Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is not the way to boost maximum participation in relation to this vaccination rollout. It is simply not the way. I'm quite happy to circulate some of the articles I've read, which consider research over many years, in relation to the best way to encourage people to vaccinate. I will be taking the best medical advice that I can find, and that includes my own local GP, Dr Ben Gordon—and I give you a shout-out, Ben; you've been a loyal servant to my medical health over many years. I'll be sitting down with my GP and having the conversation which thousands of Australians will be having—or should be having—with their medical professional. I am entirely confident that—just as is the case with the high vaccination rates that our children have with respect to many vaccines that have been absolute lifesavers for millions of people around the world—after those conversations take place between Australian individuals and families and their medical professionals, their medical advisers, the majority of Australians will make their own free, voluntary decision to be vaccinated.

Senator O'Neill interjecting—

It does not help, Senator O'Neill, to seek to vilify and tip a bucket on people who have a different view to you. The result of it is—and there is scientific literature to this effect—that people simply seek to confirm their own prejudices and bunker down. That's the result of it. That's not my theory; that's the theory that has been written in scientific literature again and again. You must have a mutual, respectful debate and emphasise the positive aspects of people obtaining a vaccination, not just for them but also for their families and for the broader Australian community.

So I say that those opposite should reflect on the carping, negative approach to this topic which they have brought into this chamber today, because I don't think it's constructive, and I think you will achieve exactly the opposite of what you're seeking to achieve. You know what? One of the big issues is that so many Australians have a lack of confidence in so many government institutions, across the board, and the best way we can encourage those Australians to be vaccinated is to encourage them to have discussions with their own medical professionals—with doctors, with nurses, with pharmacists—obtain the best advice available to them and make the decision that's in the best interests of themselves and of their families. Once they have those discussions, once they receive that comfort, I'm very confident that Australia will have an extremely successful vaccination rollout program, as we've had with respect to a number of vaccines over decades and decades.