Media Releases
Retirement of The Hon. Tony Smith MP
14 July 2021
The Speaker of the House of Representatives and Member for Casey, The Hon. Tony Smith, has announced his decision to retire from Parliament at the next election.
Tony has been a dear friend and colleague for over twenty years. His presence in the Parliament and Parliamentary Liberal Party will be greatly missed.
Tony has served as the Member for Casey for more than twenty years, where he performed a wide variety of roles in both Government and Opposition.
However, it has been in his role as Speaker that Tony has certainly made his mark. Tony has been an outstanding Speaker, in the true Westminster tradition.
Tony Smith's intellect, temperament, dry wit, staying above the fray and respect for the Parliament as an institution, has earned him respect, far and wide.
Many Speakers can get caught in the crossfire of parliamentary debate. Instead, his actions have elevated debate and demonstrated the great strength of parliamentary democracy.
On the last two occasions Tony Smith was elected Speaker, he enjoyed the universal support of the Parliament, a remarkable achievement.
I pay tribute to him, as well as the President of the Senate, Scott Ryan, for the work they have done during the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, they have worked through complex legal and jurisdictional issues and ensured that the Parliament has been able to function freely.
After two decades in Parliament, and many more years working as a senior ministerial staffer, I appreciate Tony's desire to embark on another chapter in his life.
I now look forward to continuing to work with Tony over the balance of this parliamentary term in his role as Speaker and securing the election of the new Liberal candidate for Casey at the next election.
I thank his wife Pam and his two sons for sharing Tony with the Liberal Party and the Parliament for so long and wish them all the best for their future together.
Update on NSW COVID-19 Disaster Payments for Extension of Greater Sydney Lockdown
14 July 2021
Eligible workers across the first seven local government areas in New South Wales to go into lockdown will be able to apply for the Federal Government's increased COVID-19 Disaster Payments from tomorrow, Thursday July 15, enabling payments to be made from Friday, July 16.
Residents in Bayside, City of Sydney, Canada Bay, Inner West, Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra will be able to apply for the recurring COVID-19 Disaster Payment tomorrow, while the wider Greater Sydney region under lockdown and right across NSW can make an application from Sunday July 18, enabling payments to be made from Monday, July 19.
This means that the increased payment of $600 a week for those who have lost more than 20 hours of work, and $375 a week for those who have lost between eight hours or one day and 20 hours of work, will start to arrive a day earlier than anticipated.
This is welcome news for the many across Sydney going through these challenging times.
Payments will start to be paid the day after application.
Payments will then be reoccurring on the Thursday for Bayside, City of Sydney, Canada Bay, Inner West, Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra, and Sunday/Monday for the remainder of NSW for subsequent weeks.
The simplest way to claim is online at www.my.gov.au.
To claim online, you need a Centrelink Customer Reference Number and a myGov account that is linked to your Centrelink online account. If you don't have these, the Services Australia website (www.servicesaustralia.gov.au) is the best place to set these up.
If you aren't able to use online services, you can call Services Australia on 180 22 66 (Monday – Friday between 8am and 5pm) for help with claiming. This weekend, to assist with claims, the phone lines will be open from 9am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday.
$400m Recovery Funding Package to Provide Continued Support for Disaster-Affected NSW Communities
13 July 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education, Deputy Premier of New South Wales, Minister responsible for Disaster Recovery
The Australian and NSW Governments are providing a range of targeted recovery efforts to NSW communities affected by the February and March 2021 storms and floods to help them on the next stage of recovery.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said there is a $200 million recovery package to deliver eight key initiatives targeted at supporting the next phase of recovery for flood affected communities and industries in NSW. In addition, a $200 million Infrastructure Betterment Fund will be established to support the reconstruction and improved disaster resilience of public assets damaged during the recent storms and floods as well as the 2019-20 bushfires.
"The $200 million flood recovery package will deliver eight key initiatives targeted at supporting the next phase of recovery,” the Prime Minister said.
“We’re focused on enabling industry recovery and job retention, helping to rebuild community infrastructure, delivering a range of projects to safeguard mental health and community wellbeing, and ensuring impacted regions have resources that they need to bounce back.”
Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Bridget McKenzie said the NSW Storm and Flood Phase Three Recovery Package would ensure the long-term recovery of impacted regions.
“Months on from the devastating storms and floods which impacted over 70 Local Government Areas across NSW, we are continuing to stand by communities as they recover,” Minister McKenzie said.
“We have listened to farmers and producers, too, and included more than $25 million to provide grants for rural landholders who do not qualify for the existing supports, as well as funding for environmental recovery initiatives, including riverbank restoration.”
NSW Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro said the 50/50 jointly funded package complemented the funding provided to date and would play a key role in supporting long-term recovery.
“The Australian and NSW Governments continue to stand by communities who were hit by devastating storms and floods earlier this year, many of whom were already reeling from the impacts of prolonged drought, bushfires and COVID,” Mr Barilaro said.
“We cannot underestimate the mental health and wellbeing of those impacted by these disasters and I’m pleased that we’ve been able to provide extensive support to assist communities hardest hit, as well as dedicated flood Community Recovery Officers in highly impacted LGAs to play the same important role as those already supporting bushfire-affected areas.”
People requiring ongoing flood assistance, support and referral are urged to contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or online via service.nsw.gov.au/floods.
Information on disaster assistance is available on the Australian Government's Disaster Assist website at disasterassist.gov.au.
Interview with Jim Wilson, 2GB
13 July 2021
JIM WILSON: Prime Minister, welcome back to Drive.
PRIME MINISTER: Hey Jimmy, good to be with you mate. Sorry it’s been a little while.
WILSON: It's OK, I know you've got a bit going on.
PRIME MINISTER: A little bit going on. Yeah.
WILSON: This is good. It's a really a proactive move that the federal and state governments working together and it's offering some assistance, some much needed assistance PM, to both individuals, households, but also business.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, well, that's exactly it. And as you say, working together, I mean, when the Premier called me last week, mid last week, we were already in the lockdown and we were putting in place the arrangements we had in the Victorian lockdown, the same there, New South Wales wasn't getting anything additional to Victoria. It was all the same. And I'm sure people would appreciate that. But clearly, this one was taking a different turn. And so we started working together immediately. And Josh Frydenberg and Dom Perrottet as well, and just working out what was the best way to provide support that would give people and give them the confidence to push through. Because at the end of the day, Jim, that's really what we want to say to people, let's push through and we're going to help you push through. And we know we can't completely replicate where you were before. And I don't think anyone expects that. But what they do, are looking for, I think, is just that encouragement, that help and to let people let them know that we get it hard and we're doing as much as we can to help you get through it, just like we did last year when we did JobKeeper and all of those things, people knew. We're going to get through this. And, you know, Sydney, we're going to get through this, too.
WILSON: And you said for as long as it takes, can we read into that, that this will obviously go to the extent of the lockdown? Could it go beyond that as well, Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: That's not the intention and that's not what we've discussed. And I don't think there'd be the need for that, because I think once we get out of lockdown, you'll see the New South Wales economy roar back. I think you really will. I mean, before we went into this lockdown, I mean, the New South Wales economy was really the powerhouse. And frankly, even now, it shows enormous resilience. So this is why when I was asked today about, you know, employers and their employees, I mean, employers need their staff. They know they're going to need them in a few weeks time. They're not going to let them go anywhere if they can help it. And what this announcement does is it says, look, you know, they might not have the hours that they had for you, you know, a month ago. And so you can go to the Commonwealth Government and they'll provide you with that $600 a week, for as long as we're in this thing. But as soon as that's over, I want you back on, on the shop floor. I want you back at the venue. I want you back on the road.
WILSON: Do you think it goes far enough? We had a number of listeners who are small business owners saying it's not enough. What's your reaction to those, to that sort of feedback?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, look, I can only go on what we did previously, which was enough when we were basically doing exactly what we did a year ago when we were in this situation. And the difference is rather than having to have staff, sorry and businesses pay JobKeeper to their employees, we're going to pay that direct. We're paying that. Whereas before what we did is we said to the businesses, you go and borrow some money, meet your payroll, and then we'll pay you, you know, that $600 payment for [inaudible]. What we're saying now is you don't need to borrow the money to pay your staff, if you've had to reduce their hours, we'll do that. And here on top of that is a payment of up to $10,000 a week. And for, to give you an example, I mean, if you're business with a turnover of, you know, around about a million bucks a year, you've likely got a payroll of about a quarter of a million bucks a year. And that means that your payroll on a weekly basis is just under five grand a year, five grand a week, I should say. Well, under this payment, you will be getting $1,923 a week. That's 40 per cent of what your current payroll would have been. Now, that's more than what we were doing when we did the cash flow, but it's about the same as what we did in the cash flow boost last year for that type of business.
But if you're a sole trader, Jim, and you know what we're paying you is a thousand bucks a week, okay, so that means that I know you're drawing your own wage from being a sole trader. And if that business is in trouble, then, you know, if you were an employee, you'd go off to the set up Services Australia and get your 600 bucks a week. Well, if you're a sole trade, we say we'll give you a thousand. So that's pretty much 600 for you and 400 to keep your business afloat over the next few weeks. And then when the restrictions lift you'll be able to get it going again. So I know that's a very long winded answer Jim, but the point is we've thought through this pretty deeply and we can't just sort of pay people, everybody, what they were getting before in revenue, because I don't think anyone expects that because the money's all got to come from somewhere and we know where it's coming from. We're having to borrow it just like the New South Wales Government. But we think this gives people that encouragement to just see it through and look, let's hope it's weeks and not longer than that. Remember in Victoria, it went a lot longer than that and we ended up spending in Victoria some almost $13 billion over the course of their lockdown as a Commonwealth. So I'm not anticipating that that's what we're going to see here. And with the way that the vaccination programme is really scaling up, that will also help.
WILSON: Just on the vaccination project, obviously getting more jabs in more arms is a priority. The current trend, where do you think will be by the end of the year? What will you be happy with as far as the percentage of the total population being fully vaccinated?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the percentage is going to be up to Australians. But what I know I think is that at the end of this year, I think we will have been able to offer a vaccine to everyone who wants one. So let's hope that that numbers, that percentages of people who actually take up that offer is as high as possible. But I think we've got to be real here. I mean, a lot's been said about the United Kingdom. First of all, the United Kingdom has pretty much vaccinated most of their population on AstraZeneca, including younger people. And secondly, they've only reached about 65 per cent, Jim. And there's only one other country in the world, just one that has been higher than that. And that's Israel. And it's not a particularly large country by Australian standards. So there's some sort of view running around the place that somehow there's a lot of countries out there at 80 per cent vaccination rate. There's not. There's only one that I'm aware of. And so, you know, we've had our difficulties at the start of this vaccination programme. And I know people have been critical. And I understand that. We had the problem of the supplies from overseas not coming in those first couple of months, and then we had the problems with AstraZeneca, where our medical expert panel advised against, well said the preferred vaccine for AstraZeneca was over 60 and that that hit the programme pretty hard. But we've been making up the ground. We're almost at a million doses being delivered a week. We keep that rate, we get it done. And we're only about two months behind from where we initially thought and hoped to be.
WILSON: But you must have a number in mind where you want us to be so we can avoid lockdowns, for example, in the UK, they're returning to some sort of normality, around about 50 per cent of the total population vaccinated. So where would you like to be …
PRIME MINISTER: We'll take that advice from the Doherty Institute. They're the best in the world on these things. They're doing some work for us right now on the new Delta strain. We'd already done some work on the Alpha strain and, but we're waiting on that. I will get that this month and that will really help inform that answer. We're about, as best as I can tell, Jim, we're one of a few countries in the world that are actually trying to base these decisions on that sort of advice. And, you know, while I know people are a bit frustrated at the moment, I get that, we're also the country withl one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID. You know, we've saved, at least, we believe, 30,000 lives in Australia in the last 18 months. And if that means we might ultimately be just a couple of months behind where we might have been and we've saved 30,000 lives. Well, I know where I'd rather be.
