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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-03-17 Daily Xml
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AFL Matches, Adelaide Oval

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (14:59): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: It's brief, I promise you, this one.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: You're eating my time!

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Pangallo, proceed.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing about the AFL.

The PRESIDENT: Is leave granted for a brief explanation?

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: We are on the clock, Mr President! The AFL season kicks off tomorrow and the first game is here on the weekend between the Adelaide Crows and Geelong. My question to the minister is—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: —has SA Health given instructions to the AFL, the Stadium Management Authority and the two clubs on COVID safe rules that would restrict fans from standing or cheering—in fact, even booing—and are those rules the same as the AFL intends enforcing at other stadiums in Victoria and elsewhere where patrons must be seated at all times?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:01): I thank the member for both the brief question and the brief explanation. I actually thought the interjections took longer than the explanation. I must admit the question did worry me, though, because I am so intimate with sport that I almost had to think: what does AFL stand for? It reminds me of a comment by Nicola Spurrier earlier this year when she was being asked about SANFL fixtures and she said that she knew both the teams in Adelaide were greatly loved.

Back to the question. I must admit that I don't know the details of the current arrangements but my general understanding is that, in relation to the AFL, at the Stadium Management Authority they are subject to the specific management plan that the Stadium Management Authority has in place for all its events. My understanding is that it does require people to wear a mask when they are coming in and out of the stadium, when they are going to the facilities, and that includes both dining facilities and toilet facilities.

It would not surprise me if it required patrons to remain seated, in other words to, if you like, heckle from their seats, which is also a good tradition in this place as well—another stadium management plan. To be honest, I couldn't tell you whether that varies from other AFL matches and, to be frank, I am more than happy for South Australia to lead the way in the best response to COVID.

The PRESIDENT: Supplementary, the Hon. Mr Pangallo.

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