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

The minister for industry may wish to add to the answer. We've been progressing strongly with the discussions we've been having with both CSL and Moderna in relation to the manufacturing of mRNA vaccines here in Australia. This is not a capability that other countries have, other than those who had it prior to the commencement of this pandemic. We're looking forward to those negotiations now proceeding to the next level. I've been having constructive discussions with premiers about the support that they can provide also for this facility. This is an important capability in relation not just to COVID vaccines—with which Australia is well supplied, particularly in relation to booster shots—but to the role that mRNA vaccines can play into the future. The suggestion by those opposite that this is something that could already have been established here is simply false. We are progressing well with this initiative, working with those who have that capability, and we look forward to it being brought to Australia.

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