Debates and Questions - Day 1 - 24 April 2020
Parliamentary Record 27
Debates and Questions for 13th Assembly 2019 - 2020; ParliamentNT; Parliamentary Record; 13th Assembly 2016 - 2020
2020-04-24
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Debates and Questions
Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
Darwin
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Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
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DEBATES AND QUESTIONS Friday 24 April 2020 8361 Ms FYLES: A point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker! We have not finished passing the bill. And we also have another bill. Consideration in detail Clauses 1 to 3, by leave, taken together and agreed to. Clause 4: Mrs FINOCCHIARO: What are the expenses associated with the enforced quarantine fee? Ms FYLES: A combination of food and security. Mrs FINOCCHIARO: Does that fee cover all of the expenses or is it a portion of the expenses? Ms FYLES: The advice I am provided with is that it is a portion. Mrs FINOCCHIARO: How was the maximum fee of $10 000 determined? Ms FYLES: That maximum of $10 000 was determinedthe medical advice could change. For example, we are fairly confident with the clinical advice that the disease presents itself within the first 14 days. I think one of our cases was presented on day 13. That could change. That is based upon allowingif the clinical advice about this illness changes, that would be the maximum amount charged. Mrs FINOCCHIARO: How many people have been required to quarantine since 3 April? Ms FYLES: There are currently 270 in quarantine. I think I have it. Mrs FINOCCHIARO: Those 270 would have had to pay the amount? Ms FYLES: Correct. There are people on top of that. That is the number today, but people have come in. I would be happy to provide those figures; it is not a big secret. Mrs FINOCCHIARO: Do all of those people have to pay, or are some able to access waivers? Ms FYLES: In certain cases it is appropriate that the Chief Health Officer waives that fee. Anyone entering the Territory is expected to go into forced quarantine and pay $2500. The Chief Health Officer has the power to give someone an exemption based on a number of reasons. Equally, people could still go into the forced quarantine but he would have the ability to reduce or waive that fee. Mrs FINOCCHIARO: Do people who get an exemption to undertake the quarantine at home not have to pay anything? Ms FYLES: Correct. Mr WOOD: Just on that question of the number of people in quarantine, what happens when people cross biosecurity lines? Do they have to go into quarantine and are those quarantine numbers counted here? Ms FYLES: In my summation I said that the biosecurity is separate to quarantine. If someone who was doing 14 days quarantine in Darwin or Alice Springs went to cross the biosecurity line that is separate. There are different processes in place for them. Mr WOOD: Is that covered by the Chief Health Officer or by the Commonwealth? Ms FYLES: That is covered by Commonwealth biosecurity legislation. Mr WOOD: Do they charge for their quarantine? Ms FYLES: That quarantine is voluntary but they have to prove that they have been in quarantine for 14 days before they can enter a biosecurity area, so there is a process and provisions in place for them to do that. Mrs FINOCCHIARO: Do people quarantined at the Howard Springs facility have to pay the $2500?