Border Checkpoints

Dr HARVEY (Newland) (14:26): My question is to the Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services. Can the minister inform the house about what steps the South Australian police are taking to restrict the movements of people entering South Australia?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:27): I thank the member for Newland for his question.

The Hon. A. Piccolo interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Light is called to order.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I know that a number of people in this place are very concerned about this. Indeed, the community has made contact with me, my office and various other members in this place to discuss the restrictions on movements of people entering South Australia. I think we all acknowledge that we are in unprecedented times. We are all united in this place in the one message: the health and safety of all South Australians is at the forefront of our minds as we put in place measures to restrict the spread of COVID-19.

At 10.37am yesterday, the Commissioner of Police issued a direction under the Emergency Management Act restricting movement of people entering South Australia. The direction came into effect at 11am yesterday, Tuesday 24 March 2020. As a result, any person crossing the border into South Australia is required to commit to a 14-day self-quarantine period, whether they are South Australian residents or not.

From 4pm yesterday, police and other government agencies have been actively staffing border checkpoints in line with restrictions. But, I must be clear, there are some exemptions to the commissioner's direction. Essential travellers, such as people involved in transport and logistical services, emergency and essential health workers and national security workers will be exempt. Those persons will not be subject to the direction of quarantine for 14 days.

Police are now positioned at various checkpoints and mobile on our highways to stop and speak with travellers entering the state. Our police have the power to ask people questions, including name, phone number, contact details and purpose of travel. As I mentioned earlier, the direction provides exemptions to those classified as essential travellers.

Anyone entering the state is required to individually determine if they meet the requirements of an essential traveller. If a member of the public believes they are classified as an essential traveller, a police officer will ask them to justify why when they are stopped at a checkpoint or any other place. The officer will be responsible for advising whether the traveller is exempt or not from the direction and, where appropriate, allow the traveller to transit into the state uninterrupted.

I reiterate, the direction generally includes the following people as essential travellers: national and state security and governance, health services, essential medical treatment, transport and freight services, skills critical to maintaining key industries or businesses, emergency services workers, cross-border community members (and people passing through will need to make their own inquiries about entry into their final state destination) and also compassionate grounds.

The commissioner's direction, first and foremost, seeks the community's cooperation. The direction is aimed at reducing the speed at which the virus is spreading. There are significant fines for those people who do not adhere to the directions but I again stress this is a community issue that requires compliance.

If you are interstate and intending to holiday in South Australia in the next few days or weeks, you need to reassess your travel. If it is absolutely not essential that you travel then don't. It is vital that we all work together to ensure we maintain social distancing guidelines and comply with the directions to quarantine. If we work together we can protect those vulnerable within our community by reducing the number of cases experienced by health services, and together we can help flatten the curve.