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

(—) (): The Prime Minister absolutely holds the same clear views in support of encouraging every single Australian to get vaccinated. Indeed, more than 91 per cent of Australians over the age of 16 have had a first dose. They have heeded that message and responded positively, and more than 85 per cent of Australians over the age of 16 have followed through and had that second dose to become fully vaccinated, ensuring that we are one of the most highly protected countries in the world now. In terms of vaccine uptake, we are one of the most highly protected countries in the world—now well above the OECD average and above the rate in countries like Israel or the UK—and we are a nation that has demonstrated that you can have a pathway to vaccination overwhelmingly voluntarily applied but Australians will respond to the merit of those arguments which have been laid out to encourage them to do so. They have, we thank them and we continue to encourage them to do so. (Time expired)