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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Would Australia be closer to reopening if the Prime Minister had not failed his two jobs on vaccine and quarantine?

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

I thank the member for his question, because he's made this reference once more, implying that the Prime Minister of this country only has two jobs. As I said before, anyone who thinks a prime minister of this country only has two jobs isn't up to the job. I can say that because those of us who have been dealing with one of the most serious situations that we have had to address during our time of government—that is, to seek the evacuation of what has almost been 1,700 people out of Kabul right now—would understand that a prime minister at any given time has more than two jobs. That matter is the one that we have been particularly applied on in this most recent week. And I want to thank again those Australians on the ground in Kabul right now doing that very important job at one of most sensitive times of the mission that they have.

But, as we continue to move forward and deal with those issues, as we have continued to have done that over these many months—with 430 individuals, Afghans and their families, brought to this country well before this crisis even hit in the most recent iteration and now we have moved into that evacuation mode—we have continued to reduce taxes on those working in this country and we have continued with the many jobs. It is inferred by those opposite—

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

I just say to the Prime Minister: I know the point he made at the start of the answer, but it can't be rest of the answer. He needs to bring himself back to the two policy issues in the question. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

The government have dealt with the many responsibilities that we have, from national security to ensuring we're dealing with COVID—

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Ms Collins interjecting—

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

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. As I said to the Prime Minister, he needs to bring himself back to the subject matter of the question. I don't need the member for Franklin to be interjecting at all. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

As I was saying, we are dealing with these many responsibilities. In relation to the COVID response, our government has worked with governments around this country to achieve two very significant things for the Australian people: saving over 30,000 lives—

Mr Albanese interjecting—

I note the gasp by the Leader of the Opposition with his interjection. This is a Leader of the Opposition who always hopes for the worst, right?

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. I can't see the Leader of the Opposition on a point of order, but I will hear him. The Leader of the Opposition, on a point of order?

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

Yes, Mr Speaker. It goes to relevance. The question wasn't about his capacity. It was about vaccines and quarantine.

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

I've asked the Prime Minister to come back, and he was doing that. What I'd suggest is—

Honourable members interjecting—

If people didn't interject and try and—

Mr Dutton interjecting—

The Leader of the House will cease interjecting. The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The Prime Minister will come back to the question and be relevant to it and not worry about any commentary that he has in his mind. The Prime Minister will be relevant to the question.

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

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The government have continued to implement our plans and our response to the COVID pandemic, which has seen us save 30,000 lives, with the help of Australians and their sacrifices all around the country, and has ensured that a million Australians have been able to get back to work and be supported in those jobs. Even as we've gone through these lockdowns, we've been able to continue to support them with support payments, over $3 billion, which have been paid out to support people to get through these lockdowns. These are the important tasks as we continue through the COVID pandemic—and, importantly, the national plan that ensures that at 70 per cent and 80 per cent we will be able to live with this virus. That means we need to adjust our mindset, and all of us need to support Australians to adjust their mindset, as we go into these additional phases of this plan.

These are the challenges that we've been overcoming. These are the results we are getting. The vaccination program is now running at levels that, on a seven-day average per capita, is better—

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

The Prime Minister's time has concluded.