Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Senator Colbeck. How many aged-care residential facilities are currently experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks?

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

Thank you, Senator Keneally, for the question. Currently, there are 126 facilities in Victoria that have a COVID-19 outbreak.

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is that the national figure?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Keneally, supplementary question?

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I'll note that wasn't the full answer to my question. I did ask for the national figure. Perhaps the minister could update that as he also answers this: how many aged-care residential facilities have now recorded more than 100 cases?

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

On the figures that I have, the only facilities with a current outbreak are in Victoria. That is the national figure of facilities with a national outbreak. I don't have an individual breakdown of all facilities with me at question time here now. I'm very happy to bring back to you an answer to that question. But I don't believe there is any facility that has more than 100 residents that are positive. I'll confirm that at the end of the question time for you.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Keneally, a final supplementary question?

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister advise the Senate when the first outbreak at the Epping Gardens aged-care facility was first reported, and how many COVID-19 cases have been reported at that facility since?

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

As I said, I don't have a detailed breakdown of every facility, the first date of the outbreak or the number of residents and staff who have tested positive. I'm happy to provide that information to the Senate at the end of question time.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order, Senator Keneally?

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I appreciate the minister's attempting to answer the question. If he's going to take it on notice, could he confirm that the answer is 210 cases at Epping—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Keneally, please—that's not a point of order at all. Senator Cormann on the point of order?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That was just my point. That was absolutely not a point of order. It was a political point. If Senator Keneally has the answer at her fingertips because she of course knew the question that she was going to ask, why did she ask it if not for anything other than just playing politics with what is a very serious issue? She should be ashamed of herself.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I will call Senator Wong on the point of order when there's silence.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a very serious issue. This involves the deaths of too many Australians, and it is entirely appropriate that the opposition ask this minister questions which go to his handling of this crisis. That is what the opposition is doing and that is what the opposition will continue to do.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Firstly, on Senator Keneally's point of order: Senator Keneally, you know better—that wasn't a point of order. I remind senators that, when they rise on a point of order, they have to point to the standing order they believe is being breached. It's not up to me or the Chair to go to the motives of anyone seeking an answer to a question in question time. I have allowed the two leaders to make observations on that point. I urge senators to remember the standing orders when they're asking and answering questions or raising points of order.

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

As I said, there are 126 facilities in Victoria with an active case right now. I don't have a full list of all those 126 facilities with me, but I have committed to getting back to Senator Keneally and the chamber at the end of question time with the details that she's asked for.