Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I don't believe I have misled the Senate, and I take the remarks I make in this place around that really seriously. I do believe that vaccination is a community responsibility; I do believe it. If we all went around unvaccinated, there would be a whole range of diseases and illnesses in this country. Whilst it might not affect many of us in this chamber, although it would affect some of us, if you are immunocompromised then the fact that people aren't vaccinated could have a significant and serious effect on your health. That is the reality. That's the approach we take with the childhood vaccination program. It's the approach we've taken with the pandemic. There is no doubt—despite Senator Rennick's interjections—that there is evidence, because the mortality rate from COVID is significantly reduced now that we have a highly vaccinated population. The evidence is in on that.