CORONAVIRUS —
QUARANTINE ARRANGEMENTS
525. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
I
refer to the four publicly known breaches of hotel quarantine and the fact that
it obviously takes only one breach to cause an outbreak. I also refer to the
Premier's comments yesterday in the house that no offer of Australian
Defence Force personnel has been made by the Prime Minister. Why is the
Premier waiting for the Prime Minister to offer ADF personnel instead of picking
up the phone to protect Western Australians from COVID-19?
Mr M. McGOWAN
replied:
That is a very bizarre question. As
I explained yesterday, when I saw the Prime Minister speaking about ADF personnel being available on the 7.30 report
with Leigh Sales some weeks ago, I ensured that the next morning we made
contact to seek that assistance. Up until then, we had had not a great deal of
assistance from the Australian Defence Force. A few personnel were
involved in the state health emergency centre, but there was not a great deal
of assistance. We sought assistance on various occasions; it was not
forthcoming. As soon as I heard the Prime Minister say that, we took advantage
of the opportunity. Around 50 ADF personnel—reservists—are now
assisting in our hotel quarantine arrangements and, obviously, sharing the
burden. Members should bear in mind that around at least 250 people are
employed or contracted by the state undertaking that role as well, although we
are sharing the cost with the commonwealth. The quarantine arrangements are now
a joint state–commonwealth responsibility.