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

I thank the member for Higgins for her question. I thank her and the many members of this chamber who have shown such strong support to their communities over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the member's medical background and experience, I've greatly appreciated her counsel and advice over these many, many months—18 months, in fact—over the course of this crisis.

Once again we are faced with another challenge in combating this virus. It is not the first challenge that we have faced, and it won't be the last. But this is a challenge now in Victoria that we will face together with the state government of Victoria, and I commend them on their efforts to date in addressing this latest challenge. It's a challenge and a battle, but we have overcome these many times. There are no certainties in the fight against the global pandemic, whether here in Australia or anywhere else. There are no guarantees. Our best defence is the steadfast resilience of the Australian people working together to put in place the protections that have been so enabling to Australians to come through to this point in the virus. That is what will sustain us all into the future, continuing on in that cooperative, collaborative and supportive way all around the country.

The next seven days will be important. They will be difficult for Victorians, as the member for Higgins and many members from Victoria in this chamber know. They will be difficult but, in my discussions with the acting Premier this morning and yesterday as well, we are determined together to ensure that we provide every support and assistance to assist Victorians through this next difficult period. It is important nationally as well. It isn't just relevant in Victoria; it is important nationally. I know that all Australians will be supporting Victoria in every way they can to ensure that they overcome this latest challenge, as other states and other communities around Australia have combatted these challenges in the past and equally have overcome them. I particularly want to thank the many contact tracers working as part of the Victorian government's effort right now.

This latest outbreak is a very complex one with many points, and I especially want to thank the 40,411 Victorians who came forward for testing yesterday. I want to thank the 30,426 Victorians who came forward and were vaccinated yesterday. I want to continue to encourage all Australians. Whether you are in Victoria or any other part of the country, the vaccines are there with the GPs. They are there in the state clinics that have been established for that purpose. The events in Victoria will remind all Australians that, despite the fact that we have been able to live in this country in a way that virtually no other country around the world has been able to live, it comes with its challenges, as Singapore, many other countries and even Taiwan have realised in recent times. But I would encourage all Australian to get vaccinated and to take up that opportunity.

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