The Sauce: Former MP Emma Husar relies on sun to fight COVID-19
Which former MP is choosing the sun — ‘Mother Nature’s disinfectant’ — to fight coronavirus; and why might nurses miss out on a promised 2.5 per cent pay rise on July 1?
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Is sunlight actually the best disinfectant?
Former federal MP Emma Husar is choosing the sun’s rays over hand sanitiser and face masks to ward off the coronavirus.
The one-time pollie, who resigned from the Labor Party after a series of bullying allegations, which she has always strongly denied, posted a steamy bikini photo on Instagram this week.
“Be sun safe and use Mother Nature’s disinfectant,” she captioned the photo.
Maybe just not at Bondi Beach for the time being.
POLLIES AND THE PAY RISE
With scores of jobs being shed, our state parliamentarians have been placed in an interesting position regarding a scheduled pay rise.
Pollies, as well as NSW public servants, were set to receive a 2.5 per cent pay increase on July 1.
“I don’t think anyone will be complaining if it’s kiboshed,” one MP said.
Except, of course, for our nurses.
THE LONG DRIVE
With federal parliament set to return on Monday, many MPs are choosing to drive to Canberra instead of fly.
The Sauce understands Nationals MP Damian Drum, who lives more than 500km away in the Victorian town of Shepparton, is one of a handful of MPs playing it safe by hitting the road to Canberra to avoid contamination.
Deputy Speaker Llew O’Brien is also preparing to make the 1300km trek from Gympie in Queensland.
More than 60 MPs — 30 from both the major parties — have been told to stay away from Parliament House on Monday, with the sick and elderly the first to be benched.
The Sauce understands “veteran” MPs including Labor’s Warren Snowdon, who turned 70 on Friday, and Coalition MP Ken O’Dowd, who turns 70 in June, will stay at home.
MPs battling colds and those with ongoing health concerns have also been advised not to come.
That takes out Queenslander George Christensen, Labor’s Rob Mitchell, who has been under the weather, and Nationals MP Michelle Landry, who is recovering from a nasty insect bite.
Any MP who has been tested for the coronavirus, even if they returned a negative result, will also stay at home.
The Sauce understands both Mark Coulton and David Gillespie have been swabbed this week.
FARMING LIFE
While city slickers might be grappling with the concept of social distancing, farmers have it in the bag.
As Duncan, the husband of NSW Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor, said last week: “I’ve been practising for social isolation for years.”
The couple, who run sheep and cattle on their property in Nimmitabel in southeastern NSW, also have a ready supply of meat, although Ms Taylor confessed she still bought hers at the local Woolies.
“Duncan once offered up one of ours but it still had wool on it,” she said.
Ms Taylor, who used to be a nurse, also has handwashing down pat. “They used to shine a blue light on our hands which would show up what bits we had missed,” she said.
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Ms Taylor said she believed rural communities would withstand the health crisis.
“Rural communities will show what they are made of — we look after each other and we care,” she said. “We are self-sufficient, many having veggie gardens and livestock.”
We’re coming over.
BUNDLES OF JOY
Hand sanitiser might be scarce but not if you have a brand new bub.
The much-sought-after item is among a stash of newborn necessities contained in the state government’s Baby Bundle giveaway.
Almost a year since the state government began giving new parents baby care packages, more than 100,000 of them have been handed out.
The $300 bundle also includes baby wipes, a sleeping bag, change mats, a muslin wrap, bath and room thermometers, and health information, among other items.
Bronnie Taylor, who is also Minister for Women, said the bundle took some of the stress out of being a new parent.
“The first few months of a baby’s life can be absolutely wonderful but also quite challenging, especially for first-time parents,” she said.
Among those to receive the milestone bundle was new mum Rosaria Giuffre, 35, and her partner Tano, 38, from Riverwood, whose baby Emanuele was born on January 30.
In another milestone, Emanuele was the very first baby born in the new Birth Unit at St George Hospital.
Now, there’s some good news.
Got some Sauce? Contact Linda.Silmalis@news.com.au or Annika.Smethurst@news.com.au
Originally published as The Sauce: Former MP Emma Husar relies on sun to fight COVID-19