Question Time

COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:08): My question is to the Premier. Have all South Australian medi-hotel workers received a COVID-19 vaccination? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr MALINAUSKAS: In the state of Victoria, the state of New South Wales and the state of Western Australia they have policies in place to ensure that every medi-hotel worker is vaccinated.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:09): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. As he would be aware, we are following the advice of SA Health and, in particular Professor Nicola Spurrier, with regard to our quarantine hotel arrangements. What I can confirm to the house is that we have 100 per cent vaccinated workers within our SA Health clinical workforce in those quarantine hotels. We have 100 per cent of all those people who are working in the Tom's Court Hotel, which is the COVID-positive hotel in South Australia.

I am advised by Dr Emily Kirkpatrick this morning that, as of a couple of weeks ago, about 85 per cent of all workers within the quarantine hotel arrangement in South Australia had been vaccinated. We are strongly encouraging every person in South Australia when they are eligible to go and get that vaccination.

But, as you would be aware, sir, there is turnover within the hospitality sector, so it is perfectly plausible that somebody who is working on a loading dock may not have their full two-shot vaccination administered whilst they are working there. We are constantly looking to make sure that we get as many people in this state vaccinated as possible.

As I said at the outset of my answer, we follow that advice from the Chief Public Health Officer. She is satisfied with the position that we are in at the moment. We are, obviously, always looking to continuously improve, and if there are suggestions that come to us then that is precisely what we will implement.