WILSON: So far with the extra supplies of the Pfizer through the European Union, have you spoken to US President Joe Biden, or for example, the global head of Pfizer based out of the US directly, to get more supplies directly from the United States?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we've got more supplies out of Pfizer. And the way that that is managed is through our Australian CEO. And that's how it's done. And through that relationship, we've gone from our initial 10 million Pfizer doses. And when we know, when we could see what was happening back early in the year, we immediately were able to convert that to 20 million. And then when the AstraZeneca problem hit, we were immediately able to get that up to 40 million. And now we've been able to bring it forward to a million doses a week from the 19th of July. So that's the channel we work through and that's the channel that has actually delivered that.
WILSON: So you don't think it would have made any difference to pick up the phone to Joe Biden or the global head of Pfizer, for example? You don't think it would've made any difference as far as getting …
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I had a meeting with one of the most senior directors of global Pfizer when I was in Paris.
WILSON: And was he receptive, the fact of us getting extra supplies and backing us in?
PRIME MINISTER: They were all very aware of what we were putting forward. And those discussions always revealed that what has been put forward by Australia is well understood, and that's why we've been able to bring forward the doses. See, I mean, the proof of these things is in the eating. And that is when, you know, we sought the additional supplies to bring them forward, the bring forward of those supplies and that's what's happened.
WILSON: Are you happy with the outcome?
PRIME MINISTER: That's the outcome we wanted. We wanted a million doses a week and we've got it.
WILSON: Are you happy with the New South Wales Government for pushing 40 plus year olds to get the AstraZeneca vaccine?
PRIME MINISTER: I am pleased with what the Premier has said and she said basically what I was saying a couple of weeks ago, which there's a whole bunch of people who got into me about that, but it wasn't that, frankly, a controversial, so controversial a statement. I mean, the Therapeutic Goods Administration that licences these drugs for use in Australia licenced it for people above the age of 18 and the ATAGI, which is the technical advisory group on immunisations, they made a couple of decisions which said the preferred vaccine for those under, first 50 and under 60, was not AstraZeneca. But they didn't say, you can't take it. They didn't ban it. What they said was it's a preferred for you to have a different vaccine, but talk to your doctor. And, you know, since I said that a couple of weeks ago, there's been thousands and thousands of younger people who've gone and done it and gone and talked to their doctor. You know, in Australia, we're a free country. We can make decisions about our own health, we talk to our doctor. That's what I said. Go and talk to your doctor and have a chat with them. We actually provided a Medicare schedule item which enabled that consultation to be paid for. So I just didn't sort of say it. I backed it up by ensuring people could get paid, the doctor could get paid to have that discussion with you and you could make an informed decision about your own health.
Now, the technical advisory group on immunisation today has also backed up what I was saying the other day. And the Chief Medical Officer was saying, but particularly in Sydney and particularly in south western Sydney, that if you've had your first AstraZeneca dose, go and get another one sooner. And they've said between four and 12 weeks, the CMO and I were more cautious at around eight weeks. But it's important for people to get those two doses and we'd encourage them to do that. I was talking to Dr Jamal Rifi today. Many of your listeners would know Jamal. He's a great leader out there in south western Sydney. They're setting up a Chester Hill clinic very soon for those immunisations. And I know that Jamal's been jabbing arms for as quickly as he can.
WILSON: A couple of quick questions before I let you go, from our listeners about today. The assistance package, as far as super goes, as far as, is the Government thinking about letting us get another $10,000 from our Super if this lockdown lasts a few more weeks?
PRIME MINISTER: That's not on the agenda at the moment, no.
WILSON: Question from Ben. If the lockdown lasts for much longer, could these payments announced today increase in value?
PRIME MINISTER: We're not contemplating at the moment based on what we're hearing out of New South Wales in terms of where they think the lockdown is going. Yeah, that's the best answer. I mean, we're going to keep it going at the levels we've just announced today. And hopefully we're in a situation where that won't be necessary.
WILSON: Susan's asked a question before I let you go. Do you know, if you're a casual employee and receive a part pension, can you still apply for a payment?
PRIME MINISTER: If you've lost between eight and 20 hours of work a week, you can get from next Monday across New South Wales and in Greater Sydney, $375. I mean, you can't have, you know, if you've got lots of leave and those sorts of things, then I think people understand there are reasonable things. And if you've lost more than 20 hours a week, doesn't matter if you're part time, permanent, casual, you can access that $600 payment from next Monday. I’d encourage people to do that. And Jim, if you could keep that number again, 180 22 66. That's how you can access that payment. You don't have to have lost your job. You don't have to be unemployed. You just have to have had, and even your employer may have reduced with your agreement, your hours down, potentially even to zero, but you're still attached to the employer, you can access this payment.
WILSON: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: And I encourage you to do so.
WILSON: That hotline 180 22 66 and the Services Australia website as well. Prime Minister, I know it's been a very, very busy afternoon. We do appreciate your time.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, cheers mate.
NSW COVID-19 Support Package
13 July 2021
Prime Minister, Premier of New South Wales, Treasurer, Treasurer of New South Wales
The Morrison and Berejiklian Governments continue to work together to support households and businesses in New South Wales during the current COVID-19 lockdown.
Under a new combined support package, the COVID-19 Disaster Payment will be further expanded and increased. The Commonwealth and NSW will also enter into a new 50/50 cost sharing arrangement for a new business support payment to be implemented and administered by NSW.
From week four of a lockdown because of a Commonwealth Government declared hotspot, the COVID-19 Disaster Payment will increase to $600 if a person has lost 20 or more hours of work a week or $375 if a person has lost between 8 and less than 20 hours of work a week.
The Commonwealth and NSW have also agreed that from 18 July 2021 the COVID-19 Commonwealth Disaster Payment will be available to those outside Commonwealth declared hotspots in NSW that meet the criteria for the payment.
The NSW Government will fund any payments outside a Commonwealth declared hotspot, with the Commonwealth continuing to fund payments to recipients in a Commonwealth declared hotspot.
This support will be offered to any other state or territory that experiences an extended lockdown.
A new business support payment will also be available to entities with an annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million who can demonstrate a 30 per cent decline in turnover.
To receive the payment, eligible entities will be required to maintain their full time, part time and long term casual staffing level as of 13 July 2021.
Eligible entities, which includes not-for-profits, will receive payments of between $1,500 and $10,000 per week based on the level of their payroll
For non-employing businesses, such as sole traders, the payment will be set at $1,000 per week.
The new small business support payment combined with the substantial income support being provided through the COVID-19 Disaster Payment will mean businesses and individuals who have been affected by this extended lockdown will get the support they need to get to the other side.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said as the pandemic evolved so did the responses from the Commonwealth and state governments.
“Up until now the Commonwealth has provided the same support to that offered to all other states and territories, consistent with the national approach agreed by National Cabinet last month,” the Prime Minister said.
“As the outbreak has worsened well beyond what we have recently seen in other states and territories, it is in the national interest to enable increased assistance, in partnership with the NSW Government, for workers, business and households, to ensure the lockdown can be maintained to arrest the latest outbreak.
“This new support represents a new national approach and will apply to other states and territories in the event they face similar circumstances.
“We’ve been working closely with the NSW Government to ensure we can deliver targeted and timely support that gets where it needs to be as quickly as possible.
“As lockdowns extend into another week in NSW, households and businesses need this assistance to get them through the lockdown to the other side, ready to reopen.”
The Commonwealth and NSW governments will also deliver a $17.35 million mental health support package for NSW including for services through Lifeline, headspace and Kid’s Helpline.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the support package would help businesses and families across NSW get through a difficult period.
“Our number one priority remains the health and safety of the people of NSW while also keeping our economy strong as we manage the current COVID-19 challenge,” the NSW Premier said.
“We are pleased to be able to increase our targeted support in conjunction with the Commonwealth and this assistance will ensure we get through the lockdown and come out stronger on the other side.”
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the Morrison Government was stepping up to support NSW households and business when they need it most as the state seeks to suppress the delta variant.
“The outbreak in NSW is a timely reminder we are still in the midst of a global pandemic and that there is much work to do to secure our economic recovery,” the Treasurer said.
“The new small business support payment, to be funded on a 50/50 basis with the NSW Government, will support up to an estimated 500,000 entities employing more than 3 million people.”
“Our increased support builds on the $52.4 billion we have already delivered to households and businesses in NSW during the pandemic.”
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the package would help thousands of businesses across the State.
“We have done this before and we can do it again and this targeted support will help those who need it,” the NSW Treasurer said.
“If you’re a worker, a sole trader, a small or medium business or a big employer – we've got your back.
“This package will help families and businesses weather the current storm and ensure we can hit the ground running once this current outbreak is under control."
More information will be available on the Service NSW website later this week.
NSW COVID-19 Support Package
13 July 2021
The Morrison Government is upgrading its national response to COVID-19 outbreaks with increased weekly payments for households, and boosting business cash flow to get them through extended lockdowns.
The new national arrangements have been developed following close cooperation between the Commonwealth and NSW governments to ensure additional support is targeted and rolls out as quickly as possible under a new cost sharing agreement.
The support package will see an increase in the COVID-19 Disaster Payment from week four of a lockdown and a 50/50 cost sharing arrangement between the Commonwealth and the NSW Government for a new and expanded small to medium business support package, implemented and administered by NSW.
This level of support will apply nationally to any state or territory that experiences an extended lockdown beyond week three following the declaration of a Commonwealth hotspot.
COVID-19 Disaster Payment
The Commonwealth will enhance and expand the support available to NSW and other states that experience an extended lockdown.
Specifically, the Commonwealth will:
From week four of a lockdown because of a Commonwealth declared hotspot, the COVID-19 Disaster Payment will increase from $500 to $600 each week if a person has lost 20 hours or more of work a week or $325 to $375 each week if a person has lost between 8 and 20 hours of work.
Make the COVID-19 Disaster Payment a recurring payment for approved recipients for as long as the Commonwealth declared hotspot and lockdown restrictions remain in place. This will remove the need for recipients to re-claim for each seven day period of a lockdown.
Amend the COVID-19 Disaster Payment so that a person would be eligible for the payment, including where they are still working, provided they have lost more than 8 hours or a full day of work.
From 18 July 2021 the COVID-19 Disaster Payment will be available to those outside Commonwealth declared hotspots in NSW that meet the criteria for the payment.
The NSW Government will fund any payments outside a Commonwealth declared hotspot, with the Commonwealth continuing to fund payments to recipients in a Commonwealth declared hotspot.
This arrangement will be available to other states and territories for future lockdown as a result of a Commonwealth declared hotspot .
Information about how to apply for COVID-19 Disaster Payment can be found on the Services Australia website at COVID-19 Disaster Payment
Small and medium business support payments
From week four of the lockdown, the Commonwealth will fund 50 per cent of the cost of a new small and medium business support payment to be implemented and administered by Service NSW.
Eligible entities will receive 40 per cent of their NSW payroll payments, at a minimum of $1500 and a maximum of $10,000 per week.
Entities will be eligible if their turnover is 30 per cent lower than an equivalent two week period in 2019.
The new small to medium business support payment will be available to non-employing and employing entities in NSW, including not for profits, with an annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million.
