Embattled minister Corey Wingard’s department to face questions

Embattled Minister Corey Wingard’s department will face questions at this morning’s Budget & Finance Committee, including the controversial decision to allow interstate workers to skip 14-days quarantine to work on the Gawler Rail Electrification Project. 

Last week, the government confirmed special exemptions had been granted to tradespeople from interstate who are allowed to work as soon as they have returned one negative COVID test, rather than have to spend 14 days in quarantine like everybody else. 

This is despite the fact more than 7,000 South Australians are trapped interstate unable to return home, with most unable to even get a timely response from the government to their request. 

The Gawler electrification project has been plagued with delays and is now significantly behind schedule. 

This follows the Marshall Liberal Government’s decision during the seven-day lockdown in July to grant special exemptions to construction workers to work on State Government projects such as high school buildings. 

Quotes attributable to Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tom Koutsantonis 

Corey Wingard has staggered from controversy to controversy and there are many serious questions to ask his department. 

Many are rightly questioning exemptions granted to interstate rail workers. 

There appears to be a serious lack of consistency when thousands of South Australians cannot get home while interstate tradies get to skip 14 days quarantine while they work on State Government projects.