COVID-19 Support

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:40): What was the health advice that the Marshall government took to leave South Australians stranded, living often in their cars or in caravan parks, running out of money and with complicated health and mental health factors starting to come into play? What was the health advice that supported that decision?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:41): I suspect the health advice question is best addressed to the Health officers. In relation to the totality of the health advice, the health advice is to try to keep South Australians safe and healthy—that is, prevent persons who may have COVID from entering South Australia. The Premier and other senior officers from Health, public health officers, have made it quite clear why the exemption process is important in terms of keeping South Australians safe from the situation sadly that we see in New South Wales and Victoria, where the numbers are increasing, certainly in Victoria, at an alarming rate. In New South Wales over recent weeks they have been increasing at an alarming rate. Pleasingly, it is at least starting to decline in recent days in New South Wales. The totality of the health advice is certainly governed by trying to keep South Australians safe and healthy.