To receive the payment, entities will be required to maintain their full time, part time and long term casual staffing level as of 13 July 2021.
For non-employing businesses, such as sole traders, the payment will be set at $1,000 per week.
Businesses can register their interest from 14 July 2021 at Service NSW
The assistance will cease when current lockdown restrictions are eased or when the Commonwealth hotspot declaration is removed.
Commonwealth business tax relief
The Commonwealth will also provide additional support through the tax system, by:
Making NSW small business grants, including the new small business payments, tax exempt.
Providing administrative relief to NSW taxpayers facing hardship, including reduced payment plans, no interest charged on late payments and varying instalments on request.
Mental health support
The Commonwealth and NSW governments will deliver a $17.35 million mental health support package for NSW including:
A boost for crisis and mental health services including for Lifeline, free 24 hour support via Sonder and counselling for perinatal depression and anxiety
Funding for mental health support for vulnerable and culturally and linguistically diverse communities
Assistance for young people through headspace, Kids Helpline and the Butterfly Foundation
The increase in support for states and territories experiencing extended lockdowns is part of the Government’s plan to secure Australia’s recovery from the COVID-19 recession.
The support comes in addition to existing Commonwealth programs such as HomeBuilder, the expanded instant asset write off, additional support for retaining and training apprentices as well as record support for mental health and women’s safety announced in the Budget.
As the pandemic evolves, so too does the Government’s support for Australians across the country.
Interview with Kieran Gilbert, Sky News
12 July 2021
KIERAN GILBERT: Prime Minister, thanks for your time. I know you've been meeting with your Expenditure Review Committee. What more detail can you give us about enhanced assistance for business and workers in New South Wales?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we were able to work through this morning, the in-principle support for where we'd like to go forward with New South Wales. We've been working closely with them and speaking constantly, texts and speaking as well with the Premier of New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklian. And Josh Frydenberg has been working closely with the New South Wales Treasurer, Dom Perrottet. The Treasuries of New South Wales and the Commonwealth have also been working together. We're expecting some final proposals to come up later this evening. And then, of course, the Premier and I and the Treasurers will meet again. I think we're getting pretty close. What we learnt last year when the pandemic hit is we had some very clear principles, Kieran, that really guided how we directed that economic support so it was maximum effect. And I think most people would agree that those measures we did put in place were incredibly effective for the fact that a million people or thereabouts are back at work, I think is testament to that. And the economy is larger now than before the pandemic struck. One of the most effective measures in addition to the income support, was the cash flow boost that was put in place. Now, in New South Wales alone that that injected more than $10 billion directly from the Commonwealth Government to support New South Wales businesses. And there was much more that went, of course, some $30 billion or thereabouts around the rest of the country.
That was a very effective measure because it gave business a lot of confidence and it went together with the income support. Now, you know already that we have income support for this lockdown. It was the same income support that was provided in the most recent Victorian lockdown, which only was required for that one week. We're now into week three and we waived that liquid assets test. We go into a week four, we're looking at further ways we could strengthen that. So you've really got to match the income support, which is what the Commonwealth is doing 100 per cent. And you can access that on 180 22 66. That's available right now for those who need it, who've lost hours as a result of this lockdown and will be- and then you've got to add to that the business cash flow support, which gives the business the ability to push through the weeks ahead. And so that's what we're bringing together. We're moving swiftly. We've got to make sure you get that design right so it's simple, very simple for businesses and it's rapid and is supported by the banks as well.
GILBERT: So strengthening that wage support for those that are losing hours at work. But also you know, providing that support for business via the cash flow approach, which we saw last year. So on both fronts, we will see enhanced support?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, and this is what we've been working through since last Wednesday when the Premier contacted me and indicated that this lockdown and the progression of the virus and the outbreak here in New South Wales was really moving into a completely different phase. And so we moved quickly, as you know, to put those 300,000 extra doses, 150,000 extra Pfizer doses immediately. And that's been provided to the New South Wales Government to support their vaccination, particularly in south western Sydney and the many critical populations that they need to vaccinate.
On top of that, we then moved to relax those those income support payments. And now we've been working over the weekend with them cooperatively together to ensure that we can deliver support that is targeted, that is proportionate, that is scalable, and ultimately is a support that doesn't have to be there forever. It needs to back businesses in with the decisions they're making right now to support their staff. But if you have lost hours, you can access that income support. Right now, it's the level of income support that was available in JobKeeper in its final phase in March of this year.
GILBERT: Now, the vaccine advertising, we've seen the ads roll out in Sydney, quite a graphic advertisement, a woman struggling to breathe on a ventilator. What do you say to criticism that that's simply too graphic?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there's always criticism of any advertising. I know that, and it was only a few weeks ago that our very critics were saying that the advertising needed to be stronger, far stronger, even making references to grim reapers. So, look, there'll always be lots of opinions on these things. But what's important is we need people to understand how and how critical it is that they follow the advice that is here in New South Wales now. We were having major problems with compliance here in New South Wales. I think we've made a big step forward on that over about the last four or so days. And we really seen those mobility levels now plummeting in New South Wales, which means people are getting the message and staying at home. There's two ways to protect yourself, of course, to stay at home. And so you're keeping yourself, your family and your community safe, but secondly, of course, where you're eligible for that vaccine, then we encourage people, particularly elderly people, to go and get it because they are the most vulnerable. As the Premier has said today, she has repeated effectively what I'd said a week or so ago, and that you should talk to your doctor about the AstraZeneca vaccine. It's an informed consent decision, and I would appreciate the support she's given for people going and doing just that.
GILBERT: There's been some criticism as well from younger Australians who see that young woman on the ventilator and say, well, we can't even get the preferred vaccine at the moment. It all goes back to supply. Is it unfair or is it misleading in a way, for that ad to have that young woman as the feature when a lot of people in that cohort can't get the jab?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, as I said, it has two messages. And one is to stay at home. I mean, that we can't be complacent about this. And young people moving around the city was putting people at risk right across the community, including themselves. And so there's that message. But also, I mean, as I just indicated, and as the Premier already has today, about going and seeing your doctor and having that discussion about available vaccines. But of course, with the Pfizer vaccine, which we have been able to upscale and bring forward, I should say, bring forward those vaccines to a million a week very, very shortly. And there's additional vaccines going into New South Wales right now, those 150,000, then that is obviously going to improve things as time goes on.
GILBERT: 11 of the 52 people in hospital in New South Wales are under 35, six under 25. Was Dr Jeannette Young wrong when she told young Australians it's far too dangerous to get AstraZeneca?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it doesn't accord with the TGA advice and the ATAGI advice, that's all. That's all I said. I said that people should talk to their doctor and the TGA approval for AstraZeneca is for those age groups and that the ATAGI advice said there was a preference, a preferred vaccine for those under 60. And that's why it's important that people talk to their doctor. I just basically restated what the ATAGI advice was. But equally, I know from talking directly to the then head of ATAGI who made that decision about the over 50s originally. And the view was very clear from ATAGI. That where the balance of risk changes, i.e. when you've got an outbreak like we are seeing in Sydney at the moment, because of the very low incidence of the of the cases that involve those complications and quite serious ones on the very rare circumstances, that the balance of risk tips for having the vaccine. And that's why it's important that people have that discussion with their doctor.
GILBERT: If we treated the vaccination rollout as a race, would we still be having lockdown's like we're seeing now?
PRIME MINISTER: No - those comments were made at a time when we were talking about the approval, the approval of those vaccines by the official bodies here in Australia. That we had low rates of COVID at the time. And the view was by Professor Brendan Murphy and many others that those agencies had to do their job and we had to get the rollout occurring in the most effective way to target those in the older age groups. And so we were prioritising where those vaccines in the early phases needed to go. Those comments were made back in March. And Kieran, I mean, clearly the situation has changed since that time and that's why we've been ramping things up. We are now hitting almost a million vaccine doses a week. And at no stage was there ever envisaged, under any plan or scenario, that Australia would have been in a position right now where we would have had a critical mass of vaccinations in the community. And in fact, the only country I'm aware of in the world today that has a vaccination rate of higher than 65 per cent is Israel. So the suggestion that Australia wasn't going to be in a suppression phase at this point of the year is just simply not correct. And I think those sorts of comments and the criticisms that have been directed towards us on that tend to have a bit of a political overlay.
GILBERT: When you look back, though, in hindsight, would you have acquired more Pfizer jabs? If we look back to December, say, when the UQ CSL vaccine fell over, the government had ordered an extra 31 jabs, 20 million, AstraZeneca, 11 million, Novavax, no Pfizer. At the time, if you could take yourself back to that point, would you have stepped up the acquisition of Pfizer then?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I don't have that opportunity and no one could have known at that time Kieran and that's the point. So what we did was as soon as we had those issues, we increased our contracted doses from 10 to 20 million Pfizer. And that was done very quickly. I remember it, when Greg Hunt was able to secure that. And then when we had the challenges with the ATAGI advice, we got it doubled very quickly from 20 million to 40 million. And now, most recently, after some great work done by Greg Hunt and Brendan Murphy, we've been able to bring forward those doses so we can escalate the level of vaccinations we're getting this month. We keep going at the rate we're at now, we will reach where we want to get to by the end of the year. As I said earlier last week, that would put us about two months out from where we were and hoped to be earlier in this year. And so we've been doing a lot of catch up over the recent months. There's been serious challenges. I don't deny that. But, you know, you can't dwell on those challenges. You overcome them as we have. I appointed Lieutenant General Frewen to bring all of that effort together, and I think he's made a great job of that. And things are really starting to escalate where people I know would like them to get to.
GILBERT: Did Kevin Rudd's intervention help in any way?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I can only go by what Pfizer said. Pfizer issued a statement. I mean, look, I welcome the support from anyone who wants to assist with these things, and that's fine. But ultimately, as Pfizer has made very clear, I mean, this is a contractual relationship between the Federal Government, the Commonwealth Government and Pfizer. It's been a very positive relationship. I'm very appreciative of the way that Pfizer has been able to respond to all of our requests, whether it was going from 10 to 20 million or 20 to 40 million, or bringing these forward. That is the work that has been done each and every day, not one conversation. Each and every day by all of our officials and government ministers and others who are supporting, ensuring we get things as soon as we possibly can. So I welcome any support. And ...
GILBERT: Did you speak to the head of Pfizer?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, I have spoken to the head of Pfizer here in Australia, which is where the contract is, and that's how it's managed on numerous occasions. In fact, while I was in Europe, I had the opportunity to also sit down with one of their senior board directors. So we've been managing that relationship at a very senior level.
GILBERT: Now, I've spoken to Pat McGorry, the great Australian, the Australian of the Year, a psychiatrist and mental health advocate. And he says, he said to me in the last couple of days, the Federal Government is doing more than it's ever done. So he was giving your government a wrap on that front, but he said to me, the scale is moving faster than we can keep up with. Do you accept that this pandemic has had a much heavier impact on younger people than it has anyone else?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's hard to draw a conclusion about whether it's had a greater impact on younger people. I would certainly agree that it has had a very significant impact on younger people. I think it's had a significant impact on all Australians, to be frank, Kieran. And regardless of what age you are with, your mental health has been of supreme concern to us as a government. We as a government have put more into supporting increased mental health support in our community, than I'm aware of any other government, probably around the world.
