COVID-19 QR Codes

740 Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (25 August 2021). How much of the overall $77.7 million of COVID funding is allocated to the digital QR check-in system, and then necessary for contact tracing after outbreaks?

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education): The Minister for Health and Wellbeing has been advised:

The contact tracing team within SA Health has been established to rapidly up-scale and down-scale the workforce to meet changes in COVID-19 case numbers, without any loss of scope or effectiveness of contact tracing.

Effective rapid up-scale is achieved through the use of casual contracts, recalling available SA Health staff and sourcing mobilised staff from the wider state government sector with the support of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment. The mobilisation of public sector employees, outside SA Health, has been extremely successful with the delivery of a contact tracing surge response in excess of 12,400 hours.

The cost will vary depending on the number of cases through the year.

The Premier has been advised:

The Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC) reprioritised existing work to support SA Health, including building the COVIDSAfe check-in QR system and supporting infrastructure. DPC provides ongoing contact tracing support to SA Health. A total of $1,553,425.77 excluding GST has been on charged to SA Health during 2020-21 to cover a portion of DPC costs.