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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-04-30 Daily Xml
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Coronavirus, Education

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:22): A supplementary arising from the answer: are any other states or territories not in line with AHPPC advice on this matter?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:23): You can be sure they are not. I think it's reprehensible. Children's education is extremely important. Children should be supported to get an education unless there are strong reasons. Closing schools undoubtedly has an impact on the welfare of children. I suppose, in a way, this report highlights it. In times past, the evidence was not as strong as it is now that schools are safe. We now have increasing evidence that children are less susceptible to COVID-19 than older people. We have a very low rate of transmission here in South Australia. We have enhanced processes in schools to clean, to maintain a safe environment.

I appreciate that in times past other jurisdictions have chosen not to follow AHPPC advice. I suspect, and don't hold me to this, but my suspicion is that SA Health, the South Australian jurisdiction, the South Australian government's compliance with AHPPC advice in relation to schools is the closest. We align most closely with what's recommended.

The Premier hardly goes a day of doing press conferences without highlighting that the hallmark of the South Australian government's response has been our willingness to act on the science, to act on the evidence, to act on the advice of public health clinicians. We have done that in schools and we have done it in other domains, and it has put this state in good stead.

Let's be clear: the Labor Party and their union mates might try to slur Nicola Spurrier and the evidence in relation to schools, but the people of South Australia are voting with their feet. The people of South Australia are going back to school. This week, the latest figures available to me show that 69 per cent of students are learning at school. They are throwing back into the faces of the Labor scare campaign that they trust Nicola Spurrier and if Labor doesn't they will continue to act on the basis of Nicola Spurrier's advice, whether it's social distancing or personal hygiene or going back to school. They back Nicola Spurrier and so do we.

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