Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Colbeck. I refer to the documents tabled by Senator Colbeck yesterday, entitled COVID vaccination allocations horizons. Why is there no mention of the word 'target', and what precisely is meant by the new term 'horizons'?

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

The document that I tabled yesterday, which was provided to the states by Lieutenant General Frewen on Monday, was to provide to the states and territories an indication of the vaccine volumes that will be provided to them on a weekly basis between now and the end of this calendar year. That is the point of that. That is a terminology that is a part of that document. It is about providing information to the states and territories so that they can adequately and appropriately plan their requirements for people to vaccinate Australians as the amounts of vaccine begin to grow towards the end of the year. This is about working with the states and assisting them with their planning in relation to the workforce they will need to roll out the vaccine so that Australians, as we have said on a number of occasions, have the opportunity to access a vaccine before the end of this year.

The document provides information as to the amount of vaccines of various types that will be provided to the states. It provides information about the volumes of vaccines that will be provided to GPs and through those various pathways that Australians will be able to access a vaccine by the end of this year. This is providing information to assist the states and territories and those that are working with the government on vaccinating Australians with the information they need for their logistical planning.

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

Senator Gallagher, a supplementary question?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How many aged-care workers and disability workers have been fully vaccinated in New South Wales?

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

In respect of the aged-care residents, can I say to you that—

Senator Gallagher interjecting—

I think you asked me for both. So, in respect of the residents of aged care in New South Wales, every aged-care facility in New South Wales has had a first dose visit.

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

Order! Senator Gallagher, on a point of order.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order on direct relevance. There was no preamble; it was a very direct question. If the minister misheard, it was specifically relating to workers in aged care and the disability sector.

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

I have ruled previously that, when questions are very strictly worded and seek a statement of fact, the test of direct relevance is very strictly applied. The question I had—and I have allowed you to remind the minister—did refer, I believe, to aged-care and disability workers in New South Wales. So I ask Senator Colbeck to turn to that very specific question. Senator Colbeck.

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

Thank you, Mr President. In respect of the vaccination of residential aged-care staff, there are 20,375 who have received their first dose and 11,196 who have received their second dose in New South Wales. I don't have with me the data for NDIS or disability workforce.

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

Senator Gallagher, a final supplementary question?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Morrison government has broken its promise that all Australians would be vaccinated by October, that four million would be vaccinated by the end of March, that all 1a would be vaccinated by Easter and that six million Australians would be vaccinated by 10 May. Can the minister confirm a horizon is actually never reached, just like every single vaccine target the Morrison government has set itself?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! I will call Senator Colbeck when there's silence. Senator Colbeck.

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

It's at times like this you think the opposition's ears might be painted on, because we have explained a number of times that, as the rollout of the vaccination process has occurred, we have had to change the way the rollout is occurring, based on the circumstances that have occurred. It's all very well for the opposition to repeat something that happened or was said in February and ignore everything that's happened between now and then. In fact, it's quite dishonest of them to continue to do that. We have had to make some adjustments to the rollout as circumstances have changed. We continue to work with the states and territories, using the information that we provided to them yesterday, so that Australians can get access to a vaccine and those that want one can do so by the end of this calendar year.