To the people of Longman,
I know that life has changed for you over the past few weeks, just as it has changed for every Australian across our country.
As your Federal Member, I want to remind you and encourage you all to stay strong, stay safe and stay positive because we will get through this.
The most important thing to remember is to stay informed, both medically and financially. For health information please refer to health.gov.au and for financial matters please look at treasury.gov.au. Please always feel free to contact my office on 07 5432 3177 if you or a family member is struggling to understand the information, because the feedback we are getting is that there is a lot of confusion out there and a lot of people who now need government assistance, who have never needed it before.
I want to assure you that the Federal Government is working with the States in a tremendous bipartisan way to best serve all Australians and we will provide the majority of funding to get through this period.
On Monday, 23rd February 2020, I flew to Canberra so that we could pass the stimulus package to assist Australians financially at this testing time. There are people who are going to suffer more financially from this virus than others.
We actually have businesses like hardwares and nurseries who have seen an increase in business, as people prepare to do those jobs around the home they have been putting off, if they have to self-isolate.
Though on the other hand, we have people in hospitality, sporting clubs, retail and other industries that have had to cut back and close. These are the workers and businesses that need help and they will be helped through the Newstart allowance, plus coronavirus supplement and other government payments that are applicable to individual cases.
I also want to applaud Australian banks for assisting us. If you’ve lost work due to the coronavirus and have a mortgage, please contact your bank as many are offering to defer payments for six months.
I would like to encourage business owners to contact their accountants, as they would be able to give you advice on the best cause of action for your individual circumstance. If we all work together like this, we will ease the blow.
There are a lot of misconceptions and half-truths out there, so please contact my office for the facts. We also want to hear from any people that believe there is no assistance in their particular situation, so we can feed it back to the people in Canberra who are making the decisions. Please also make sure you look after yourselves and continue to listen to the government protocols including those about isolation, social distancing, washing your hands and maintaining personal hygiene.
Once again, if you are a Longman resident and unsure of anything, I want to help you so please contact my office on 07 5432 3177 or email us on Terry.Young.MP@aph.gov.au.
You can also sign up for my newsletter for any updates at https://www.terryyoung.com.au or keep an eye on my Facebook page (@TerryYoungMP).
Important numbers:
For the latest advice, information and resources, go to www.health.gov.au.
Call the National Coronavirus Help Line on 1800 020 080. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you require translating or interpreting services, call 131 450.
The phone number of your state or territory public health agency is available at www.health.gov.au/state-territory-contacts
If you have concerns about your health, speak to your doctor. Please call to book an appointment with your doctor, don't just walk into the clinic.
For more information on the ways in which the Government can support your businesses visit Business.gov.au.
All taxpayers affected by the Coronavirus outbreak can contact the ATO for assistance. Taxpayers can contact the ATO on 1800 806 218 or visit the ATO website at ato.gov.au for further information.
Morayfield Doctors Health Hub respiratory clinic – Please book online at https://www.healthhubdoctorsmorayfield.com.au or call on 07 5322 4901. You can’t just show up for a test or you will not be seen.