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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-07-02 Daily Xml
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Coronavirus, Hotel Quarantine Security

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:04): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing regarding security arrangements at hotels accommodating expatriates in quarantine during the pandemic.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: It was revealed today that in Victoria three private security companies—Wilson, MSS and Unified—were given contracts without the formal tender process being followed with the Victorian government, and have also been blamed for indirectly spreading the COVID-19 virus by not following stringent non-contact requirements, as well as allegations of rorting by claiming payments for non-existent workers with fake names, and also having direct contact with guests.

Given that South Australia is now welcoming hundreds more overseas expatriates, can the minister tell us whether private contractors are being used in maintaining security at the hotels in Adelaide, and which companies are being engaged if that is the case?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:06): I thank the honourable member for his question. The mandatory hotel quarantine put in place as a result of a national cabinet decision is maintained in South Australia under the direct coordination of SA Police. My understanding is that SA Police do engage private security staff to support them, but that there is a 24/7 police presence at every managed hotel quarantine site. They provide oversight of the private security personnel they are using.

In relation to the health aspect, which I believe is just as much a part of the security, because we are talking fundamentally about quarantine, the health services at South Australian sites are coordinated by SA Health staff. My understanding is that there is in reach medical support provided by GPs, but the primary oversight of the residents or the mandatory hotel quarantine is by SA Health.

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