Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Fewer than three per cent of Australians are fully vaccinated. The government has failed to meet any of its vaccine targets. It failed to secure enough vaccine deals. There's uncertainty about the health advice and, in Sydney, people are driving around foreign air crews who haven't been vaccinated. The government had two jobs this year: to roll out the vaccine, effectively, and national quarantine. Why has it botched both?

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Throughout this global pandemic, the Australian government has acted on the advice of the medical experts. We've acted on the advice of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, we've acted on advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation and we've acted on the advice of professors Paul Kelly and Brendan Murphy. We have taken on board that advice and we've acted accordingly.

On the last point that the opposition leader made, is he seriously suggesting that we make the jabs compulsory? It is voluntary—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He has asked the question. We want to encourage, obviously, all Australians to get that jab. It is so important. It is absolutely critical. Indeed, over the last seven days 731,660 people have got the vaccination; over the last eight days, 874,468; and over the last 10 days, 1.1 million. More than 60 per cent of people over 70 are protected with a first dose. More than 40 per cent of people over 50 are protected with a first dose. More than one in four of the eligible population aged 16 and over are protected with a first dose. In aged care, all 2,566 RACFs have received a first dose and 96.9 per cent of Commonwealth RACFs have received a second dose. In disability care, 9,718 NDIS participants in residential accommodation have received at least one dose. This is, as Professor Brendan Murphy said, the largest logistical exercise in Australia's peacetime history.

To the opposition leader's point about the transport worker: we are happy to look into this particular case. Indeed, I'm happy to take any more information if the opposition leader has it. But the New South Wales state government has been the gold standard by which contact tracking and tracing has occurred. It has made every measure and effort to keep New South Wales safe. Indeed, that is how they have kept their state safe, just as we have ensured that we have kept this country safe. We're doing this in the most practical, responsible way, listening at all times to the best possible medical advice.