Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | Hansard source

I do commend NSW for the work that they have done in managing COVID-19. Clearly, throughout the pandemic, they have done an exceptional job. The Delta variant, however, has presented a range of new parameters for us to deal with. It moves much more quickly and, as we've learnt more about it, it's been clear using the health advice and the scientific evidence that we've had to change our approach. The New South Wales government and the Prime Minister have both acknowledged that. The government will continue to adapt its approach to COVID-19, as we meet all of the challenges that come towards us through the pandemic, as we have done through the pandemic so far.

As has been said on a number of occasions, there is no rule book to this pandemic. We know that new variants will come and they will change the way that we have to approach the pandemic. We will continue to meet those challenges. Australians can be confident of that. But the thing that we need to concentrate on right now is to continue to increase the pace of the vaccine rollout. That's where the government's focus is, that's why we've released the plan that we have to allow the economy to reopen, that's why we are increasing the number of points where Australians can access vaccine and that's why we are working with the New South Wales government to increase the capacity in those areas of concern in New South Wales. We will continue to do that. We will continue to meet the challenges that this pandemic throws up to us all. We will continue to support Australians as they need to be supported and we will continue to increase the capacity of Australians to get access to a vaccine because we know that is one of the most important pathways towards a more normal life for all Australians.