Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

I haven't seen Mr Christensen's remarks, but I would make a couple of observations.

Firstly, I would observe that, as is often the case when these sorts of highly-charged political debates occur, there are some who take an approach which seems to suggest that everything that's ever been uttered needs to be retracted or withdrawn. So let's be very clear that our government stands firmly by our vaccine strategy. Our government wants to make sure that that is the No. 1 focus of government policy delivery and of public dialogue in relation to building confidence around the vaccine strategy.

As I have already told the chamber, and as Senator Colbeck has told the chamber, the Prime Minister met with Mr Kelly this morning. The Prime Minister made clear that neither he nor the government support any views that undermine the vaccine strategy, whether made by Mr Kelly or by anyone else in that regard. We want to make sure the overwhelming focus is on building public confidence to receive the vaccines that we are investing in and that we have secured for the Australian people. This strategy is crucial and a crucial part of the nation's health and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Australia is incredibly well prepared because of the good work done last year to make sure we have a successful delivery of vaccines across the country.