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

And Labor not only are being dishonest in their points of order but are being dishonest in their representation of the issue. We did set ourselves an objective with respect to vaccination of the aged-care workforce, but we received advice from the health professionals that we not vaccinate residents and the workforce at the same time. I've put that information on the table so many times in this chamber. I know that Labor are living in the past, I know that they're only interested in fighting us and not helping us fight the virus, but we received health advice not to vaccinate residents and staff at the same time. We took that advice. We then, through the AHPPC and through national cabinet, set a target date of 17 September for all aged-care workers to have received a first dose. We're on track to meet that target. We will continue to work to that objective. I had a webinar that was open to every aged-care provider and their infection control lead this morning to talk to them about the target and the processes that we were going through, the advice that we could assist them with and the channels that were available to them to get their workforce vaccinated. This is an important measure. We continue to work on it. We are determined to meet our objective and we continue to work cooperatively with the sector and the unions, I might add, in that course. We continue to work to support people in the aged-care sector in Australia.