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

My question is to the Minister for Health. Lakemba Respiratory Clinic is run by the federal government. It's one of the sites the minister referred to in his last answer. The manager of the clinic, Dr Saleh, says he's been forced to borrow vaccines from nearby clinics because his weekly delivery didn't show up. Dr Saleh says:

We don’t know which day doses will arrive, last week it was Monday, this week we have been told Thursday.

Why is this happening in a COVID hotspot?

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'd be pleased to receive the details, because we have a vaccine operation centre which ensures that each week we are achieving full national distribution. There are 8,000 sites. Those are being delivered on a weekly basis. The advice that I have is that they are being achieved. If there are any issues in relation to this particular site, this has not been drawn to my attention. This is one of the issues which we manage on behalf of many members in this House and we've been able to resolve them as and when they arise. I'm not aware that the member has previously made any representations to myself or Operation COVID Shield on this. It doesn't sound like it, in which case—

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

I just say to the Minister for Health—

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

Point of order!

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

The Manager of Opposition Business, I'm going to deal with the matter first.

Mr Burke interjecting—

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat for a second. I say to the Minister for Health, the way question time works is that the ministers get the questions. I discourage interjections. We cannot adopt a practice where you ask a question and expect them to answer. Otherwise—and this has happened a couple of times, not just with the Minister for Health—if that is going to be the practice, I'll stop it, and I might stop it by allowing an indulgence on the matter from the target of that. The Minister for Health.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would be very pleased to receive any information in relation to this particular facility and I would be happy to provide the details of the provision of vaccines. There is no doubt that every facility is receiving vaccines around the country—as I say, over 8,000 Commonwealth facilities. As well, there is the provision of support for over 800 state facilities. And, if there is any particular evidence and material, we would be pleased to respond to that immediately, as we have done with other members who have made representations. I would also note that there is one element which may affect distribution over the coming days. There is the risk of a transport strike on Friday—

Mr Stephen Jones interjecting—

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

The member for Whitlam will cease interjecting. The Minister for Health.

Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And we hope that there is no impact on distribution, because an impact on one part of the system does have an impact on another part of the system. We'll continue to provide the vaccines. I would be pleased to receive the advice and the material, and we'll address it immediately.