NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been forced to defend her actions after a media report suggesting she failed to isolate after having a coronavirus test last week.
Key points:
- The Premier said she got a COVID-19 test because she knew she would be asked about losing her voice
- It is a requirement that anyone who has a COVID-19 test self-isolate until they get their results
- Shadow health minister Ryan Park says the Premier needs to explain how she was able to isolate in her office
The Australian is reporting Ms Berejiklian told colleagues she was awaiting COVID-19 test results while working in Parliament last Tuesday.
NSW Health guidelines require anyone who has had a COVID-19 test to self-isolate until they have been given the all-clear with a confirmed negative result.
A spokesperson for the Premier said: "At no stage did the Premier have COVID-19 symptoms and therefore [she] did not require a test."
"However, as the Premier began losing her voice, she took a precautionary test as she anticipated that she would be asked if she had had a COVID test."
The spokesperson said, given the Premier's role, the test was administered late in the afternoon and in her office.
"A rapid negative result was returned in around two hours."
Tuesday was a busy day for the NSW Government, which handed down an unprecedented budget amid a record $16 billion deficit.
About lunchtime Ms Berejiklian congratulated Treasurer Dominic Perrottet with an "elbow bump" after he delivered the budget in the Lower House.
NSW shadow health minister Ryan Park said the Premier needed to outline clearly how she was able to self-isolate while in her office.
"I don't know whether you can isolate in the Premier's office or there's interaction with other people," he said.
"But what I do know is every single person — including the Premier of NSW — has to follow the rules during the pandemic.
"I think she needs to outline very clearly how she isolated, whether there were interactions with other people, and how she followed the advice she … and the Health Officer gives to everybody every single day."
The ABC's Coronacast host Norman Swan said the Premier "did the right thing" by getting tested when she began losing her voice.
"A croaky voice is good enough [reason] to have the test, and you wait until you get the results and you don't see anybody," Dr Swan said.
"It's inconvenient, it's awkward, but that's the name of the game."
Dr Swan said it had been a common problem around the world for politicians and public health officials to face questions about their adherence to COVID-19 rules.
He cited Prime Minister Scott Morrison's desire to continue with his plans to go to the football just as social distancing was coming in during the early days of the pandemic.
"Trust is a core element here and you risk as a leader breaching that trust, and people have to rely on leaders to get them through this," he said.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiamh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTExLTIzL2dsYWR5cy1iZXJlamlrbGlhbi11bmRlci1maXJlLWZvci13b3JraW5nLWFmdGVyLWNvdmlkLXRlc3QvMTI5MTI1NTDSASdodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTI5MTI1NTA?oc=5
2020-11-23 08:11:00Z
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