Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Public health is the responsibility of state governments. When there is a pandemic that is reaching into aged-care facilities, then there is of course an overlap of those responsibilities. The Commonwealth has responsibilities. The state government has responsibilities. What we have done is work together. We have established the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre, led by Joe Buffone from Emergency Management Australia, bringing together a series of professionals—whether it be in the health sector or other sectors—that are responsible for ensuring we get the right outcome.

Again I remind people: despite the fact that we have had unacceptable outcomes in fewer than half a dozen facilities, and a total of 16 have been considered to have had a significant impact, 97 per cent of aged-care facilities in this country have had no COVID infections. And in Victoria, where there has been a significant outbreak, more than 90 per cent have not had a COVID infection. I think the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre, under Joe's leadership, is doing a great job. I want to thank the Premier of Victoria for his cooperation, working with me, and the Minister for Health, working with his counterpart in Victoria, and the Minister for Aged Care and his counterpart in Victoria, working together to ensure that we can protect lives in aged-care facilities and throughout Victoria.

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