Anne Webster (Mallee, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

[by video link] As of yesterday, we have delivered 18 million doses of the vaccine across the country, including over 6.16 million in the last 28 days. This means that more than 55 per cent of the eligible population is protected by their first those and that over 32 per cent of the eligible population is protected by both doses.

These numbers are immensely encouraging and they will continue to increase, with more young people keen to be vaccinated. People want their lives back and they are stepping up to make sure it is sooner rather than later. Under the national plan, hitting the 70 to 80 per cent targets will mean that we can start claiming back our freedoms. But it will also, inevitably, mean more case numbers. Once we reach these targets we must not be intimidated by rising case numbers. Our focus needs to be on hospitalisations and managing this virus like any other infectious disease in our community. The fact is that we cannot continue to live under lockdowns, particularly in regional areas. Our children are missing school, our businesses are struggling and our health and wellbeing are suffering.

The national plan is our vehicle and the vaccines are our fuel on the road back to normal life. We need to trust this process for the good of our nation.