Personal Explanation

Coronavirus

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (15:34): I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

Leave granted.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Today, during the grievance debate the member for Hurtle Vale claimed that during the course of debate yesterday I had verballed her and that, furthermore, I should check Hansard in respect of her contribution to that debate in which she referred to nurses and, if I can paraphrase, their worth and of course the loss of employment they were facing during COVID-19.

Firstly, I bring to the attention of the house that during the course of the debate—and it is recorded at page 704 of Hansard—I responded to the member for Hurtle Vale, and I will try as quickly as possible to read this:

…there were a couple of matters raised which I think I could easily respond to. One was made by the member for Hurtle Vale in relation to employment opportunities for casual nurses, some of whom were her friends, who are employed in the private hospital sector…

Then it notes Mr Picton interjecting as usual. I go on to say:

Well, no. This is in relation to her contribution, thank you member for Kaurna. In her contribution, she was talking about those who were in the private sector who were immediately vulnerable income-wise because they had lost shifts, and that is fine. I just remind her that the Premier has indicated…

I go on to outline initiatives that enable them to seek reapplication for employment, some job hub opportunities at the national level and the like. Members can read that for themselves, rather than me reading it back completely.

It is correct to say that, in the reference to nurses in the context of the private sector only, the member for Hurtle Vale had in fact identified those nurses undertaking elective surgery without identifying whether they were in the private or public sector, but I categorically reject any assertion that I had verballed her in a response. If she takes offence at it in any way, I want to reassure her that my objective was to make sure that she be informed as much as she could as to the information I had available as to what might be available that could assist her friends and those who were in that sector.