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The South Australian Premier has denied calling the pizza shop worker accused of plunging the state into lockdown a “liar” — despite repeatedly telling journalists “he lied”.
South Australia was sent into a strict six-day lockdown when it was thought a Spanish national contracted coronavirus after buying a pizza from the Woodville Pizza Bar in Adelaide’s western suburbs.
However, the restrictions eased three days early after it was revealed the man was not a customer, but instead an employee at the shop who had worked several shifts.
When asked by reporters if he was thought his comments were too harsh in describing the man as “a liar”, the Premier said: “They weren’t my words.
“You can go back and take a look at it.
“What I made very clear at the time is: you should not be providing false and misleading information during a pandemic to SA Health workers.
“I stand by every single word I said about this person when that Parafield cluster was discovered.”
The pizza shop worker’s lawyer, Scott Jelbert, told the state’s COVID-19 Response Committee on Thursday there was a language barrier during his client’s interview with contact tracers.
He said his client was unaware who he was talking to.
“He knew they were from the government but that was it,” the committee heard.
Mr Jelbert told NCA NewsWire a translator was not used or offered to help his client communicate with authorities.
“He doesn’t have to have a certain level of English to work, and that’s matter for his employees to determine, but he does need a certain level of English to study but they are low threshold,” he said.
“His comprehension is better than his communication but there are still barriers.”
The man, who worked at one of the state’s medi-hotels, first told health authorities he contracted the virus by simply making contact with a pizza box from The Woodville Pizza Bar. It was not revealed until later he was in fact an employee of the shop.
At the time, a scathing Mr Marshall said the man’s actions had led to the unnecessary lockdown.
“To say that I am fuming about the actions of this individual is an understatement,” he told reporters in November.
“The selfish actions of this individual have put our whole state in a very difficult situation.
“His actions have affected businesses, individuals, family groups and it is completely and utterly unacceptable.”
As Mr Marshall addressed the media to announce an easing of restrictions — only three days into its circuit breaker — he said the man “deliberately misled” contact tracers.
“We now know that they lied,” he said.
“Now that we know this person lied, we need to find and isolate a whole new group of associates.
“I will not let the disgraceful conduct of a single individual keep SA in these circuit breaker conditions one day longer than what is necessary.”
Citing comments made by Mr Marshall and Police Commissioner Grant Stevens at press conferences, Mr Jelbert said his client — who is in SA on a bridging visa — was called “a liar”.
He also argued that the Premier’s language conflated two issues.
“Whether or not my client lied or misled contact tracers is separate to why we had a lockdown,” Mr Jelbert said.
“The extent of what my client did or did not say, rightly or wrongly, will only be one of many factors that the government had to contend with in determining to have a lockdown.
“Initially, (my client) was positive and confident this was a misunderstanding but no longer has that optimism.
“He’s fairly sombre, quiet and is losing any confidence he’ll get a fair opportunity to say his bit here.”
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