When I've sat with leaders and talked about the various COVID responses, it has been Australia that has been the one nominating how we've worked through groups like Headspace. In fact, when I was with Prime Minister Johnson, I was actually talking to him about Headspace and Pat and I had that conversation before I headed over there. So the only other leader that has really highlighted this in any of the forums that I've been in is actually the Sultan of Brunei at an APEC meeting last year. And Australia has been very consistent. And our response, I think, has been very effective in the organisations, whether it's Lifeline or Kids Helpline or Beyond Blue, or many of these organisations that we've increased funding for, Headspace included. They have met a rapidly escalating level of demand. And as a result, we haven't seen the escalation in those death by suicide rates that, you know, we were dreadfully concerned about, and that's a testimony to the to the value of those services that we've backed and that Pat has had a huge role in advising me directly, as we've got to know each other pretty well over the years in different portfolios. And I've greatly valued his insights and his advice.
GILBERT: Yeah, and he's absolutely a wonderful human being, there's no doubt about it. The Medical Journal of Australia says that a survey of young people has a very substantial increase in mental health. That's the journal out today. This is a shadow pandemic, isn't it? There's no doubt about it ...
PRIME MINISTER: I agree.
GILBERT: The reason I put it in those terms is because these are such formative years for people growing up and they're copping lockdown after lockdown.
PRIME MINISTER: I totally agree. And I particularly feel for those going through year 12 right now as they come into the most important part of the year for them here in Sydney, just as those in Victoria were dealing with that last year. I mean, last year we put additional resources into Melbourne mental health support and we'll be making similar announcements about that here for Sydney very, very soon. We've been working with the New South Wales Government on that as well. So we are working together. And I would absolutely agree. I mean, that's why in the last budget, it was the single biggest boost to mental health funding and a plan for not just that, but national suicide prevention as well, which has been a high priority for me and for my government. And I think David Coleman and Greg Hunt have been doing a great job pulling that plan together. The head to health initiative, which is basically Headspace for adults, I mean, that will have the same impact, I think, and be significant going well into the future, providing that mental health support here in Australia. We're world leaders at this. It's thanks to people like Pat McGorry and others that we're able to say that and governments like ours that is committed to ensuring that those organisations are well supported, as well as state governments doing similarly.
GILBERT: It'd be remiss of me if I didn't end on a positive note, given the events of the weekend. Ash Barty, once in a generation, well hopefully not once in a generation. She's only 25. She'll probably win a few more slams, we hope she does. Have you spoken to her at all? Message of congrats?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, I spoke to Ash first thing this morning. And we had a great chat and I spoke to Dylan Alcott last night actually, as well. And they're a great pair and they're tremendously supportive of each other. Of course, their Wimbledon achievements are just breathtaking and inspirational. And I'm sure many of us, I certainly was, was up there watching the other night. And I just loved her grit. I loved her determination, that she pushed through when she thought she might have had at the end of that second set, but didn't turn out. But she doubled down and pushed through to the end of that third set. But I tell you what's more inspirational about both of them. It's just the quality of the people they are. They're great characters. Talking to Ash this morning, she was just talking about the values of her parents, both of them so appreciative of the great support they've received from Australia. That really did lift them. And I told them, that well, you lifted Australia, both of you, particularly those going through a difficult time where we are at the moment. And we look forward to Tokyo.
GILBERT: Yeah, absolutely. And she just said, I hope I made Evonne proud. Tapping into that, her hero. Wasn't it beautiful, yeah?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, that was absolutely special. And it was just great. It's the quality, I mean, there are plenty of great athletes, but I think they put themselves in the class of their own by their own character.
GILBERT: Prime Minister Scott Morrison, thanks for joining me today. Appreciate it.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks a lot Kieran, good to talk to you.
Interview with Tracy Grimshaw, A Current Affair
9 July 2021
TRACY GRIMSHAW: Prime Minister, thank you for your time. Two weeks into this Sydney lockdown and the numbers keep going up, the banks are now offering loan deferrals. It feels like we're in it for the long haul. Do you think that's what Sydney should be bracing for?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we'll keep watching the information day by day and every day we comply with these new restrictions is a day closer to coming out of them. And, it's a bit hard to say at this point, and it's for the Premier to ultimately make those judgements. But, we’ve just got to keep pushing through. Hopefully it's as a, it's as brief as it can be, but as long as it has to be to ensure that we suppress the virus and this most recent outbreak and we're able to get back to where we were a few weeks ago. New South Wales has had a great record here. But, as a fellow Sydneysider, we've just got to push through. I know people are tired and I know they're frustrated. That's understandable. But, what we all need to do now as Sydneysiders is pull through, not just for New South Wales and Sydney, but for the whole country. The Sydney economy is incredibly important to the national economy. And, so, we've all got a job to do here for Australia.
GRIMSHAW: When Melbourne locked down for months last year, there was full JobKeeper and full JobSeeker available. There were rent suspensions, for example, and businesses currently have to find their rent. People who can't work have to find their rent. They don't have help really for that now. Are you going to have to offer more help if this drags on, which it appears it might?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we are providing that help. I mean, the help we’re providing to people at, the $500 payment is what JobKeeper was being provided at the end of the JobKeeper program and that's, we've relaxed the restrictions now, going into the third week. There is no what's called the liquid assets test - how much money you’ve got in the bank ...
GRIMSHAW: Sure.
PRIME MINISTER: … So, people can access that payment now - $500 and $325. So, that's what was being provided under JobKeeper at the end of the program, and that's been put in place now. And, we're working with the New South Wales State Government, should they be in a position where they have to go further to look at additional measures ...
GRIMSHAW: What measures?
PRIME MINISTER: … And, but what's important is that we seek to get out of it. Well, that's what we're working through with the New South Wales State Government to support businesses and support the New South Wales economy should further restrictions be required. But, right now, we're providing that direct household support and people can access those payments, just like people do after a natural disaster. That's exactly the same method we're using. You call the number and you can access the payment.
GRIMSHAW: Prime Minister, at the start of Melbourne's second wave, roughly a year ago, the Victorian Government locked thousands of people into high rise public housing towers. In Sydney, we can still buy shoes and homewares if we think that they are necessary. Is it lock down light here? Have we not gone hard enough?
PRIME MINISTER: I think the decision that has been taken by the New South Wales Government has been very carefully calibrated to the, to the advice that they have and the situation they face. And, New South Wales has never been the state which is instinctively with the first reaction gone to those sorts of measures, and that's been very good for the national economy and the Sydney economy. And, what's, what the challenge has been here in Sydney over the course of the last, particularly 10 days or so, has been compliance with the restrictions that were there. So, it's important that that compliance kicks in, and the Premier's gone further today, and I think they were wise judgments. And, so, compliance is what we have to do in Sydney. We've got to stick to the rules that have been set because if we don't do that, then obviously that makes coming out of this lockdown more difficult.
GRIMSHAW: Today you reassured Australians that we have 2,020 spare ventilators, which I know was supposed to be comforting, but frankly, it was a chilling moment for me. I mean, given that the UK and the US are busy opening up, why are we still locking down and counting ventilators?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that was simply an assurance that we are continuing to ensure that we have a public health response in our hospitals that you would expect governments to be checking in on. Now, I don't envisage that they will be necessary at all, but I think it's wise. And, I think, I would hope that that would be reassuring that our governments are always looking at this, as I know the UK Government is, because in the UK now, their focus is not on managing cases. They had as many cases in one day this week that we've had over the entire 18 months. Their focus now is on hospitalisations and serious illness. And, we'll have to wait and see what their most recent decisions will mean for that. But, here in Australia, we haven't had the rate of death. I mean, we've saved 30,000 lives here in Australia by the response that we've had as Australians. That's put us in a very strong position from a health perspective and also from an economic perspective. We've had a million jobs come back into the economy. We’ve got more jobs now in the economy than we did before the pandemic hit. So Australia, globally, has performed well, and we need to now get everybody vaccinated as quickly as we can by the end of the year. And, we believe that at the rates we're hitting now, that tomorrow we'll be in a position where we would have hit a million doses in a week. Now, at that rate, we get this job done.
GRIMSHAW: We're still behind those big countries in our vaccine rollout. Have we, have we squandered our advantage by putting so much faith in one vaccine, that we can make here, that has been beset by problems? I mean, everyone's a genius in hindsight, Prime Minister, but if you could go back a year, would you have bought more Pfizer?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we bought 20 million Pfizer and we were able to upgrade that to 40 million Pfizer, and as we've announced today, we've been working hard to bring those Pfizer's forward because of the challenges that have been with AstraZeneca. Let's, now let's note that the AstraZeneca vaccine is what's vaccinated the United Kingdom - 44 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the United Kingdom. They haven't been vaccinated by the Pfizer vaccine. Now …
GRIMSHAW: Well, I think they’ve used something like 30 million Pfizers, haven’t they? I'm sorry to interrupt you. We've only got limited ...
PRIME MINISTER: … 44, AstraZeneca has been, I know, the AstraZeneca is the workhorse of the UK vaccination. That's undisputed. AstraZeneca has also been an important part of our vaccination programme. We purchased additional Pfizer. We have the Moderna vaccine, the Novavax vaccine, all of these vaccines. And, the Pfizer we've been able to bring those forward. We’ll be at 4.5 million doses next month that we have available. This month, 2.8 million; 1.7 [million] last month. So, we're ramping that up to a million a week in just a few weeks’ time. So, we've had challenges. We've got on top of them. We're hitting the marks we need to to get the job done.
GRIMSHAW: I understand all of that, Prime Minister, but we signed the deal to buy our first 10 million Pfizers in November of last year when something like 30 odd countries were already ahead of us in the queue and they'd already signed the deal for something like a billion doses. So, we were behind the eight ball from the beginning with mRNA vaccines, and AstraZeneca has proven to be a problem, hasn't it? There's AstraZeneca hesitancy.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what I would encourage people to do, if you're aged over 60, go and get your AstraZeneca vaccine. That is the most important population that we need to vaccinate in this country. We've got almost three quarters of the population has now been vaccinated aged over 70 on their first dose, and we need them now to go back and get their second dose. And, even still, we've had people under the age of 60, many have had the AstraZeneca vaccine. And, so, it has been an important part of the vaccine programme. It is still an important part of the vaccine programme. And, I would encourage anyone to continue to support it because it is a key part of how we get to where we all want to get to as a country. The Pfizer vaccine is also an important part, that's kicking in more now. Of course, we've had those challenges with AstraZeneca, and there are wisdom, there is wisdom in hindsight, as you say, Tracy. But, Australia is in a position now where we're hitting the rates of vaccination which gets this job done.
GRIMSHAW: We spoke with Lieutenant General Frewen on the program last week and he alluded to a measure of vaccine hesitancy among over 70s in Australia, and there's something like 30 per cent of over 70s who haven't been vaccinated. Do you know what percentage of those don't want the vaccine?
PRIME MINISTER: It's a small proportion, as I understand it, but we've got, as I just said, almost 75 per cent of the over 70 population vaccinated. Every single aged care facility in the country has had two dose visits, two dose visits. And, one of the key things we’ll be looking at with the four phase plan I outlined last Friday is it's not just the overall population vaccination rates that are important, but it's also those over 70. And, over 70 per cent, almost three quarters of our population aged over 70 now that have had that first dose, and it's still rising. That I, it's demonstrating that the programme is really getting into those groups as it, as it needs to to have the broader protection for the whole population.
GRIMSHAW: How close to 100 per cent can you get it? Have you done the, have you looked at the data on that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, no country is going to get to 100 per cent …
GRIMSHAW: Of over 70s.
