Business seeks clarity on South Australia’s reopening strategy

Business figures at their wit’s end over ‘NTBs’ – their description for the unpredictability of Nicola Spurrier’s Covid rulings.

South Australia’s chief health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

Frustrated South Australian businesses are demanding more details as to how the state’s Covid road map will work once borders to NSW and Victoria open on November 23.

The Australian has spoken to several businesses, from major manufacturers and hospitality venues to corner grocery stores, which have no idea whether they will be forced to close in the event of a Covid case in their workplace.

SA Health is unable to say whether these businesses will need to force individual workers to isolate if they are infected or whether close contacts could be forced into quarantine, or what a “close” contact is.

There are fears businesses may have to shut entirely until infected workers test negative.

Every key lobby group has expressed concern about the confusion, amid criticisms of Premier Steven Marshall for leaving so much detail to SA Health and SAPOL.

Commissioner Grant Stevens has on several occasions overruled the more conservative advice of chief health officer Nicola Spurrier.

Some business figures say they are at their wit’s end with what they call “NTBs” – an acronym for “Nicola Thought Bubbles” on what they regard as the unpredictability of Professor Spurrier’s safety rulings in a state where just four people have died in the pandemic.

Business SA chief executive Martin Haese said while business understood the need to remain prudent, more detail was needed to explain how life would work after November 23, when the state’s double-dosed vaccination rate is scheduled to hit 80 per cent.

“While the business community is positive about the state reopening its borders, they are concerned about the prospect of soon ending up in a localised lockdown or a lockdown of their business,” he said. “The answer to this, and more, can only come via greater clarity on the road map. We are calling for that.”

The Australian spoke to the CEO of one company who refused to go public on account of having government contracts but said he knew no one in business who had any idea how things would work. “I was at a dinner last night with three other businesses and they have no direction,” the CEO said.

“As one said to me, if I have to shut before Christmas for 14 days, it will sink my business after 37 years.”

Amid mounting calls to intervene on the issue, Mr Marshall said he was “absolutely” aware of business concerns and more details would be coming.

He said the road map thus far was a “framework” for the reopening of borders but he met this week with Mr Stevens and Professor Spurrier ahead of the release of substantial details.

“We are now doing the final analysis in terms of TTIQ – test, trace, isolate, quarantine – and what the requirements will be, as well as the differential for those people who are vaccinated and unvaccinated,” Mr Marshall said.