CHRIS BOWEN MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH
MEMBER FOR MCMAHON
ANDREW GILES MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CITIES AND URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE
SHADOW MINISTER ASSISTING FOR IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP
MEMBER FOR SCULLIN
The Morrison Government must make information about COVID-19 available in more languages so that multicultural communities across Australia have access to the latest information on the virus.
Currently, information on health.gov.au on the coronavirus is only available in Chinese, Farsi, Italian and Korean.
The translation of this vital public health information to other languages needs to be extended, immediately.
Labor has written to the Minister for Health, Greg Hunt expressing our deep concern that information about the virus is not being made readily available for Australia’s multicultural communities, particularly older people from migrant communities, who are most at risk.
According to the 2016 census: 37 percent of Australians over 65 years old were born overseas, and 6 percent either spoke English poorly or did not speak English at all.
This is urgent. We need important public health information getting to multicultural communities, in their relevant language.
In addition to important health information, the campaign should include assurances to people that Australia’s supply of food, groceries and other essentials is secure.
Labor will continue to provide bipartisan support for the handling of COVID-19 wherever possible. We stand ready to assist in making sure our multicultural communities have access to the latest information on COVID-19.