PRIME MINISTER: ... just like no country is going to completely eradicate the virus. No, but no country’s going to get to 100 per cent there either, Tracy. I mean, this is one of the myths that go around in the vaccination debate around the world. I mean, there's only one country in the world that has a two dose vaccination rate higher than 65 per cent, and that's Israel. Not even the United Kingdom has reached that. And, in the city of London, the vaccination rates in the United Kingdom are less than 60 per cent. So, I think we've got to get a bit of perspective here. Other countries are moving forward with opening up because they've had millions of people who have actually contracted the virus, and so there's more antibodies that are there in that population in countries that have been riddled with COVID. I'll tell you one league table where we sit very strongly on, and that is the low number of deaths in this country. And, frankly, that has always been our country's focus at a state and federal level - that we didn't want to see the tens of thousands, and indeed, in some cases millions of deaths we've seen overseas country occur here in Australia. And, we have seen our economy, the OECD just this week highlighted Australia is one of the best performing countries in the world in COVID getting jobs back into the economy. So, more jobs and less deaths. That's what we've delivered.
GRIMSHAW: You talked today about incentives for workforces to be, particularly the aged care workforce I think was the context today, to be jabbed.
PRIME MINISTER: Specifically, yeah.
GRIMSHAW: What sort of incentives are you looking at?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it was raised by Premier McGowan today and whether there'd be something like retail vouchers or things like that, working with the corporate sector. We had a roundtable with Lieutenant General Frewen and the Treasurer this week that was looking at ways that the business sector can support. So, this was, I thought, a good suggestion, and we'll run it to ground through General Frewen with the corporate sector, following up on that roundtable. That roundtable also led, and the Treasurer Josh Frydenberg this week also got on the phone to the banks to ensure, particularly here in New South Wales and Sydney, that the same leeway that was being provided in Victoria and other places is also going to be provided here in New South Wales. So, you just got to work the problem, that's what we're doing. And, I'm going to keep working the problem, keep trying to get Australia moving forward, keep people in jobs, keep people safe. That's what we've been delivering. We’ve still got a way to go, but we're faring better than most and almost all around the world when it comes to those key markers of saving lives and saving livelihoods.
GRIMSHAW: Ok. Thanks for your time, Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much.
Interview with Ray Hadley, 2GB
9 July 2021
RAY HADLEY: I'm going to go straight to the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison is on the line right now. Prime Minister, good morning to you.
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Ray.
HADLEY: Just dealing, as you would appreciate, with some of the bad stories involving rugby league and the virus at the moment. But we've got bigger fish to fry, bigger fish to fry.
PRIME MINISTER: Truth. Truth.
HADLEY: Now, this really good news we've heard this morning about Pfizer and how did you pluck this one out of left field - a million a week by the end of the month, I'm told. Is that correct?
PRIME MINISTER: That's right. On the 19th of July. That's what they've told us. So back in, last month, we were getting 1.7 million a month. This month we will get to 2.8 million and then August we'll be at 4.5 million. So that's quite a ramp up. Now, this is something Greg Hunt and Brendan Murphy, Professor Murphy, have been working on with Pfizer. We're in constant contact with them. I mean, we're always trying to get our deliveries brought forward. And so this is very, very welcome. And that work has paid off. And that means from 19th of July, we will be at about one million Pfizer doses a week. Now, we've also got 1,300 more GPs coming on stream this month. So we'll have well over 6,000 now, points of presence all around the country. Those 1,300 specifically being brought on to be able to do Pfizer. And so, you know, we've caught up a lot of ground, particularly in the last sort of five weeks, Ray. Last month, we did three and a half million doses. That was, you know, you hit that mark and you keep hitting it every month and better, then by the end of this year, it is absolutely achievable to have everyone being offered that dose and be in that position by the end of the year. So we're catching up the ground. We had some challenges early, but we've got on top of those. And this is another good example of how we're getting on top of that.
HADLEY: Okay, I'm glad you mentioned the challenges, because Josh Frydenberg spoke to my colleague Ben Fordham the other day and said it has been challenging.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, it has.
HADLEY: Is that and I've got to go through and dissect it. You had Dr Young saying, I don't want to be the Chief Medical Officer when someone aged 18 dies from AstraZeneca. You've had other people go on national TV and on other digital platforms saying, oh, no, AstraZeneca is going to kill you. I mean, the misinformation is almost breathtaking. Then when you come out and you recommend that people under the age of 40 go and talk to their doctors and seek advice and look at all the risks involved. You didn't say, go and get AstraZeneca, you simply suggest that people have a yarn with their GP. I've got a young bloke working with me here, he had AstraZeneca two days ago. He's 34.
PRIME MINISTER: 14,000 have since I made that point. And people have gone to talk to their doctors. But I mean, early on, Ray, we had three million doses of AstraZeneca that didn't show up and that was right at the start of the rollout before they were rolling off the production line at CSL here in Australia. That was obviously a big hit. That took three million doses out of our early vaccine program. And then we had the ATAGI advice, which limited AstraZeneca to those over 50 as a preferred vaccine and so are not preferred under the age of 50. Then they changed that again to 60. So that had a big hit on the pace of the rollout. And we understand that. And so we had those challenges and that slowed it down. But we've been able to now get it back to that pace we needed, which is where we are now to get ourselves where we need to get to by the end of the year. But I mean, people should always talk to their doctor. But AstraZeneca I mean, because there's millions of people right now who, you know, will have their second dose of AstraZeneca due. I encourage them to go and get it. 44 million doses of AstraZeneca has been administered in the United Kingdom. That's why their vaccination rate is so high, it hasn't been Pfizer doing that job over there. It's been the AstraZeneca vaccine that has vaccinated the UK. So it is a good vaccine. It's a very, very, very positive vaccine, it's a very effective vaccine. And so if you've got your second dose due, particularly if you're down there in south western Sydney, please go and get it.
HADLEY: Okay. I'll come back to AstraZeneca in a moment, but I'm glad you touched on the UK. Now, Boris Johnson said earlier this week, July 19, we're opening up. There'll be no more regulation with it. We're barring everything. And I said yesterday and the day before, it's based on and predicated on this, he's got 86 per cent or 84 per cent, rather, of the population with the first jab. He's got 64 per cent with two jabs. So, I guess, he's saying he's throwing down the gauntlet there to people who refuse to, or won't get the jab, to say, well look I'm sorry, we're going to open everything up because, you know, more than half the population are now jabbed. If you don't want to get the jab, well, you're going to have to confront being really, really affected by the virus as opposed to mildly affected, if you've got the jab.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think that's a fair summary of what he said. And the situation in the UK is very different to here. I mean, they had more cases in one day, the other day in the UK than we've had in our entirety over 18 months. So COVID has riddled the UK as it has through Europe and through the United States, so we're in a different situation to them and countries that have had low levels of the virus and certainly low fatalities, Australia has one of the lowest, other than New Zealand, of fatalities for COVID of any country in the world. I'll tell you what, that's a chart where I want Australia to be right where we are on. So they have had that challenge. So COVID is everywhere in those communities. And so it's a different situation. But the point is well made. That's why we want to give everyone this availability of a dose. That's why I announced the plan last Friday with National Cabinet, says we need to move from being where we're managing cases, which is where we still are now, by the way, which is why we have to do what we're doing in Sydney right now. We'll get to phase two when we start managing hospitalisations, number of people in ICU. And when I was with Boris the other day in London, they were just making a decision about extending their restrictions. And the reason they did that wasn't case numbers. It was they saw a rising level of hospitalisations. And so that is what the future mark will be. And hopefully not too far away. Not yet now. We never envisaged at any time right now we would be out of suppression, under even the best scenario planning of the vaccine rollout. All the states and territories understood that in July we would still be in suppression phase. That's why we need to keep a lid on this thing right now. But the next phase enables us to move forward.
HADLEY: I know you're going to talk to health officials now and they guide you and the Premier through all of this. It was first suggested that this Delta variant is far more contagious. But if you got it, you wouldn't be as crook as you previously were. That, I don't know whether we've got a different variant than they had in India, but it would appear to me if we've got 10 per cent in Sydney in hospital and we've got 11 as of last night, there'll be more today in ICU. Is there a suggestion now that maybe where we have a different sort of Delta as opposed to the rest of the world, where, yes, it's more contagious, but you're not as crook? Is that the concern for our health officials?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, last Friday, the advice was that it wasn't at least the evidence at that point wasn't suggesting something more from a serious illness point of view. But there's been more data that's come through from overseas since then, which says that those sands are shifting. And that's been the case with this virus all the way through, Ray. And there's no roadmap on something like this. And you get new variants quite regularly. And the way they play out over time changes. And you've just got to be very attentive to the data. And that's why, in those, you know, the public, I get it, you get frustrated when you hear ATAGI say 50 and then 60 or, you know, this variant is not as virulent as the other ones and then that changes. The data changes because it's a virus and it writes its own rules and charts its own course. So we're dealing with the same frustrations, I've got to tell you. And then you try and adapt your program as quickly as you can to stay on top of it. And by and large, I don't know. It's really tough. I mean, we're in lockdown here, like everyone else is in Sydney. And it is tough. And I know people, Ray, they're getting frustrated. And I get it. They've really put up with a lot over a long period of time. But now is not the time to give up. Now is the time to keep pushing through. You know, like Ash last night and you just keep pushing through and we are going to crack this and that vaccine advice today I hope is a real sign of hope to all Australians. A million doses coming in on 19 July. We're going to get this done. We're hitting our marks, so let's get it done.
HADLEY: So just to give people some hope and thanks for the reference to Ash Barty, because that's a great thought. I mean, the Pommies are celebrating the fact that they're into this major soccer final for the first time in 50 years. And all of a sudden since Evonne Goolagong, we've got a young Australian into the final at Wimbledon. And I'm not joking. That will lift the stocks of plenty of people by the time they get to Sunday morning, particularly if she wins. But, just on where we're headed. You're talking about Pfizer by the end of August and all that. And there are people at the moment, you know, how much they're hurting the small business people that, you know, the coffee shops all over Sydney, the restaurants all over Sydney, the various hairdressers all over Sydney. If we get the million Pfizer out and about by the end of August, and that's a week I'm talking about, say, four million a month, can you see some time between now and Christmas, and I know you haven’t got a crystal ball, where we'll have it basically not under control, but it won't control us like it does at the moment. But we'll control it, if you know what I mean.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah. Look, I would hope that we'd be able to move into phase two before the end of the year. That's my hope. We're still waiting on, the Doherty Institute is doing some modelling and analysis for us, that will give us a guide as to what the threshold is we have to reach. And it's not just you know, you mentioned the numbers for the UK before. They're about approaching around 65 per cent for the whole population. I saw some data yesterday which showed that London's actually less than that. But that said, you’ve then got to dig under that and go, okay, so what's the threshold of your population over 70 that needs to be vaccinated, because they're the ones who are most vulnerable, most at risk. That's why we focus on that group so much. And we've got over 70 per cent of that population, over 70 now, 72 per cent that have had their first dose. So they're on, that's on AstraZeneca predominantly. And that means they'll all be getting their second dose within the next couple of months. I mean, my mum's getting it, I think later this week, actually. I think she’s getting it tomorrow. It might be early next week.
HADLEY: God bless Mum.
PRIME MINISTER: And so, you know, my mother in law, I think, has already had her second dose. So they are getting their second doses over the next couple of months. So that means our most vulnerable population in the next couple of months will have had their two doses. Now, that means that, remember what happened in the second wave in Victoria, it has been our elderly that have been the victims of the fatalities of COVID. And so it's not just the top level benchmark. It's the sub benchmarks, for your over 70s population and things like that, which are really important. So, again, I mean, I'm labouring the point, Ray, but we've got about 50 per cent vaccinations in south west Sydney on people aged over 70 on first dose. We need that up. We need people to go and get vaccinated. We're working with multicultural communities. I know the Premier was directly engaging with multicultural communities yesterday afternoon, you know, in a wide link-up and good on her for doing it. She's been fantastic talking to those communities and we're doing the same. And we need to get them vaccinated.
