Lockdown might have brought ordinary life to a halt, but our political representatives from every party – both government and opposition – are working hard to look after the people of Canberra during this difficult time, while also facing the same personal stresses – from the loneliness of isolation to home schooling. In the fourth of a series, we talk to the ACT Greens MLAs.
Shane Rattenbury is Member for Kurrajong, and Leader of the ACT Greens, Attorney-General, and Minister for Consumer Affairs, for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction, and for Gaming.
Whether it is people who have lost hours at their job, public housing tenants, or the homeless, the government’s focus has been on ensuring the most vulnerable members of our community are supported during this pandemic. For me as Attorney-General, that is ensuring that we have supports in place for renters and landlords in the ACT, whether you are renting a business or a home. That is why we have placed a moratorium on evictions for rent arrears for tenants who are in financial distress due to the lockdown, while offering rates and tax credits to landlords and home-owners who reduce rent for impacted tenants.
Running is an important way for me to stay fit, but it is also good for my mental wellbeing, so I have enjoyed my exercise and recreation time each day. Getting out for a run on the trails of Mount Majura or Mount Ainslie most mornings before work gives me plenty of time to think about my work day ahead while enjoying the birds, wildflowers, and sunrise. Like so many things, the trail running events I love to go to have been cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic, but I am looking forward to them coming back next year.
This lockdown will linger long in the memory for Canberrans, but it will always have an important memory for me as I celebrated my 50th birthday at home. My colleagues had a delicious cake delivered to the door which I cut and ate during an online team meeting, and I received calls from family and friends throughout the day, so despite the restrictions, it was a unique and enjoyable way to celebrate the milestone.
Andrew Braddock is Member for Yerrabi, and Greens spokesperson for Better Neighbourhoods, for Multicultural Affairs, for Democracy, Integrity and Community Engagement, and for Police and Emergency Services, Corrections and Workplace Safety, and Industrial Relations.
During lockdown, my office team and I have moved everything online. Last Sunday, we hosted a ‘Creating a Diverse Democracy’ event aimed at bringing multicultural voices and perspectives into local government. I also have had virtual drop-in sessions, coffee catch-ups, office dance-offs, and much more. But I miss meeting people in person, which is the best part of the job.
I want to give a shout out to all the carers in Canberra doing it tough during lockdown. As a result of the lockdown, my family lost our fabulous team of support workers just when we started home schooling our twin seven-year-olds, one with additional needs. Needless to say, it did not go very well, so as essential workers, we were able to return the kids to school, and everyone is happier for a return to that routine.
I try to walk our dogs (Oscar and Tank) every day, so as to keep the lockdown kilos at bay. Those dogs are the true winners of lockdown, and have never been happier.
My key message to everyone in the community is: be kind. We are all going through a difficult and stressful time, and now more than ever, need to cut ourselves and those around us some slack. Do something nice, and we will get through this together.
Jo Clay is Member for Ginninderra, and Greens spokesperson for Women, for Transport, for Active Travel and Road Safety, for Parks and Conservation, for Animal Welfare, for Arts and Culture, for and the Circular Economy.
I chair the Planning Committee and sit on other committees that scrutinise government work which we are doing remotely during lockdown. My staff and I also continue to work on policy and constituent matters.
I miss chatting to the community at stalls, events, and my weekly coffee club. But I’m doing online events and lots of email! I’m focussed on artists, environmental groups, and community projects (like the landcare groups in Lawson and Emu Bank). Nevertheless, during this lockdown, I’ve managed to run roundtables on food and organics recycling, and climate action in the wake of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. I also started a monthly Zoom called “My Culture, My Canberra” to showcase and connect Canberra’s incredible multicultural communities.
Homeschooling is a challenge. I’ve discovered that it’s hard to teach a child to type when she’s still learning to read! I’m in awe of our Macquarie Primary teachers who do this every day, and I can’t wait for school to return.
Before I was elected, I ran a climate change project. I’ve started writing a book about that and what I’ve learned since. The last two years have been intense for many of us. Lockdown is a great time to process it.
The births, deaths, and disasters of life have taught me a few skills. I know I can cope with anything so long as each day, I do one thing that I love. Outdoor exercise is really good for me. I’m really glad I can do workouts in our parks, cycle, and paddle on the lake.
Emma Davidson is Member for Murrumbidgee, and Minister for Disability, for Justice Health, and for Mental Health, and Assistant Minister for Families and Community Services.
