CHRIS BOWEN, SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH:Well thanks for coming this morning. I'm pleased to be joined by my friend and colleague Dr. Mike Freelander here in Liverpool. A couple of issues I'll deal with before taking any questions.

Firstly obviously coronavirus. The Opposition regards it as a sensible precaution to quarantine those who were evacuated out of Wuhan and accepts as sensible the Government's proposal to do that at Christmas Island.

There'll be significant issues to work through not least of which are with the Christmas Island community. I've been speaking with the local member covering Christmas Island Warren Snowdon last night and this morning and he I know has been talking to the Government directly as well. This is a fast moving situation. While it is not clear there can be human to human transmission of the coronavirus before somebody is symptomatic, if there is any doubt that that's the case it is sensible to quarantine the people who are being evacuated from harm. We welcome the fact that that evacuation is getting closer. As I said a couple of days ago I don't underestimate the complexity of the situation. The Government has our support as they go about that process.

I also welcome the fact this morning that Greg Hunt clarified that people who are being evacuated will not be charged for the evacuation. I was concerned to ensure that nobody was disadvantaged or that nobody who is not of wealthy means was disadvantaged in that process. And I welcome the fact that that evacuation according to Greg Hunt this morning will now occur free of charge. That's a good development.

So we have all through this process been providing the Government with support. I've received regular updates from the Chief Medical Officer indeed as recently as this morning on the evolving situation. Where we see the Government doing the right thing we will say so.

I was disappointed in Minister Tehans intervention which was clearly not in line with the best advice to people. But nevertheless I do welcome all the other steps that the Government has taken over the recent days and support the efforts being put into place by the Chief Medical Officer and his state and territory colleagues.

The second matter I'll deal with this morning is the Government's announcement of the investment in suicide prevention and response to Christine Morgans report. Now of course I welcome any steps to tackle suicide. Again we've given the Government consistent bipartisan support. I've not yet seen Christine Morgan's draft report despite the fact we had previously offered the Government close bipartisan support. Nevertheless when I do see it I will study it closely.

Can I say I do welcome the Government's recognition of the social determinants of suicide which we have been pointing out for some months. But this must be taken into account. By social determinants obviously the impact of people's everyday lives. It's not just a matter of mental illness, they are separate related matters. It's a matter of people coping in difficult circumstances and if the report and the response highlights that, that will have my full support. I do say it's not enough though to give people payments or support after a suicide attempt. What we need to do is tackle the social determinants of health and suicide across the board. That's why we support for example an increase in Newstart.

That's why we wish the Government had cracked down years ago on payday lenders, the pernicious activity of financial exploitation and the Government had listened to its own report on payday lending and the mental anguish-- mental health anguish that poor practices and unethical practices in payday lending generates right throughout communities in communities like this in south west Sydney and elsewhere in the suburbs and regions of Australia.

So we will look at this closely will support what is sensible but we'll also point out what more needs to be done and I very much hope and expect that this is simply a down payment. This is simply a draft response, an interim response. We're yet to see the final report of the Productivity Commission on Mental Health for example, there needs to be much much more done. We need a revolution not an evolution when it comes to mental health and we'll continue to provide sensible policy suggestions to do so.
Happy to take any questions.

JOURNALIST:So a few of the Labor members including your Leader have raised concerns about Christmas Island as a quarantine facility. Why isn't it suitable?

BOWEN:As I said we support as sensible the steps to quarantine people at Christmas Island. I recognise the Government doesn't have many facilities available to them. What we've pointed out and various people have pointed out and I've been in constant contact with the local member Warren Snowdon for example is that there are issues to work through. There is issues to work through for example people looking for reassurance that the family that is currently being housed there from Biloela is protected.

Now my understanding is that they're housed at Phosphate Hill I understand most of the quarantine will occur at North West Point a separate facility but these are issues that need to be worked through. The Government should be given time to work those issues through. If we are not at the end of the day of course I'll say so. But I'm not going to overly politicise what is a fast moving situation where the Government is responding with the resources they have. We'll provide suggestions where we think things can be done better and I'm not going to be unnecessarily critical. I'm going to provide appropriate and necessary support and also hold the Government to account at the same time.

JOURNALIST:What do you think about the response to the coronavirus here in Australia in terms of schools for example? The conflicting information between states and federal

BOWEN:That has been one shortfall if I could say so. I thought Minister Tehan's intervention was irresponsible and unfortunate and I thought the actions taken by the New South Wales Government here obviously in contrast to what the Federal Minister for Education had said. I think the Federal Minister for Education is to reflect on that. That's my criticism. I think the steps being put in place by the Department of Health, the Chief Medical Officer by DFAT in removing people from Wuhan, we do support those measures. I think other Government Ministers should have thought more carefully before they blundered through this very sensitive and important area.

JOURNALIST:Would you have liked to have seen a more federal approach?

BOWEN:I think the Minister for Education, I think his contribution was unfortunate.

JOURNALIST:On sports grants if Labor believes the Auditor General's report is serious enough to warrant Bridget McKenzies sacking or resignation from the Ministry, why do you need to launch another inquiry in the Senate?

BOWEN:Because shes still there. I mean she shouldn't be there. She should have gone weeks ago. This is now an ongoing saga of weeks and Scott Morrison appears to be the only person who doesn't think this is a problem. Now this is theft frankly, this is theft from communities like the ones that Mike and I represent. Sporting clubs who wouldn't-- who have dreamt of change rooms for years and who miss out when the National Party engages in this theft. Now this is pure and simple political corruption of a process here by Bridget McKenzie. She should pay for that with her job. She's still there. So I fully support Don Farrell's efforts to get a Senate inquiry because we need to keep the focus on this and if and if the Government thinks they can arrogantly smirk their way through it all go away. I'm afraid they're sadly mistaken.

JOURNALIST:How confident are you that an inquiry in the Senate will lead to some sort of change then if that's what you?

BOWEN:Well take every avenue available to us through the mechanisms of the Parliament in either House to pursue this matter and we will do so because it stinks and it's not on.

Thanks very much.

ENDS