Question Time

COVID-19 Media

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:47): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Health and Wellbeing a question regarding COVID management.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Over the last week, we have seen the daily COVID media conferences hijacked by party political campaign announcements before people are allowed to hear the facts. The government is now exploiting people's need to know the latest about the pandemic by promoting conferences about COVID and then forcing them to tune into extended political ads before they hear the facts. It's not just the Labor Party who are calling this bait and switch scheme scam out, it's our own independent media.

On Friday 4 February, the respected journal of record InDaily reported on this issue, and I quote:

It's that conflating it with the daily COVID update that deliberately politicises the pandemic response. Six weeks out from an election, this should not happen.

InDaily were quoted that, 'Six weeks out from an election, this should not happen.' My questions to the minister are: why are you and the government using daily COVID updates as party political tools just weeks before an election? What advice have you sought and what concerns have you as the health minister raised that members of the public may be less inclined to listen to critical COVID information updates because they are now being forced to sit through extended political advertising?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:48): SA Health issues a daily COVID update every afternoon. That is the authoritative update in terms of the public health messages that need to be put out. I think it is somewhat extraordinary that the opposition would think that the Premier of the day would stand up and give a press conference without referring to a once-in-a-century pandemic and to take the opportunity to reinforce the public health advice that has been given by SA Health.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order!