2020-07-08
Health Minister Brad Hazzard must urgently investigate how NSW Health failed to ensure that a planeload of passengers arriving at Sydney Airport today from Melbourne were screened for Covid19 symptoms, says Cate Faehrmann Greens MP and health spokesperson.
“It’s gobsmacking that such an event could occur in NSW after the Ruby Princess debacle. Clearly the NSW Government has not learned the lessons from that monumental stuff up, the consequence being they have risked another outbreak in NSW,” said Ms Faehrmann.
“The Health Minister Brad Hazzard made assurances earlier this week that everyone arriving from Victoria would be screened at Sydney Airport.
“He must accept full responsibility for this stuff up and seek urgent answers from his department about what went wrong and what NSW Health needs to ensure nothing like this happens again. This includes ensuring that NSW Health has the resources it needs to do its job.
“The Government has shouted from the rooftop in recent days about its efforts in ensuring people don’t cross the NSW/Vic border without a permit, including by patrolling the smallest border crossings in remote NSW, yet a plane full of passengers can touch down at Sydney Airport and sail through security - unbelievable.
“Given the economic sacrifices millions of people have already made to support our health system and save lives, the NSW Government has failed the people of NSW today. All they needed to do was ensure all passengers coming in from all flights were screened,” said Ms Faehrmann.
Contact: Jacob Miller - 0428 837 292