbott Government is refusing to do more to fight the rapidly escalating Ebola crisis, despite pleas for help from around the world. From the United Nations to the Australian Medical Association, there are urgent calls to send medical staff and support teams to assist manage the outbreak in West Africa. We back those calls. Today, Labor will write to the Abbott Government requesting immediate arrangements be made to: · deploy Australian Medical Assistance Teams (AUSMAT) or similar to West Africa; and · support other specialist Australian personnel (such as doctors and nurses) who are willing and able to assist prevent the spread of Ebola in West Africa. Labor has supported the Abbott Government’s $18 million contribution to relief efforts, but money alone is not enough. Experts are saying very clearly that experienced personnel are needed on the ground too. Such support would be broadly consistent with what is already being provided by the United States, the United Kingdom, and others. If required, the Australian Government should negotiate with our international partner countries to ensure appropriate standby and evacuation management arrangements for any Australian personnel. Ebola has killed more than 4,000 people and infected around 10,000 people in West Africa. If we don’t do more, some predictions suggest the number of Ebola cases could reach 1.4 million by 2015. The Ebola crisis is no longer just a humanitarian crisis for West Africa – it now poses a direct threat to world economic growth and if not contained, will spread to other countries. As Labor has been saying for weeks now - the Abbott Government cannot afford to keep standing by. Failure to act now will have serious consequences. As recent Ebola cases in the US and Spain show, even countries with the most highly developed health and border protection systems are no longer immune. If the international community pulls together, the Ebola outbreak may be possible to contain. But the window of opportunity is closing fast. That’s why Australia must significantly increase its efforts, immediately.
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 21:52:40 +0000