Mike Freelander (Macarthur, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. According to Department of Health figures, the member for Dawson's electorate has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country. Why has the Prime Minister failed to condemn the member for Dawson's irresponsible undermining of public health measures designed to stop the spread of COVID, including his support of civil disobedience? For example, George Christensen says the COVID mask mandate is an insanity.

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

I refer you to the comments I made from the Lodge when I conducted a press conference on these issues the other day. Members of this parliament are accountable for their own actions and their own decisions. They're accountable for their own actions and their own decisions. I note the member for Dawson has made his own decisions about the next election. But, if these are the matters the opposition wish to raise, why have they selected a candidate for the Labor Party in Higgins who talks down AstraZeneca vaccines? If that is the standard they wish to raise, it is them that are setting this standard. If they want to have a candidate in Higgins, unlike the great member for Higgins we have in this chamber—a great medical doctor who has tremendous experience and has been a key source of advice—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The member for Macarthur is seeking the call on a point of order?

Mike Freelander (Macarthur, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on relevance: surely, this has nothing to do with the member for Dawson.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think, if the member for Macarthur reflects on my earlier rulings and reflects on all of the material in his question, he will find that the Prime Minister is indeed in order. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

I would encourage the Leader of the Labor Party to follow the example of the member for Maribyrnong in supporting those AstraZeneca vaccines and going and encouraging—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The Leader of the House, on a point of order?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the proper conduct of the chamber. If the Prime Minister won't call him into line, I ask that you ask the member for Dawson to wear a mask, like other members of the chamber are doing when they're not participating in debate.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind the member for Dawson of the statement I made yesterday. It couldn't have been clearer. We're asking all members who are not participating in the debate to wear a mask here in the chamber and in other areas in the building. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

I don't share the views of the member for Dawson on that matter. And I've been very clear about that. But, I tell you what: in this country people have a right to free speech, and that is not something that the government is seeking to clamp down on. But it is important that people get the right information, and it is important that members of this chamber get the right information to people in their electorates. That is something that I strongly support, and I encourage all members of the government to do exactly that. I would invite the Leader of the Labor Party, given he is inviting me to make these comments, to say the same thing about his Labor candidate for Higgins. He's happy to have one of them talking down AstraZeneca vaccines. The Leader of the Labor Party should take the example of the former Leader of the Labor Party, who's happy to get out there and support the CSL workers who are out there making those AstraZeneca vaccines, which the Leader of the Labor Party seems to be crab walking away from.