Libby Coker (Corangamite, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australians are feeling vulnerable and uncertain, thanks to the Morrison government's failed vaccine rollout. At this stage only three per cent of our population has been vaccinated. In contrast the US has achieved 45.6 per cent vaccination, and the UK has achieved 80 per cent. This slow, complacent rollout has been disastrous—particularly in my state of Victoria, where we have seen too many lockdowns at too great a cost.

If the Morrison government had simply done their job we could have avoided lockdowns and quarantine outbreaks. Did you know there have been 24 outbreaks from quarantine? This is a federal responsibility. But they couldn't even get a decent deal with key producers like Moderna or Pfizer. Instead they put all their eggs in one basket, and we are all seeing the consequences.

It's vital that this government pushes forward to vaccinate more Australians. It's crucial that we have a vaccine education program to prevent misinformation and hesitation when getting the jab. That's why, this Friday, 25 June, I'm hosting a vaccine information session with the Barwon Health Department of Infectious Diseases director, Professor Athan. If you've got any questions before getting vaccinated, please join this information session at libbycoker.com.au. The vaccine is our path to getting out of COVID, and we need to race towards having as many people vaccinated as possible.