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

My question is to the Prime Minister. On the day that Queensland's hotel quarantine system reaches capacity, the Morrison government asked the parliament to agree to the construction of dedicated quarantine facilities in Queensland and Western Australia. Why has it taken a lockdown affecting half of the Australian population, at least 27 breaches in hotel quarantine and a system at breaking point for the Prime Minister to accept fit-for-purpose quarantine facilities have been needed all along?

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

The Leader of the Opposition, in framing that question in that way, I think discourages the great work that has been done by states and territories around the clock for the last 18 months, because, when we came together in March last year and we were faced with one of the most urgent crises, with people returning to this country who could potentially be COVID-infected, all of us together—states, territories and the Commonwealth—agreed that the most effective way to deal with this crisis was to ensure we put in place a system of hotel quarantine which all the states and territories signed up for, and that has had a success rate which the rest of the world has envied. I know that because I have discussed it with those leaders. Those opposite may wish to pretend that any system of quarantine can operate with 100 per cent effectiveness, but that would be foolish, that would be unrealistic and that would be seeking to simply undermine the efforts that have been put in place, have saved 30,000 lives and got a million people back to work. Our national plan is going to ensure that we can open this country up again when we do reach those 70 and 80 per cent vaccination rates and that we can live with the virus into the future—something about which those opposite have cast doubt.

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. 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. The question was about fit-for-purpose quarantine facilities that were considered by this parliament, this House, earlier today, without the usual inquiries through the Public Works Committee, and the fact that the government brought it forward as a matter of urgency, 18 months after what the Prime Minister just referenced—

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

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The Leader of the Opposition won't debate the matter. The Prime Minister has been relevant to this point, but the question was about quarantine, not the broader opening up and other policies associated with the challenge that we have. I'll call the Prime Minister and ask him to—

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

In addition, as part of this broad program that we have embarked upon over the last 18 months and the highly effective nature of the arrangements that states and territories elected to enter into—

Mr Albanese interjecting—

They did elect. I was at the meeting; the Leader of the Opposition was not. He was too busy bagging the national cabinet for existing in the first place. That's what he was doing in the first place. He may have had a road to Maribyrnong conversion this day about the national plan, but I don't think anyone believes him.