HADLEY: Just quickly, because you mentioned mum and your mother in law. I'm waiting for my second AstraZeneca. I was due in August, but I'm now told that I don't need to wait, that I can go forward in eight weeks, which means I get it next week or the week after, I believe. Is that correct?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the TGA actually says four to 12 and it's most effective at 12. The reason that the Chief Medical Officer advised me this week to say from eight, is in those areas where the outbreak is most threatening.
HADLEY: Okay.
PRIME MINISTER: So 12 weeks is, you know, where it's most effective.
HADLEY: That’s the optimum. Yeah, ok.
PRIME MINISTER: If you're living in south west Sydney and you're aged over 70, well, you're living in an area at the moment where the outbreak is most threatening and you're better off being vaccinated with your second dose at eight weeks now because of the balance of risk. So that's why, you know, talk to your doctor, always talk to your doctor, just like all the other ones I’ve mentioned.
HADLEY: Don't ask the Prime Minister, talk to Dr Geoff.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, exactly. Talk to your doctor, go and see them. And particularly, you know, I am concerned for people in south western Sydney, particularly for those who are older. And that's why with 300,000 additional doses we're providing to New South Wales next week, and that's 150,000 Pfizer and 150,000 AstraZeneca, and that AstraZeneca in particular, is for those second doses of those who are aged over 70.
HADLEY: OK, I know you've got to meet health officials. One final thing, you know, I said yesterday an inspired choice, in my opinion. This is an outstanding man, Nick Kaldas. I've had a lot to do with him over the past 20 years and to name him to lead the Royal Commission into Veteran Suicide. I know there are some people this morning saying, oh, I hope it's not going to be a whitewash. I can give them a gold plated guarantee. This bloke will chase every story down every burrow. He’s forensic. He's the best you could choose. Congratulations.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I appreciate that. And I'm really pleased that Nick agreed to do it. And he will be joined by James Douglas, who is a former judge of the Supreme Court in Queensland. And Peggy Brown, she's a consultant psychiatrist, Dr Brown and national leader in mental health policy. So, you know, I think we're covering all those elements. And one of the sensitivities in doing this was that, you know, the veterans community and families and others were concerned that it might be someone who, you know, from a military background or something like that, and that would make them anxious. So we listen to that. And I think Nick has a good grasp of what uniformed organisations are like. And you and I both know that in the police force, they also deal with issues of stress and post-traumatic stress and from times of service, you and I both know that police see and hear and experience things every single day that the rest of us don't. And so he gets that. He gets the pressures on families. He gets the stresses. And I think he'll deal with this very sensitively and very effectively because we know he works himself pretty hard. And so I'm really, thanks for that, Ray. I think he'll do a great job. This is very important to us and I think we've got it right.
HADLEY: Okay. Thanks for your time this morning. All the best.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks a lot, cheers.
Interview with Sabra Lane, ABC AM
9 July 2021
SABRA LANE: Good morning, Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Sabra. Good to be with you.
LANE: The boost in Pfizer supplies that the Government's negotiated, is that a tripling of initial supplies or the overall order? What will that mean from Monday week?
PRIME MINISTER: What it means on the 19th of July is that we'll have a million doses coming in every week from Pfizer. And that means, to put it in perspective, we had in the month of June, we had 1.7 million Pfizer doses. This month we'll have 2.8 million. And in August, we'll have 4.5 million. That's what's been outlined to us by Pfizer and Pfizer have been hitting all their marks for us. When they said they're going to send something, they send something. And to be able to confirm this publicly also is important. And so those additional doses, the bring forward of those doses, which I commend Minister Hunt for and Professor Murphy and General Frewen, we've been working on this for some time to get that bring forward. We've also got 1,300 additional GPs coming on stream this week, sorry this month, to deliver those Pfizer doses that are coming through. And so we really are hitting the marks we now need to hit. We've done a lot of catch up in particularly over the month of June, and that's seen us now hitting the levels we need to get this job done and have everyone offered a dose by the end of the year.
LANE: Okay, so that means everyone will be offered a vaccine by Christmas?
PRIME MINISTER: This is our, this is our plan. And if we keep these rates up, Sabra, we'll hit that.
LANE: There is a debate about what level will be regarded as herd immunity in the community. The New South Wales Chief Health Officer, Kerry Chant says only when 80 per cent are actually offered a vaccine, can we have that conversation. Do you agree with that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we'll be guided by the Doherty modelling, which is being done right now. And there are differing opinions and views on this. If you ask different epidemiologists or others, you go around the country, around the world, in fact, and there is no single view on that. And with the new strains that are emerging, that also has an impact. It's also important to bear in mind in Australia, Sabra, that because we haven't had the number of cases they have had overseas, I mean, in the UK the other day, they had more cases in one day than we've had in total. And that means there's a larger number of antibodies that are present in those communities just because more people have had the virus.
And so, you know, every country's situation is different. And so that's why we are getting Doherty Institute. They are the best modellers, we believe, the best anywhere in the world. And they are providing us with that advice. But it's not just about what the headline rate is as well. I mean, one of the reasons that you focus so much on the older population is they're the ones most at risk. Now we have over 70 per cent, in fact, 72.6 per cent based on yesterday's numbers of first dose vaccinations of those aged over 70. And it's the most vulnerable population where you need to have the greatest protection. So it's not just about one number. There are many numbers.
LANE: So that might mean, given that we don't have the virus as prevalent here as it is overseas, you might need to consider different levels of immunity or what herd immunity is for different cohorts, like a different level for aged, first Australians, kids?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, no- sorry Sabra- that's exactly right. Because what you're looking at is what is your level of protection against serious illness and fatality in your community, in your population. Now, it is true that those who are younger don't experience more serious illness. Now, that doesn't mean it can't happen. I mean, of course it can. And young people shouldn't consider themselves immune from serious illness. That's why it's important that in the suppression phase in particular, that we continue to be vigilant. But those obviously most at risk are those who are older. And if you can protect your vulnerable populations, then that obviously gives you greater opportunities as we move into phase two and phase three that I outlined last Friday after National Cabinet.
LANE: The nation's crossing its fingers for the Sydney outbreak right now, given it is the Delta virus and given we've had new research overseas this morning showing that even Delta, with one jab of the virus is not very effective, that you really need two jab's of any vaccine. If this…
PRIME MINISTER: Oh no, I wouldn't agree with that, Sabra. That's not the advice I have. It's not I mean, one dose does give you serious protection, but two doses is obviously better.
LANE: There is a new paper that's out this morning in the Nature Magazine that actually shows that one dose of the vaccine barely inhibits it, quote unquote, that only two doses are strong enough to neutralise it…
PRIME MINISTER: That's, that's not our advice. That's not the medical advice I'm receiving from the Chief Medical Officer or the AHPPC.
LANE: The nation's crossing its fingers for the Sydney outbreak that it can be suppressed. If this goes beyond three weeks, what additional help can the Federal Government offer workers and households?
PRIME MINISTER: What's needed. And that's what the Treasury is working on right now. The Treasurer and I have been working with the Premier and the Treasurer in New South Wales. And if it is necessary to go beyond three weeks, then we will have the sort of targeted, well-designed support that we've provided in the past. We're in a different situation now. I mean, the difference between before and now is we're dealing with a very specific population in the Sydney metropolitan area, and that means we can be more targeted in our support and to the Sydney area, and that means we can deliver that support directly and which is what we're doing through the disaster recovery payment, the same thing we did in Victoria. Thankfully, the Victorian lockdown didn't go past two weeks. We're about to go into a third week here in Sydney. And that's why in the third week we've alleviated the liquid assets test as we go into that third week and we'll be looking at other measures and considering those in the days ahead.
LANE: 100 extra police are now patrolling south western Sydney to make sure that people abide by the stay at home orders. Are you comfortable with that, given that the region feels like it's being picked on when the eastern suburbs and northern beaches didn't see that kind of level of policing?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we're seeing the issue escalate. And this is what we saw this in Victoria too Sabra, you recall last year when we when into the second wave in Victoria. Police are just doing their job and it's important that they do. And there's nothing more to it than that. And I think we need to look at that in good faith and not cast aspersions in any way, shape or form on the operational decisions that the police are making to ensure compliance in those areas. The challenge we've had in New South Wales, in Sydney over the last 10 days, has been compliance. That's been the problem and that's what we need to address. The virus doesn't move by itself. It moves from one person to another. And while people may feel that you know, family gatherings are quite innocent, maybe birthday parties or whatever they might be, they're just as dangerous as footballers celebrating a win down in the Illawarra. So, you know, these things are very important. We're at a very sensitive phase of this outbreak and it's very important we do all we can to contain it.
LANE: It was different, though, in Victoria. They had very strong rules about not moving within five kilometres of home, only essential shopping. Other retail outlets were shut. This is a different situation.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, every response is calibrated to the needs of that community. And that's what the New South Wales Government is doing. I mean, you know, there were some who thought some of those restrictions may have been too much back then, but you know, I'm not getting into that debate. I mean, these things will always be discussed. The rules, as they are, have been set out in Sydney and compliance with those rules, all the medical evidence suggests is that will be effective. The problem is we haven't been getting that compliance. It's not about the rules. It's about compliance with the rules. And that's why you're seeing the New South Wales Government take those steps.
LANE: National Cabinet's meeting today, it'll discuss mandatory vaccination for workers in the disability sector. Are all governments in favour of this? Is anyone pushing back?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, they agreed to [aged care worker vaccinations], but they haven't done it. And I'm somewhat frustrated about that. And I believe we'll see the overwhelming number of states actually follow through on that. I mean, the reasonable point that was made by states is that the Commonwealth Government will need to be taking the lead on compliance with that. And we will. And I've written to Premiers to assure them of that. So it's important that the most effective way to do this is state public health orders. That's what, that's what was being used for flu vaccinations. And in the past, that is the most effective way to do this. And so we're seeking their cooperation to follow through on the National Cabinet agreement that this be done on the advice of the AHPPC, the medical expert panel. This needs to be done. I've been pursuing this for months.
LANE: Who's resisting?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm not going to go into that today. I'm going to work those issues through National Cabinet. That's where I have those discussions. It's not my practise to get into those sort of tit for tat discussions in public. I deal with the Premiers directly.
LANE: Prime Minister, there are hundreds of Afghans who worked alongside our soldiers who would like to be here in Australia. The former Prime Minister John Howard, says Australia has a moral obligation to bring them here to avoid making the same mistakes that we did with the Vietnam War. What are you doing about fast tracking that process and getting people out, given the Taliban is advancing so quickly?
PRIME MINISTER: We are doing everything we can. And I agree with Prime Minister Howard and in fact we've had over the course, it's been some time now, some 1,400 Afghan workers and their families who work for the ADF. And [inaudible] support to Australia over quite a number of years. And we're also accelerating that process now. Hundreds are in that process right now. We're doing it on the basis of the rules that were set actually in place by the previous Labour government back in 2012. They're the right rules. And we're doing that as fast and as safely as we can. So I absolutely agree with him. And this has a high level of urgency within the Government. And we're moving on that as quickly and as safely as we possibly can. It's obviously an environment which is difficult to operate. And I think people would appreciate that, as it has been, when I was Immigration Minister some years ago, we were involved in exactly the same task and we are applying exactly the same focus.
