Fairness And Common Sense Needed Around Safe Essential Services
There needs to be more fairness and common sense applied to determining what essential services can safely open, National’s Economic Development and Small Business spokesperson Todd McClay says.
“Nearly a week into the lockdown there continues to be uncertainty about what is and is not considered a safe essential service. It’s important that the public receives clarification quickly.
“National MPs have continued to be
contacted by people concerned about not being able to shop
at their local butcher or fruit and vegetable
store.
“I am also very concerned at the closure
of all community and weekly newspapers in New Zealand and
have called on the Government to reconsider this
immediately. Community news outlets deliver 1.3 million
papers free of charge each week and for many vulnerable
people this is their only source of news. Community papers
are an important platform to keep people informed during
Covid-19.
“It doesn’t make sense that
cigarette manufacturers are being considered essential
services but independent grocers and community newspapers
are not.
“As the Government looks at allowing
halal butchers to reopen, I urge them to go further and
revisit the limited opening of local butchers and
greengrocers, particularly in smaller communities that might
not have access to supermarkets.
“Where a local
butcher, fruit and vege shops or community newspapers can
show that they are able to follow the Covid-19 social
distancing and health and safety protocols safely, including
the delivery of newspapers, the Government should allow them
to open to the
public.”