Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Health and Aged Care. Will the minister please outline to the House how the Morrison government is continuing to support states and territories during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to thank the member for Goldstein. Right throughout the pandemic he's focused on the needs of his community. Together we visited one of the early general practices which began the COVID-19 vaccination program. Across the country, we know that Australia is achieving results which, compared with the rest of the world, are extraordinary. But always we seek to achieve stronger and better results. This year there have been 94 days with zero cases. But right now, it's a difficult day for my fellow Victorians. It's as difficult and challenging day as we have had in the past. But we'll get through this. Having said that, the support is real and significant and tangible. The Commonwealth has invested $25 billion in supporting the states and territories and the Australian public through COVID-19 with health measures and with, in particular, over $2 billion for supporting our aged-care facilities in terms of workforce retention, in terms of support with PPE, in terms of In-reach for vaccination.

The second thing that has happened, of course, is that the primary healthcare network has been supported with over $6 billion of investment. A very significant part of that is that we now have well over 57 million telehealth consultations. Telehealth has been a fundamental part of our defence of individuals, to give them access to medicines where the circumstances do not allow them to leave their homes and also to protect our GPs and our health professionals. This will be an important defence for Victorians in coming days, for those who wish to stay at home and for those who do not feel that they can safely venture to the doctor or their circumstances do not allow it. In addition to that, we have more than $7 billion invested in medical research and the vaccine program, a program which has now reached 3.9 million vaccinations around the country. That program is absolutely fundamental. That is ultimately backed by the $9 billion which has been invested in our hospitals and our PPE.

With the PPE, or the personal protective equipment—masks, gloves, gowns—whilst much of the rest of the world has had catastrophic shortages, we ran an airbridge. We've continued to make sure that Australian health facilities are supplied with PPE. We've continued to ensure that, whether it's aged-care facilities or the states and territories, those supplies are available. They have been fundamental to keeping Australians safe. The budget invested and increased the funds available. All up, Australians are in a strong position, but we are working to keep them safe every day. (Time expired)