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

Mr President, I paint that scenario because those opposite would be the first to condemn if the Prime Minister was not following health advice and health recommendations at the time. What he has done, what our government has done, is listen to and act on the health advice of our Commonwealth health officials at every step of the way, and that has included questions around mandates and vaccinations as they apply. We have been very clear in the sense that we've acted where the health officials have recommended to apply those mandates to those most vulnerable, but the national plan also makes clear that we should go through the stages with these high levels of vaccination to reopen and to reopen thoroughly.