COVID-19 Vaccination

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (15:26): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier advise Philip from my electorate, who is unvaccinated, why he cannot access a medical service? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr BELL: Philip has a pre-existing heart condition and has been advised by his doctor to undertake a stress test on his heart before considering the COVID vaccine. However, he cannot book an appointment at the Mount Gambier Medical Consulting Suites because they are refusing anybody who is unvaccinated.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (15:27): We have avoided making anything mandatory here in South Australia over and above those elements on which we have received specific advice from our Chief Public Health Officer or have gone through the national cabinet. But many businesses are making full vaccination mandatory to access their business, whether it be a restaurant or a sporting venue or indeed a hospital, so this is posing some issues.

I am happy to take the specific issue raised by the member for Mount Gambier and see if there is an alternative service. But he is right. This is why we are very strongly recommending to every single South Australian that they become fully vaccinated. What I am very pleased with is that the rate of vaccine hesitancy is plummeting.

If we go back four or five months, there were probably 35 to 45 per cent of people who were not going to have the vaccine. We now know that 90 per cent, so nine in every 10 South Australians over the age of 16, have already had at least one shot, and this is very encouraging. I am hopeful that not only will we get to 90 per cent fully vaccinated for those 12 and over by the end of this year but I am hoping that in January next year we get to 95 per cent.

My strong message to every single person who is unvaccinated is: please consider having that vaccination. We are trying to minimise those areas within government that we make mandatory, but private companies are very likely to increase their requirements because they know the consequences should a positive case come into their business.