Victorian Hotel Quarantine Inquiry Report

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (14:59): Further supplementary: were there any salient findings or recommendations in the Victorian report that South Australia can draw upon and apply in our state?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:00): Sorry, I thought you were in the opposition. That was a Dorothy Dix question. Your own party has suggested that—

The PRESIDENT: The minister will refer through the Chair.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The Leader of the Opposition in the other place said in a Sunday Mail article:

It is now crystal clear to all concerned that the medi-hotel arrangements in the current format—of housing people with the virus in CBD hotels in proximity to subcontracted private security guards—is not safe.

It goes on in this article to talk about places like Woomera, places outside of the city, as possible venues for a medi-hotel. The hotel quarantine inquiry at recommendation 7 says:

Given there are currently no identified specific purpose-built quarantine facilities in Victoria, that hotels remain a reasonable and viable option for international arrivals needing to be placed in quarantine.

Relevant criterion for selecting suitable locations as quarantine facilities include:

A. sufficient proximity to a hospital

B. being within commuting distance for adequate numbers of appropriately skilled personnel for the facility

It goes on with further criteria. I make the point that your party didn't even reference the recommendations.

The PRESIDENT: You can refer to the opposition or the Labor Party, but it is not 'my party'.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Thank you, Mr President. The opposition, apparently, did not even bother reading the recommendations on that report before they released their thought bubble.