COVID-19 Quarantine Facilities

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (15:24): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing regarding health security.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS: In November last year, the Leader of the Opposition called for an end to the medi-hotel system and instead looked to dedicated quarantine facilities. The Premier responded by saying that it was 'pushing fear and division'. My questions to the minister are:

1. Based on what we know today, does the minister stand by the Premier's previous comments that the purpose-built quarantine facilities for returning Australians are pushing fear and division, and why?

2. Is the possibility of dedicated quarantine facilities being considered at all by the Marshall government?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:25): Could I start with the second question first: is the government looking at dedicated quarantine facilities? Well, that's exactly what we have at Tom's Court. We have one of the best quarantine networks in Australia and a key part of that has been the early adoption of a dedicated COVID facility.

The Hon. C.M. Scriven: The question was about purpose-built.

The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is answering the question.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: In relation to the honourable member's comment in relation to Labor's continual pushing of fear and division in relation to the pandemic, I agree with the Premier.