Coronavirus

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:15): Yes, I do. I will direct this to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing since he has had dialogue with the Chinese community. Can the minister tell the chamber if his office has been contacted by worried Chinese tourists or members of the Chinese community who will now be seeking extensions to their visas? If so, what policy will be recommended with these tourists, many of whom would be reluctant to return to mainland China?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:16): I thank the member for his question. Obviously, immigration is a matter for the federal government. I will certainly seek information from the federal government and provide it to him as early as possible. I can't indicate whether or not my office has received any queries but I certainly have heard those queries in the general community. The initial advice I received was that it was intended that Immigration will recognise the fact that people on short-term visas may well need to have them extended, but I will seek that information formally and provide it to the member as soon as I can.