Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. The Liberal member for Hughes, Mr Craig Kelly, has made a range of statements, including:

… you don't need no vaccine.

Does the minister agree that this statement is irresponsible and dangerous, and endangers Australian lives?

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

I understand that Mr Kelly has equally indicated that he supports the distribution of the vaccine and intends to have a vaccine himself.

My message to all Australians, and the message of our government to all Australians, is that whether you are a member of the public or a member of parliament you ought to take your health advice from the health experts. When it comes to the development of our vaccine strategy, our government works alongside Professor Paul Kelly, the Chief Medical Officer, in the development of our vaccination strategy—

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

Order. I have Senator Wong on a point of order.

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

The point of order is direct relevance: the question is not about whether the Prime Minister is listening to the advice of medical officers. We are asking this minister, who is representing the Prime Minister, whether or not the statement by Mr Kelly that 'you don't need no vaccine' is irresponsible and dangerous.

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

Thank you, Senator Wong. The minister, earlier in his answer, did reference statements by the member of the other place and he is specifically talking about communications and information about a vaccine. I have allowed you to restate the question; I can't instruct him how to answer it. But as long as he stays in those bounds I think he is being directly relevant.

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

Thanks, Mr President. Let me be very clear: all Australians are encouraged, and should be encouraged, to receive a vaccine. The vaccine is voluntary and the rollout of the vaccination process will be voluntary. However, all members across the parliament—all people across leadership positions—ought to encourage the safe receipt of the vaccines, because we are doing this based upon the best available health advice for the nation.

As Senator Colbeck outlined to the chamber before, Australia is one of the few countries in the world—

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

Senator Wong on a point of order.

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

The point of order is on direct relevance. The question is about a statement made by Mr Kelly. Will this minister say to the Senate and, through it, to the Australian people, that Mr Kelly's statement is irresponsible and dangerous? That is the question that he has been asked. He is refusing to even respond to Mr Kelly's statement.

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

Senator Wong, I have allowed you to restate the question. I have ruled previously, and I believe the minister is narrowly constructing his remarks. You are asking me to instruct the minister on the terms in which he should answer, which is outside my authority. There is a chance to debate answers after question time. I believe the minister is being directly relevant.

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

Again, as I have said very clearly, everyone should be encouraged to have the vaccine and everyone should encourage receipt of the vaccine. In this place and in the other place, everyone should encourage their constituents and others to receive the vaccine. That is a vaccine that, in this country, has gone through more scrutiny and safer processes and will be part of a coordinated vaccination strategy, and all Australians should have confidence in its safety and its efficacy.

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

Senator O'Neill, a supplementary question?

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yesterday at the National Press Club, like you did just now, Senator Birmingham, you refused to reject Mr Kelly's irresponsible and damaging comments. Why?

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

I don't think I could have been any clearer in relation to the government's position or my position about the receipt of vaccines. We encourage everyone to receive the vaccine. It is voluntary across Australia. It will be voluntary. But, we want to make sure there are high levels of confidence in the vaccine program. We have gone through a process that is thorough and rigorous to ensure those high levels of confidence.

Australia, unlike other countries that have had to rush emergency approvals, has been able to go through the comprehensive processes of the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Australia, unlike other countries that have had to rush distribution processes, has been able to develop distribution arrangements that should give people confidence in the efficacy and efficiency of the rollout. Australia is taking this role not only in our country but in leading others in our region to promote the receipt of the vaccine.

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

Senator O'Neill on a point of order.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point of order again is on relevance. The question was very clear: why do you continue to refuse to reject Mr Kelly's irresponsible comments?

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

Senator O'Neill, again, I can't instruct the minister on the terms in which to answer. I believe the minister is constructing his comments to be directly relevant and has addressed part of that question in his answer.

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

I am not going to give airtime to debates about the merits of the vaccine. I am going to stick to the merits of the vaccine and the merits of our vaccination strategy to get it to all Australians.

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

Senator O'Neill, a final supplementary question?

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Will the minister today make a clear public statement that Mr Kelly's advice to the Australian people is irresponsible and dangerous and should not be relied upon?

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

I don't think I could have been any clearer in the previous answers about the advice to the Australian people. Rely upon the advice of Professor Kelly. Rely upon the advice of Dr Murphy. Rely upon the advice of your medical practitioners. Rely upon the advice that we promote of the health officials across this country. Rely upon the advice of medical officers across the states and territories. Rely upon the advice of the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Do you know whose advice our government are relying upon? That of all of those experts who have kept Australia safe as we have worked hand in glove with them throughout this pandemic. We are not being distracted by other comments. We are not seeking to promote debates about the merits of the vaccine. We are focused on its efficacy and delivery.

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

Senate Wong on a point of order.

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

My point of order is on direct relevance. I would again invite the minister to do the right thing and make a clear public statement that Mr Kelly's advice is irresponsible and dangerous and ought not be relied upon.

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

Senate Abetz, do you wish to rise on the point of order?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do, Mr President. I have been listening very closely to the assertions being made by the opposition and, if I understand the assertion correctly, 'You don't need no vaccine,' is in fact a double negative and therefore Mr Kelly is, in fact, promoting the vaccine, and I don't know why the opposition has got any difficulty with the matter.

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

You had a very good grammar teacher, Senator Abetz—congratulations! I have taken Senator Wong's point on the point of order. Senator Wong, I have allowed you to restate the question. I believe you are asking me to instruct the minister on the terms in which to answer. I believe he has been directly relevant, including just then when he was outlining a series of authorities that I believe are directly relevant to the question asked.

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

Unlike those opposite, I'm not going to promote debates from anybody who might undermine the vaccine strategy or its distribution.

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

That's a pathetic schoolboy debating point!

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

Order, Senator Wong!

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

We are going to promote receipt of the vaccine. We are going to promote the efficacy and safety of the vaccine, and that will be the focus of this— (Time expired)

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

Senator Wong, interjections are always disorderly.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Order! I'll call the next question when I have the opportunity to hear it. Senator Henderson.