LANE: Some requests have been rejected on technicalities on the basis that some people had been subcontracted and therefore were not directly employed. Is that a technicality that, you know, ultimately it's a life and death thing here?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there are two streams, there's the employee stream, and then there's also the normal humanitarian visa stream and we work through both channels and the rules around contracting and those, they are exactly the rules that Chris Bowen put in when he was Immigration Minister. And so we've been following those rules and that's why we've bought 4,500 people already and to granting visas and certifying them over the course of what has been a long and arduous conflict in Afghanistan. So we're applying those rules. There are other channels that are also available. And we're, I absolutely agree that this is urgent. And that's what the Ministers have been tasked with and Departments. And they're doing that as safely and quickly as possible.
LANE: Prime Minister, thanks for your time this morning.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much, Sabra.
Interview with Karl Stefanovic, Today Show
9 July 2021
KARL STEFANOVIC: Joining me now is Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Sydney. PM, good morning to you. Thanks for your time.
PRIME MINISTER: G'day Karl.
STEFANOVIC: OK, 300,000 extra vaccines for Western Sydney. A million a week for the rest of the country. Where did you magically conjure those from?
PRIME MINISTER: We've been working with Pfizer now for quite some period of time to bring forward our supplies, and I commend Minister Hunt and Professor Murphy and Lieutenant General Frewen for the great job we've been doing there to get those supplies brought forward. That means we've gone from 1.7 million in June, 2.8 million this month and we'll rise to a million a week from the 19th of July, and we'll get to 4.5 million a month, next month. So, that's ramping up. We've got 1,300 extra GPs coming on line this month to deliver the Pfizer vaccines specifically, and so we are really hitting our marks now, Karl. I know we've had challenges over the course of the last four months but we're hitting those marks now. We keep this pace up, we get there. So it really is the national effort to get there.
STEFANOVIC: So, that's a rolled gold guaranteed supply, no issues?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, Pfizer's supply to us, all the way through, what they've said they'll deliver, they've delivered. And, you know, we're still working in a global market where there's a lot of strains, and they confirmed those supplies. I can tell you, every time Pfizer said they're going to deliver something, they have. Now, clearly we didn't have that AstraZeneca early on in the rollout, and there was three million vaccines that set us right back. But, we're making up those, that time now, and we're hitting those marks we need to hit now. And, so we keep that up Australia, we get this thing done.
STEFANOVIC: OK, and we'll be done by those calculations around Christmas, we should all be right, right?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, we should be able to achieve that, pending everything, you know, the supplies being maintained, and there being no other medical advice, which we've seen disrupt in the past. But, at this point, we're not seeing that ahead and so we can get this done by the end of the year. That's what General Frewen advises me, and so we've just got to work together to get that done.
STEFANOVIC: That's significant news. Let's talk your home town now. You can understand why those in the south-west are frustrated when the police force is hitting the streets in numbers to prevent what we saw in the east last week. It's being called racist and heavy-handed by some. Sydney, PM, is not in this together right now.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think we are in this together, and we've seen these sorts of responses in other states. We certainly saw it in Victoria last year when we were dealing with similar challenges. And, the police are there simply just to help with the compliance and to provide assistance. Those decisions are being made operationally to support the arrangements that are being put in place, and they're made, and the judgments are being made by professional police officers. So, look, that's what's needed, and it's important that that's understood in good faith. And, everyone's doing the best they can, including our police, and everyone in the community, we've got to work together to come through this, Sydney. As a fellow Sydneysider, I, you Karl, we're all subject to those rules and we all need to comply with them, because the virus doesn't walk by itself. People carry it from one to another. And, so, it's important, particularly people might think a family event is innocent, or I'm just going round to see Nanna or whatever. Well, as much as you want to see Nanna, and it's lovely to see Nanna, and she wants to see you, at the moment it's not safe for Nanna, specifically, but more broadly, for those family gatherings at this time.
STEFANOVIC: If you live in those south-western parts of Sydney, though, when you saw what happened in the east and you saw a very different approach to them now, you can't help but feel that it's skewed in the wrong way.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think it would be an unfair conclusion to draw on the behalf of the police to suggest anything other than them just trying to do their job and respond to the situation as it's emerging. I mean, we're dealing with a much more serious situation now than was envisaged a couple of weeks ago, and the situation is escalating and, you know, people are just got to do their jobs and we've got to do our job - that is the public of Sydney - in ensuring that we comply with those orders. The problem, we've had a real problem with compliance, and we've got to together sort that out.
STEFANOVIC: OK, some anonymous - and can there be anything more cowardly than anonymous - New South Wales Ministers are contemplating living with COVID, as in, right now, before vaccinations are rolled out. Do you support, without any compromise this morning, this lockdown returning to local transmission to zero?
PRIME MINISTER: If that's what's needed in this suppression phase, and if that's what the State Government does, then, of course. I mean, we are still in the suppression phase. We were always going to still be in the suppression phase now.
STEFANOVIC: So, what would you say to those Ministers?
PRIME MINISTER: To come into line with the Premier. That is the public health advice I'm receiving, and I'm quite certain that's the public health advice that she's receiving. And, in the discussions I've had with New South Wales Cabinet Ministers, that hasn't been relayed to me. So, I don't know who, what these reports relate to. But, I believe that's what will happen in New South Wales. The Government in New South Wales I think has shown a great resolve and they have led the country in so many ways over the course of this past 18 months. And, New South Wales, but the virus doesn't respect our records here, and all it does is seek to have its way, and in Sydney we're in a vulnerable position right now. And, it's very important that all of us do what we can to comply with these arrangements. But, we have to get those case numbers down. And, at this stage, this year, we always knew in every state and territory that we would still be in a suppression phase. And, there's only one country, two countries in the world, that has got above 60 per cent vaccination at this time and that's the United Kingdom and Israel, and Israel, of course, is a very small country. And, even in the United Kingdom, even in London, I stress, in London the vaccination rates are actually, I think, I understand it, below 60 per cent. So, it's a tough job to get that done, and so we need to keep vigilance.
STEFANOVIC: OK. The rest of the country, as you would know, is crying foul on these 300,000 vaccinations you found for Sydney. It does rile them, especially in Melbourne, that you suddenly found them.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, in Melbourne we provided 150,000 additional doses when they were going through this exact same challenge, and we've always had those additional AstraZeneca. So, there was 150,000 Pfizer that we sent to Victoria, and we've doubled that down with AstraZeneca here because we know, particularly in the affected areas, Karl, we've got just shy of 70,000 people aged over 60 who have already had their first AstraZeneca dose. We want them to come back and get their second one. And, the medical advice says that you can do that, certainly from eight to 12 weeks, and given the risk of people contracting COVID in those areas, it's important they now go and get that dose as soon as they possibly can. So, they're not getting any less than they were going to get, that they'd been planned to receive. So, they can keep going on with the program as they have it. But, in New South Wales that's where the medical need is now, and obviously that's where the priority should be given, as it was in Victoria.
STEFANOVIC: Couple of quick ones, we're running out of time. Aged care workers, I still can't fathom how they still aren't all vaccinated. Why not?
PRIME MINISTER: It's a challenging area. But, we need those mandatory rules in place. I'll be discussing that again with the premiers today at National Cabinet. We agreed to do it. We need to get those public health orders in place. The Commonwealth will be supporting those public health orders by ensuring the compliance side of that, and reporting that back to the states. I've written to the premiers that, they'll receive that letter today, which gives that assurance again about …
STEFANOVIC: It must be frustrating for you?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's terribly frustrating. I mean, we've just got to get on and make these rules. I mean, many states I believe will do it. But, I don't want to get into the individual states. I'm just looking for them to all come together and do what they said they'd do, which is ensure we're all working together to get those aged care workers. Now, it's just shy of about 50 per cent, where we are now. It's just a bit over 40, I understand. But, it has to be a lot higher than that. But, can I say this Karl - if you have a family member who's going into a residential aged care facility, then please ensure that they're vaccinated before they go in. Every single aged care facility in the country has had two visits for two doses. So, if you've got a family member going in, then please make sure that they're being vaccinated before they go into that environment. In the aged care facilities, they should be asking that question. But, please make sure that you're taking care of your family by ensuring they're vaccinated before they go into a residential aged care facility.
STEFANOVIC: A lot going on. PM, thanks for your time as always. Appreciate it.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks a lot, Karl.
Interview with Natalie Barr, Sunrise
9 July 2021
NATALIE BARR: For more, I'm joined by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Good morning to you. How significant is the Pfizer deal for Australia's vaccine rollout?
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Nat.
BARR: And are you confident that Pfizer will be able to deliver as promised?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, Pfizer have been a very good partner to work with, and we've been working steadily with them now for many weeks and months to try and bring forward this supply. We'll get up to a million doses a week from the 19th of July. And on a monthly basis, it means that back in May, sorry in June we had 1.7, then we went to 2.8 million this month, and it'll go to 4.5 million next month in August. So that is a real uplift in what we're seeing with Pfizer. And we've just been working the problem, Nat, and ensuring we can get as much as we can from Pfizer, bringing that forward. We've got, you know, over a thousand extra GPs that are coming into the network this month, which are doing Pfizer as well. So the points of presence are expanding. And this means that we can really keep hitting these marks. We're just a whisker off a million doses being delivered a week, every now, administered every single week. And at that pace, we get this job done.
BARR: Yeah. Look, you know, for the last few months, I guess a lot of Australians have been disappointed that we have been low on the list on a world scale for two doses. Why haven't we been able to secure these Pfizer doses before now?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh, there's just a shortage of the doses around the world, we're in a global pandemic. It's as simple as that, and we've been able to ensure that through the AstraZeneca vaccine that we've been able to have over five million doses specifically done through that channel. And we're encouraging people, as they have been, to come back for their second doses of AstraZeneca. We've obviously had the challenges with the programme, with the medical advice that has been applied here in Australia, obviously different in the UK, where 44 million people have had AstraZeneca doses. Certainly the programme has had its challenges. But we're making up that ground now and to get to a million doses a week very shortly and go beyond that means that in the second half of this year, which we're now in, we'll see ourselves going up that ranking. But importantly, the other important ranking is, is when you look at those charts, when it comes to fatalities, to deaths from COVID, I mean, that is the, that is the statistic, obviously, where Australia leads the world. I mean, just the other day they had more cases in the UK in one day than Australia has had in the past 18 months. So I think you've got to look at these things in balance.
BARR: Look, let's look at Sydney. The COVID crisis has deepened, 38 new cases yesterday, 21 in Sydney's South West. We had you on the show when the outbreak began. Here's what you had to say back then, we'll take a listen.
[Excerpt plays]
BARR: Do you think Sydney should have gone into a harder lockdown sooner?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think Sydney should have and the Premier should have acted on the advice that she had and the information she had, which is all that we can do. And I think it's a good thing that wherever possible, we don't put unreasonable burdens on people whenever we can. And I think the Premier here in New South Wales has done an extraordinary job. And I think Sydneysiders and people in New South Wales have appreciated that. Putting those restrictions in obviously comes at a great cost. And I think resisting that always, which has been the New South Wales Government policy, I think has broadly been welcomed. I mean, we're still dealing with a pandemic. I also support her strongly now in the measures that she's taking now based on the evidence that we have before us and whatever additional measures she needs to take, she will have that support from the Commonwealth Government. I've made that very clear in the discussions we've had this week with her and the Treasurer and with Josh Frydenberg as well. If they need to go further, well, they'll have our backing to do that and they'll have the economic support to do that. As you know, yesterday we relieved the restrictions as we go into the third week for that disaster recovery payment for people in the Sydney metropolitan area. There's no liquid assets test. So that means it doesn't matter how much cash you've got on hand as we go into a third week. We appreciate that. And we've extended that support.
