Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Bragg for the question. We know that the search for a vaccine is one upon which the world is focused. Without a vaccine, as we know, we won't be able to return fully to the life we knew prior to COVID-19, and you only have to look at the changes that we've had to make here in the parliament as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Australian government is taking targeted action to ensure that Australians have access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines if and when they become available. Our strategy is fourfold. The first is in research. We've allocated over $358 million towards research in relation to vaccines, preventions, treatment and respiratory medicines. Most significantly, there's been an investment of $5 million in the University of Queensland molecular clamp. Another vaccine funding round has opened, and the government expects to receive the peer reviewed recommendations shortly. The second is in direct procurement with leading international vaccine candidates. We have already announced our agreement with AstraZeneca, and negotiations are advanced with multiple other candidates. The third is in participation in the international Covax Facility, which is an international consortium to give participant nations access to a variety of potential vaccine candidates. It acts as a common platform for investment in return for common participation in whichever vaccine is successful. And the fourth is in onshore manufacturing capacity for a vaccine in Australia either directly or under a licence, including through CSL. We're confident that these investments and actions will secure early and sufficient access to a safe and effective vaccine.