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

[by video link] I completely reject the premise of Senator Keneally's question. It has always been part of our national plan to progressively increase the number of outlets where coronavirus vaccines are available. We started with the state clinics, the Commonwealth vaccination clinics, and then we brought on GPs. The plan was always to progressively bring on pharmacies as vaccine availability increased, and that's exactly what we've done. I reject the comment that we put barriers in front of pharmacies. We have progressively built the vaccine supply and the number of outlets to ensure that Australians can get access to a vaccine wherever they are around the country and to ensure that that is done safely and progressively so that we can meet our objective of providing everyone who wants a vaccine one by the end of the year.