Legislative Council Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2) 54 2 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Coronavirus, Parafield Cluster Coronavirus, Parafield Cluster The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS Legislative Council Coronavirus, Parafield Cluster The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:04): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the minister update the council on the support available to help people affected by the Parafield cluster? The Hon. S.G. WADE Legislative Council Minister for Health and Wellbeing Coronavirus, Parafield Cluster The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:04): I thank the honourable member for his question. The response of the South Australian community to the COVID-19 pandemic has been the foundation of the state's success throughout the pandemic so far. As we deal with the current Parafield cluster, that response has continued to be strong. I want to thank all South Australians for playing their part by getting tested, following health advice and self-isolating when required. Self-isolation is a particularly important part of any response to a potential outbreak, stopping the spread of cases through the community. South Australians have shown a high degree of compliance to date, but we have seen, in other jurisdictions and around the world, there has sometimes been a reluctance by individuals to isolate, particularly where their livelihood was put at risk because of that. For that reason, as part of our plan for a strong, rapid response to new cases in the community, the Marshall Liberal government has been working with the commonwealth government to deliver a paid pandemic leave scheme for South Australians directly linked to a cluster. We have had this scheme in place and ready to go since 25 August, helping us to move quickly and strongly in the current cluster. Payments of up to $1,500 are made by the commonwealth, and they are available to eligible workers who are required to quarantine, or care for someone required to quarantine, for up to 14 days following a positive COVID-19 test. Payments are also available to those instructed to quarantine as a result of a public health directive. Another payment of $300, made by the South Australian government, is available for eligible workers in an identified COVID-19 cluster who are required to self-isolate while awaiting a coronavirus test result as a result of a public health directive. The payments are funded under a cost-sharing arrangement with the commonwealth, and I thank the Prime Minister for partnering with South Australia to implement the scheme. The eligibility requirements include being part of a designated COVID-19 cluster, as notified by the Chief Public Health Officer or her delegate, and I encourage South Australians who think that they might be eligible to visit the South Australian government website for the full criteria. The paid pandemic leave scheme is an important way to support workers who are part of a highly casualised workforce, such as disability care workers and those who work in residential aged-care facilities, as well as protecting vulnerable South Australians whom their work brings them in contact with. The high levels of compliance by businesses and individuals saw us safely through the first peak of the pandemic, and I am very confident that this same goodwill that is uniquely South Australian will be fundamental in suppressing the current cluster. I want to thank the South Australian community for their efforts over the past few days and their continued efforts as we strive to get on top of this cluster. I also want to thank and congratulate the SA Health team, from Pathology to contract tracers, to nurses in our medi-hotels and far beyond, for their monumental efforts in keeping our community safe.