COVID-19 Media

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:45): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing regarding COVID:

1. On Friday 4 February, why exactly was it necessary for the first 19 minutes and 40 seconds, almost 20 minutes, of the daily COVID media conference to involve talking about local roads with the Liberal candidate, not even an MP, for the marginal seat of Mawson, along with a backbench federal senator?

2. Has the health minister ever expressed to the Premier that it is inappropriate to use COVID briefings as a political tool?

3. If not, will the health minister talk to the Premier in regard to the inappropriateness of using COVID-19 briefings for political purposes?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:46): I have only been in parliament for 16 years, but I must admit being a political tragic since about the mid-1970s. One thing I am very impressed with is Premier Marshall's communication skills. He is one of the most effective political communicators that I have had the pleasure to work with.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I believe that, whether it has been standing alongside him during innumerable press conferences in relation to COVID or whether it has been listening to him on television, time and time again—

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —Premier Marshall captures the mind of the people—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order, the Hon. Mr Hunter!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —and communicates public health messages in a way which I believe has substantially strengthened our response.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order, the Hon. Mr Hunter!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: He is always respectful to the public health team, learning from them to the point where some have threatened to make him an honorary member—

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —of the public health college.

The Hon. R.P. Wortley interjecting:

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Wortley!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: But he is diligent in understanding the issues, and he is a great servant of this state—

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —in making sure that the public health messages that need to get out to the community during a pandemic do get out, and I am not going to ask him to stop. No, don't stop, keep getting the message out, Premier—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —for as long as this pandemic may last.