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

I thank Senator Lambie for the question. We did provide a response to that select committee some months ago. I can't tell you the number specifically, Senator Lambie. I just can't recall it.

But you raise an important question around mpox. The National Incident Centre has been activated to monitor that situation and coordinate the Australian government response. Australia has not recorded any cases of the new strain of mpox virus circulating in Africa. But, obviously, the systems that are in place—and we have learned from the pandemic, I think, about our emergency health response—have been activated, and it is being actively monitored. But that National Incident Centre will allow a scalable and consistent approach to governance and the coordination of operations across government and departments.

I should say the advice is that the current risk to the Australian public from mpox transmission is low to moderate. The public health risk to Australians will continue to be monitored and inform any adjustments to current activities. There are two vaccines available for use in Australia, and both are currently held by the National Medical Stockpile in case of a surge in cases within Australia. The department is reviewing the vaccine stock in light of the African outbreak.