Question Time

Coronavirus Contact Tracing

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): 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: On Tuesday, when asked about the confidentiality of personal information provided to contact tracers, the minister said:

…the primary provisions are, first, provisions under the South Australian Public Health Act in relation to confidentiality and, secondly, in the Health Care Act 2008.

The minister went on to say:

…both acts put a duty on officers to maintain the confidentiality of the people with whom they deal.

My questions to the minister are:

1. What exactly do the terms 'personal information' and 'confidentiality' mean under the acts to which the minister referred on Tuesday?

2. On whose authority can such personal information collected by contact tracers be released?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:22): I thank the honourable member for his question. Considering that those are matters of statutory interpretation, I will seek advice and come back with an answer.