A big thank you to the Canberra community for stepping up and following health directions during this lockdown! So many people have been doing the right thing, even though it is incredibly challenging. I want to reassure you that there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes in Government to make sure Canberrans are supported throughout this lockdown.
In my Ministerial roles, I have been busy standing up food relief, overseeing vaccine rollout in the AMC, funding mental health and community services to meet a rise in demand, and supporting people with disability and the sector as cases were confirmed. I am also working with the sector, directorates, and colleagues to provide not just immediate relief for Canberrans, but also in the long term beyond lockdown.
To help Canberrans find information relevant to them, I have been making social media videos on mental health support and answering questions commonly asked by people with disability. There are a lot of really incredible community support services in the ACT, so I hope to highlight the great resources and help out there for Canberrans.
On a more personal side, I’m happy to do my part for the community by receiving my second vaccination early into lockdown.
I would like to encourage everyone to take the time to be kind to yourselves. It is common to feel stressed, anxious, isolated, and lonely during this time. It’s really important to figure out what you can do to take care of your wellbeing. For me, roller-skating or walking Chase, my bulldog, is a relief from everything going on – a time to clear my head which also makes me feel re-energised. Baking desserts also helps with this, too, and, as a bonus, keeps my family happy! I hope you have or can find something that makes you happy and helps relieve stress.
Johnathan Davis is Member for Brindabella, and Greens spokesperson for Education, for Health, for Drug Harm Minimisation, for Business, for Night Time Economy, for LGBTIQA+ Affairs, for Sport and Recreation, for Tourism and Events, and for Young People.
Being an extrovert is a huge benefit in my job as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, but it’s a huge detriment when living alone in a small apartment under lockdown. I’ve survived so far by pestering all my friends and family to be virtually social with me. Think Gogglebox via Zoom.
One thing I have really missed is the connection to my community. I would normally be at my Electorate Office each Friday morning, connecting with constituents about all manner of issues. Instead, I’m trying hard to be ever present and available on social media, as well as redirecting the office phone to my mobile to take calls from people myself.
I’ve been trying to help out my community in Covid-safe ways. I’ve volunteered with a local small business to help deliver their online orders, and I’ve made a few trips around Tuggeranong to refresh community pantries. Additionally, I hosted a couple of watch parties for members of the LGBTIQA+ community. This started as a one-off event for ‘Wear It Purple’ Day, but we received such a warm reception that I hosted a second event the following Friday.
I encourage everyone to keep connected. Stay in touch with your loved ones, your chosen family, or your valued community group. I’ve really enjoyed seeing the variety of online workshops, music classes, and other social events as I scroll through my Facebook feed – I hope these will see us through until we can be back with each other in person again.
Rebecca Vassarotti
Rebecca Vassarotti is Member for Kurrajong, and Minister for the Environment, for Heritage, for Homelessness and Housing Services, and for Sustainable Building and Construction.
Lockdown has been tough for everyone in Canberra, but especially for those who have been unwell or isolated from their usual support networks. My family was one of thousands forced into quarantine after my kids’ school was classified as a close contact site. Quarantining went smoothly for us, but it is hard not to even be able to go for walks or grocery runs. We are super lucky to have a backyard, and we kept ourselves entertained at home by dancing, karaoke, and virtual Zoom catchups with friends.
While we now engage virtually, work has been incredibly busy as I meet daily with my Ministerial colleagues to make decisions to navigate the challenging circumstances our city finds itself in, and to keep Canberrans safe and well. From the beginning of this outbreak, I have worked with Government officials and community partners to ensure that people experiencing homelessness are connected to services and are able to access accommodation. I have worked with the Construction industry to ensure they can return to work safely, but also to hear from them about the challenges they face during the lockdown. I have worked with colleagues in health and community sector partner organisations to ensure that people who became close contacts or are impacted by COVID-19 in Condamine Court and Ainslie Village are supported as they go through a really difficult quarantine situation.
In the quieter moments, I have really enjoyed having two hours of exercise, but probably not as much as our spoodle Xena. Living in Dickson brings its fair share of beautiful nature to enjoy during our two hours of outdoor recreation time, with the Dickson wetlands, beautiful Mount Ainslie, and Mount Majura that frames us. I can’t wait for the day until we can all safely meet together face-to-face, because the thing I miss the most is my community, and I can’t wait to enjoy life with them soon!
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