Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Gallagher. How are governments working together to meet the continuing health challenges presented by COVID?

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

I thank Senator Smith for the question. Governments around Australia are monitoring this fourth wave of omicron closely. Data released last Friday over the last seven days suggests that the current wave is likely to peak towards the end of November and into early December. The case numbers are up by 10 per cent in the last seven days, compared with 47 per cent in the seven days before that and 38 per cent in the seven days before that. So, it's important that people continue to take precautions against COVID, and the best precaution is to be up to date with vaccinations.

The Albanese government is working with states and territories through national cabinet to ensure that we have a strong national response. In the recent budget, total spending on COVID measures is around $2.6 billion, including funding for the stockpile, vaccines and treatments and significant investment in aged care. We will continue to work constructively with all state and territory governments, because we know that a cooperative, collaborative approach leads to better public health outcomes.

Having governments working closely with their communities is also vital, and we saw evidence of this in the Victorian election on the weekend. No-one has done it tougher during this pandemic than the people in Victoria, and the strong, focused leadership of Premier Daniel Andrews through the pandemic has been endorsed with this extraordinary victory. On the weekend Victorians voted for a competent government. The strong leadership of Premier Andrews and his government shows that, during the challenges thrown at Victorians during the pandemic, accepting the public health advice, accepting the evidence, making tough decisions but being honest and up-front and transparent does reward you electorally. The government looks forward to working with the Andrews government and all state and territory governments as we tackle this next wave of COVID-19.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Smith, a first supplementary?

Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, what are we doing to protect older Australians and those in aged care?

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

The budget includes funding to support ongoing measures to protect older Australians. Key measures include $810 million in additional funding for aged-care support program grants so that aged-care providers continue to be supported with the costs of managing COVID-19, $235 million to ensure aged care, primary care, disability care and First Nations health services will continue to have access to a supply of PPE, treatments, rapid antigen tests—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

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

Sorry, I can hardly hear myself.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Wong and Senator Henderson.

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

Senator Henderson, you've have had a tough weekend! We know you have. Take all the time you need.

The government has been on the front foot to help protect older Australians most at risk of COVID. Our measures to support the aged-care sector include predeploying summer packs of personal protective equipment to all residential aged-care homes, continuing to prioritise boosters and continuing access to surge workforces and additional workers. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Smith, a second supplementary?

Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, what action is the government taking to ensure more Australians have access to antiviral medication to treat COVID?

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

In July this year the Minister for Health and Aged Care announced the widening of eligibility for antiviral drugs to treat COVID. All Australians aged over 70 who test positive for COVID are now able to access antivirals on the PBS. Access has also been expanded to people over the age of 50 with two or more risk factors for severe disease and to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over 30 with two or more risk factors for severe disease.

The most recent data shows that 394,100 doses of antivirals have been prescribed and dispensed from the PBS, prescription numbers increased by 11.8 per cent last week compared to the previous week and approximately 34,130 antiviral prescriptions have been provided to people in residential aged care.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.

Andrew McLachlan (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can Senators please leave the chamber with some degree of decorum.