Premier’s vow to help at-risk Inala residents

Older residents in Brisbane’s southwest have been reassured they will be cared for by the Premier after health data put one of their suburbs among the state’s highest risk areas.

After Inala was named on a list of the most at-risk suburbs in a coronavirus outbreak, vulnerable people have been reassured there is plenty of help at hand.

Premier and MP for Inala Annastacia Palaszczuk said Inala “barely needed to ask” because help was always there.

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Earlier this week health authorities named Inala as second on the list of Queensland suburbs with the most people at the highest possible risk in the event of a coronavirus infection.

Consultant Physician in Infectious Diseases at the Wesley Medical Centre Dr Paul Georghiou said people aged over 60 with chronic health conditions, such as asthma and diabetes, were at greatly increased risk of complications and death if they were infected.

“Those persons in this category will need a heightened level of alert and care,” he said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at Parliament House. Picture: Annette Dew

Ms Palaszczuk said besides many other community organisations prepared to help people at high risk, there had so far been 184 people registered to join the Government’s Care Army of community volunteers in Inala.

“These are people willing to collect groceries or medicines or lend a hand in any way,” she said.

“That so many have stepped forward in such a short time is truly heart-warming.”

Health figures released this week listed Riverview as having 41.8 per cent of people with three or more chronic health conditions within the population of people aged 60 years and over.

Inala was next on the list with 37.8 per cent, followed by Beenleigh, and Kelso in Townsville, with percentages of 36.1, and 35.7 respectively.

Brisbane City Councillor Charles Strunk (Forest Lake), whose ward covers Inala, said the figures were not a “true reflection of how people cope with life here”.

“I don’t think Inala is any different in regards to people with underlying health issues, Forest Lake didn’t even get onto the list and 25 per cent of the population there are over 60.”

He said his ward office was open for calls and there were many organisations willing to help to keep people safe in their homes.

“I’ve also diverted ward funds from various events that have been cancelled, so that money will go to organisations helping people in need,” he said.