Labor is deeply concerned at the severe COVID-19 outbreak being experienced in New Caledonia, one of Australia’s valued Pacific Island partner countries.
The latest World Health Organisation figures show New Caledonia has reported 7,040 new COVID cases since the start of September after having had only 136 cases during the previous 17 months.
Tragically, 114 people have died from COVID in the current outbreak in New Caledonia, according to the latest figures.
The past 24 hours have seen 797 cases and 21 deaths.
These are high numbers for a country with a population of around 286,000.
On a per capita basis, New Caledonia has recorded six times as many COVID cases in the past month as Australia has in the past 18 months.
The outbreak is putting the country’s hospital and health system under strain.
Labor calls on the Morrison-Joyce Government to take immediate action to provide emergency health support for New Caledonia.
New Caledonia is one of Australia’s closest neighbours.
Hundreds of thousands of Australians have visited the country and there are strong bilateral business, education, sporting and tourism links.
The Morrison-Joyce Government needs to step up Australia’s support as a matter of urgency.
Labor calls on the Government to outline its plan to assist the vaccine rollout in the Pacific and detail how many vaccines have been delivered and administered to date.