Question Time

Coronavirus

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:17): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing regarding public health.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Yesterday, the minister advised that schools remained open on the advice of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, the AHPPC. My questions to the minister are:

1. Has the minister or any of his advisers read or considered the advice on the closure of schools provided by 22 eminent specialists from the Group of Eight research universities?

2. Can the minister also advise the chamber whether he is aware if children can spread COVID-19?

3. What additional cases have been identified beyond those associated with Sacred Heart College, Unley High School and Scotch College in our schools?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:18): I'm not aware of the research that the honourable member refers to, but let me make it very clear: a politician's reading of a clinical paper, even if that politician happens to be the Minister for Health, is quite irrelevant. I am not the one to second guess the AHPPC and the CDNA. If the honourable member thinks that every time we are in a major emergency, a pandemic that hasn't been eclipsed for a century, that we should have politicians musing about whether they prefer this academic's advice or this clinician's advice or this letter signed by 1,000 or 3,000 or 10,000 clinicians and second guess the group that has been put in place as part of our emergency response, I think he is dangerous.

We need to have a situation where all of these people can express their views to the relevant clinical advisory groups. Dr Brendan Murphy has repeatedly engaged in dialogue with other clinicians who don't share his view, but once those clinicians—the CDNA and the AHPPC—have considered all the evidence and all of the diversity of opinions and they have formed their judgement, do not expect me to second guess them.