Fears for Covid-19 spread in Canberra after politicians attended function

Canberra is on the verge of a Covid crisis with news that a man was advised to isolate after attending several events with politicians in the nation’s capital.

Canberra is on the verge of a Covid crisis with news that an individual who attended a function at NSW parliament — that was attended by an infected member of the state government — was advised to isolate after later attending a number of functions with federal politicians in the nation’s capital.

David Heffernan, President of the NSW Pharmacy Guild, has told The Daily Telegraph that on Tuesday night he attended a post-budget function in the Strangers Dining Room at NSW parliament where state agriculture Adam Marshall, who has subsequently tested positive, was also present.

It is understood that Gladys Berejiklian was also present at the function, though only briefly.

President of the Pharmacy Guild of NSW David Heffernan speaks to the media during a press conference in Sydney last year. Picture: AAP

On Wednesday, Mr Heffernan says he travelled to Canberra, where he attended a function where Resources Minister Keith Pitt along with a number of other political figures were present, and also had drinks at Canberra’s Kingston Hotel where there were a large number of parliamentary staffers and politicians present.

“I have contacted people I was in contact with and they are all in the line-up to get tested in Canberra,” Mr Heffernan said.

“As soon as I heard the news about Adam Marshall this morning I cancelled my plans to visit Parliament House and spoke with my office, which made contact with Kerry Chant’s office, and I was advised to get tested right away.”

Mr Heffernan, who does not live in any of the local government areas affected by current travel restrictions, says that he has been conscious to do the right thing at every turn.

Deputy Prime Minister of Australia Barnaby Joyce during Question Time at Parliament House today. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

While parliament rises for the winter break this week, a positive result that saw Canberra locations declared hot spots, sending attendees into isolation, could see MPs and staffers forced to isolate for 14 days rather than return to their homes and electorate.

It comes after Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce was given the all clear to return to Question Time in Parliament amid initial fears he was a close contact of a Covid-19 risk.

Mr Joyce was delayed joining the final Question Time debate before the winter break on Thursday as he sought emergency health advice, but ultimately was able to attend.

“Shortly before Question Time I was alerted that I may have been in contact with a person who was a close contact with a case,” Mr Joyce said.

“I immediately sought further information and advice from deputy chief medical officer Professor Michael Kidd.

“As I am not a close contact, I’m now able to attend the chamber.”