Influenza Vaccinations

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (15:15): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. My question is: is it a requirement under the Public Health Act for medical practitioners to notify the minister's department of any influenza cases, including the location of the patient, and if that is a requirement, would the minister's department then know of all cases in residential aged-care facilities?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:15): There are notification requirements under the Public Health Act, but I think it is important to realise the limitations that notifications can provide for rapid identification of clusters. There is often a backlog in terms of inputting the notifications because they are often provided in writing, and we certainly as a state need to look at the opportunities for putting them online.