House of Assembly: Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Contents

Coronavirus

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:57): Supplementary question: has the Premier asked the question of the AHPPC of the merit of temperature checking in schools, as they do in Singapore?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:57): What we have done is to seek the whole advice from the AHPPC and the Communicable Diseases Network Australia on what we should be doing in schools. It is very clear and it is very comprehensive. It is not one line; it is actually a huge amount of work that is being done after careful consideration by public health officials, epidemiologists and people who are perfectly qualified to provide advice. That advice has been received by the national cabinet.

I make the point again that this is not something that we are deciding to augment or change. We are very strictly following the advice of the AHPPC. The opposition is perfectly entitled to have a differing opinion, but the question that we are asked is why we have made that decision and that is the reason why we have made that decision.