Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham, and I note the answers Senator Birmingham gave to Senator Hanson-Young's earlier questions. In an episode of Steve Bannon's War Room coalition Senator Canavan criticised the public health advice of governments, including his own, stating that, even if they released the full public health advice, it would be a 'dog's breakfast'. Senator Canavan on social media has also repeatedly called to end the lockdowns, as recently as in the last two days. Does Mr Morrison agree with Senator Canavan?

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

I'm not sure I've even heard of the podcast that you're speaking of, Senator Watt. But in terms of the remarks, at least as you've characterised them, the answer is no.

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

Senator Watt, a supplementary question?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 18 July coalition Senator Rennick shared and endorsed an article on Facebook challenging the TGA's approval of an unnamed COVID vaccine described as 'an experimental gene therapy vaccine with plummeting efficacy, significant short-term safety signals and unknown long-term side effects'. Does Mr Morrison agree with Senator Rennick, and will the government's code of practice on COVID disinformation apply to its own MPs and senators?

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

The government has complete confidence in the work of the TGA and backs it completely.

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

Senator Watt, a final supplementary question?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm glad Senator Birmingham backs the TGA more than he backs his own MPs. Mr George Christensen's Facebook yesterday received the fourth-most interactions of all federal politicians, and he represents a region with one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country, at only 10.2 per cent. Mr Christensen regularly uses his Facebook to undermine the use of lockdowns and restrictions, saying they had actually caused deaths in Australia. How can Australians be expected to do the right thing when Mr Morrison's own members are encouraging them to ignore the Prime Minister's own public health advice?

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

It's no secret that there are some Australians who disagree with lockdowns or certain public policy measures that have been taken.

Senator Rennick interjecting—

Senator Watt interjecting—

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

Order, Senator Watt and Senator Rennick!

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

However, it is clear that the government wants as many Australians as possible to get vaccinated. I thank Australians for the fact that they are responding in record numbers to the request to get vaccinated. They are responding in record numbers, with yesterday some 213,947 Australians turning out to have another dose of vaccine administered. Those numbers have driven the total number of vaccine doses administered to more than 12.8 million across Australia. They've got us to the point where some 42 per cent of all eligible Australians over the age of 16 have had their first dose.

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

Point of order on direct relevance: this goes to Mr Christensen—at what point are you going to actually deal with him?

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

I'm not sure if that was a point of order. The last part of the question was a very broad one, and I think the minister has a lot of discretion in answering it and remaining directly relevant. Senator Birmingham is in order. Senator Birmingham.

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

We acknowledge those over-70s, of whom nearly 80 per cent have now received the first dose of vaccine, and we encourage all Australians to follow that lead. (Time expired)

Senator Watt interjecting—

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

Order! Senator Watt, if you ask a question you should listen to the answer. There were a lot of interjections, and I was struggling to hear Senator Birmingham during that answer.

Senator Wong interjecting—

Senator Wong, there is a time for debate. My job is not to judge it but to ensure senators can participate.