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

[by video link] The national plan is about giving Australians confidence in the safety of themselves and their families as well as confidence in the reopening of our economy—that they will be able to get their businesses back on a stable footing, their jobs even more secure, and that we can resume the type of growth that our country has seen in recent years, with strong growth in jobs numbers, providing strong opportunities for all Australians. To support this plan, Australians need to—as they currently are—turn out in record numbers to get vaccinated. Some 86-plus per cent of over 70s have now had their first dose of vaccine. Fifty-nine point nine per cent of them have had their second dose. Across the whole population aged 16-plus, 55.2 per cent have now had their first dose. As we see the ATAGI advice being received in relation to children, continued increase in supply and growth in the more than 8,900 centres where people can get a vaccine, all should have confidence that we can deliver this plan. (Time expired)