Legislative Council: Thursday, February 06, 2020

Contents

Coronavirus

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:17): Thank you, Mr President.

The PRESIDENT: A supplementary question?

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Yes, it is. I wouldn't be standing if it wasn't.

The PRESIDENT: Can you call it a supplementary question, please, the Hon. Mr Pangallo?

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: I am standing actually.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: That's unkind to be laughing at that joke.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Further to the response by the minister, and I thank him for his response, as to the concerns of the Chinese community, can the minister confirm whether there have been any racist comments that have been directed to members of the Chinese community as a result of this?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:17): Certainly, on the public record, particularly in the Eastern States, there have been concerning developments in terms of community relations. I want to stress that the Chinese community within Australia, like any Australians, is being strongly supportive of the government's efforts to maintain public health. I have certainly heard, through the assistant minister and through Chinese leaders, concern about healthy community relations within South Australia, but I think it is a great credit to the people of South Australia that these concerns are not as significant as they are in other states.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Ngo has a supplementary question arising from the original answer.