George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

What is needed is resources. And it is for each nation, in responding to the United Nations' call, to provide those resources in the way that it is best able. Australia has assessed that the best way it can provide resources is by providing funding; hence our decision to make available an additional $18 million on top of our contribution to the World Health Organization and to make it available immediately. Australia does not have the same capabilities as the United States. Australia does not have the same capabilities as other nations. But what we do have is the capacity to provide funding to support those capabilities. That is a judgement the government has made on the basis of the best advice available to it, including from medical professionals, and it is advice we intend to follow so that we can make our contribution to this effort.