BARR: But I suppose by not locking down harder, we're now in our third week, there's talk that we may go into our fourth week in New South Wales, the biggest economy in the country. You've got other state leaders saying that's allowed people to be flippant, that's allowed people to go out, and you're not crushing the virus like Victoria did, like other states did.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'm not going to get into the tit for tat arguments happening between states, and I don't think they're just …
BARR: But just as concept …
PRIME MINISTER: Each state is making their own decisions now. No, but what I'd suggest is the challenge we've had in New South Wales is compliance, compliance with those restrictions. I mean, people can be wise after the fact. But equally, I mean, the idea of when a lockdown should have been put in place, I mean, is an arguable point at that time. But what matters is once it's in, then the compliance is necessary, and that's where there has been the challenge in Sydney over the course of this past week and a half that we haven't seen the compliance that has been necessary. And it's important to get that compliance in place. And that's why yesterday was encouraging. And I said the virus doesn't move on its own. It moves by people moving the virus around. And that's why it's so important that the restrictions that have been put in place that are appropriate just need to be complied with. And so compliance has been the challenge, I would argue, as opposed to necessarily what the start date was.
BARR: You're advising people in Sydney due for their second AstraZeneca jab to get it sooner, get it at eight weeks if they can, rather than 12. The AMA has just said that's not quite as good as 12, but it's better than nothing. Are you happy with that advice?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, well, that's the advice of the Chief Medical Officer and the Secretary of the Health Department, Professor Murphy and Professor Kelly. And that's because in those areas where we're seeing the outbreak threatening the greatest, then that's where the risk to people is greatest and particularly those who are over 70. And so this advice always is based on the context and the risk that is present. Two doses, now, if you're over 70 and you're living in an area where the threat of the outbreak is greatest, is in your interests and it's within the TGA's approval, which actually goes, I understand, from four to 12 weeks. And they've said if you can get it at eight, if you can do it from eight and you can get vaccinated now, then that will give you a greater protection for if you have found yourself contracting COVID at this time. So it's important. It's important that people get their second dose and we'd be encouraging people to come forward and do that. If you're not in one of those highly affected areas, then of course, the balance of risk is different. But if you are, then I'd be strongly encouraging people to go and do that based on the medical advice I've had from Professor Kelly.
BARR: On something else, the TGA has told a Melbourne pub to stop giving away free beers as an incentive to get vaccinated. What do you think about one beer, Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think this is a bit heavy handed. Greg Hunt, the Health Minister and I, when we saw this last night, he had a chat to the TGA. And I particularly want to commend Greg Hunt for the great job he's done getting these Pfizer doses in. He has been relentless in this task, but on this task as well, I mean, the TGA are just doing their job. Those rules are there for important reasons. So drug companies can't offer drugs and cigarettes to people to buy their prescription drugs. So it's a sensible rule. But in these circumstances, the national interest is to get vaccinated. So the PA down there in Melbourne. Good on you for getting in behind the national effort. We'll get it sorted. Common sense will prevail. Cheers. Cheers to the PA.
BARR: The hotel's got the backing of ScoMo, so I think something could happen today. Thank you very much, Prime Minister. We appreciate your time.
PRIME MINISTER: Mind you, at 150,000 doses administered a day. I think he might want to be careful. There might not be enough beer in the kegs, I think, to back that one in.
BARR: Exactly. Oh, it's Australia there'll be enough beer. We never run out, do we? Thank you very much, Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks a lot, Nat.
National Cabinet Statement
9 July 2021
The National Cabinet met today to discuss Australia’s COVID-19 response, recent outbreaks of COVID-19 and the Australian COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy.
National Cabinet continues to work together to address issues and find solutions for the health and economic consequences of COVID-19.
National Cabinet discussed the outbreak in Greater Sydney and the additional measures introduced by the New South Wales Government to stop the spread of the virus. All leaders expressed their full support for NSW to get on top of the outbreak. National Cabinet noted the Commonwealth’s extension of the COVID-19 Disaster Payments for Greater Sydney.
Since the beginning of the pandemic there have been 30,955 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 910 people have died. More than 21.7 million tests have been undertaken. Testing has increased nationally over recent days with 727,763 tests reported in the past 7 days.
Globally there have been over 185.4 million cases and sadly over 4 million deaths, with 514,654 new cases and 9,457 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge in many countries around the world. National Cabinet noted the Commonwealth PPE and vaccine support for the Pacific and Indonesia to address growing outbreaks.
Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine roll out continues to expand. As of yesterday, 8,871,572 doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered in Australia, including 164,773 doses in the previous 24 hours. In the previous 7 days, 901,419 vaccines have been administered in Australia.
To date, more than 32.2 per cent of the Australian population aged 16 and over have now had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including over 55 per cent of over 50 year olds and over 72 per cent of over 70 year olds. More than 10 per cent of Australians 16 years of age are fully vaccinated including more than 20 per cent of Australians over 70 years of age.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly provided an update on current outbreaks of COVID-19 in a number of locations and of both the Alpha and Delta variants.
Professor Brendan Murphy noted that Australia has built significant health system capacity since the beginning of the pandemic with over 2,000 ventilator capacity and 7,500 ICU bed capacity.
Lieutenant General John Frewen, Coordinator-General of Operation COVID Shield, provided a detailed briefing on the vaccination program.
National Cabinet welcomed the increased Pfizer supplies and detailed supply plans provided to states and territories. Australia will bring forward Pfizer doses to around 1 million per week from 19 July, this is an increase from an average of 300,000 to 350-000 per week in May and June. Pfizer supplies will increase from 2.8 million doses for July to 4.5 million doses for August 2021. This will mean increased access for Australians through state and territory vaccination clinics, Commonwealth vaccination clinics and 1,300 primary care vaccination sites.
All leaders reiterated the importance of Australians, especially those in vulnerable groups, to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
National Cabinet agreed to meet next on Friday, 16 July 2021.
National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID Response
The Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Phil Gaetjens, provided an update on the COVID-19 Risk Analysis and Response Taskforce report and the Doherty modelling for the National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID Response. To take into account economic and other perspectives, Secretary Gaetjens’ work is being coordinated with Commonwealth, state and territory Treasuries, Health Departments and First Secretaries Departments.
Aged Care Workers
National Cabinet reaffirmed the commitment to implement the decision to mandate vaccination of aged care workers by mid-September 2021, with limited exceptions. All states and territories will work toward implementing this decision using state public health orders or similar state and territory instruments, and will provide an indication of timing when it is available. This is consistent with the approach taken for mandating influenza vaccinations for aged care workers.
In Victoria, a decision on mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for aged care workers rests with the Chief Health Officer.
National Cabinet noted that the Commonwealth's tender for aged care remains open for facilities to provide on-site vaccinations and this is expected to provide more than 25,000 workers, with a further process underway to support localised hubs in partnership with the aged care sector.
Mandatory Vaccinations for Disability Workers
National Cabinet agreed to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee’s (AHPPC) advice encouraging residential disability support workers to have their COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible, and in August 2021, consider mandating vaccination for disability workers by 31 October 2021.
The National Cabinet:
strongly encourages all disability support workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect their own health and the health of the people for whom they are caring
notes the AHPPC will consider the evidence for mandatory vaccination for disability support workers in August 2021 following redoubled efforts to encourage uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, including by giving disability support workers priority for appointments and improving communications to the sector, and taking into account an updated assessment by AHPPC of COVID-19 risk in a range of disability residential settings
notes in August 2021 the AHPPC will consider making it mandatory for disability support workers who support NDIS participants in high risk disability residential settings, to have had at least their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine by 31 October 2021.
Vaccination arrangements for mobile workforces
National Cabinet agreed to the AHPPC advice strongly encouraging vaccination in sectors with high mobility, such as aviation, resources and freight. The Coordinator General of Operation COVID Shield, Lieutenant General John Frewen DSC AM, continues to discuss the vaccination rollout with business groups and will continue to engage with the sectors to maximise uptake.
International passengers
National Cabinet noted progress to implement decisions taken at its last meeting regarding international passenger arrivals.
The Commonwealth has informed airlines that international air passenger arrival caps will be temporarily halved by 14 July 2021. The following cap arrangements will commence by 12.01am Wednesday 14 July and end by 11.59pm Tuesday 31 August 2021, subject to review by the National Cabinet before the end of August:
New South Wales – 1,505 per week (215 per day);
Queensland – 650 per week (including surge capacity);
Victoria – 500 per week;
South Australia – 265 per week; and
Western Australian – 265 per week.
The Commonwealth has increased the number of facilitated commercial flights (FCFs) into Darwin for quarantine at the Centre for National Resilience at Howard Springs. To support returning Australians to access flights, 29 FCFs are being arranged for July and August.
The Commonwealth is closely monitoring the impact of the temporary cap reductions and will provide additional support as necessary through the International Freight Assistance Mechanism to ensure the maintenance of essential freight lines.
National Cabinet agreed that COVID-19 vaccinations are recommended and should be available for all outbound travellers under the Australian Vaccination Strategy.
Quarantine arrangements for returned travellers
National Cabinet noted the AHPPC paper on quarantine arrangements for vaccinated returned travellers (AHPPC Statement for Public Health Management of Persons Fully Vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2) and agreed to commence National Cabinet pilots of home quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers who had been vaccinated in Australia, with an Australian approved vaccination, arriving from low and medium risk countries..
South Australia has committed to commence the first trial.
To enable these trials the Commonwealth will update the Australian Travel Declaration (ATD) from 16 July 2021 to include information on inbound arrivals vaccination status. This will include date, country, brand and dose of COVID-19 vaccination. This ATD information will be provided to states and territories through the National Incident Centre from 16 July 2021 as per existing protocols, supporting decisions on pilot quarantine arrangements by states and territories.
Data Sharing Intergovernmental Agreement
National Cabinet today agreed and signed the Intergovernmental Agreement on Data Sharing (IGA), developed by Data and Digital Ministers. The IGA gives effect to National Cabinet’s commitment to share data across jurisdictions as a default position, where it can be done safely, securely and lawfully. The work program will be finalised by Data and Digital Ministers in consultation with portfolio ministers.
Announcement of New Department Secretaries
9 July 2021
Today, I am announcing the appointment of three new secretaries of Australian Public Service departments, following the Governor-General’s acceptance of my recommendations.
Ms Kathryn Campbell AO CSC has been appointed the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Ray Griggs AO CSC has been appointed the Secretary of the Department of Social Services and Ms Katherine Jones PSM has been appointed the Secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department.
Ms Campbell will commence on 22 July 2021 following the retirement of Ms Frances Adamson AC. Ms Campbell has an outstanding record in public service and has served as Secretary of the Department of Human Services from 2011 to 2017 and as Secretary of the Department of Social Services since September 2017.
Ms Campbell has also held senior roles in the Australian Army Reserve, being the first woman appointed to the rank of Major General. She was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in 2010 for outstanding achievement as the Commanding Officer of the Sydney University Regiment. Ms Campbell also held Deputy Secretary roles in the Finance and Education portfolios.
Mr Griggs will also commence on 22 July 2021. Mr Griggs has led the National Indigenous Australians Agency with distinction since his appointment as its inaugural Chief Executive Officer on 1 July 2019. Prior to that appointment, he was the Associate Secretary of the Indigenous Affairs Group of PM&C.
Mr Griggs was the Chief of Navy and Vice Chief of the Defence Force between 2014 and 2018 as part of a long and successful Defence career. Mr Griggs was appointed as an Officer in the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the Australian Defence Force as Deputy Head Strategic Reform and Governance, Deputy Chief of Joint Operations, and Chief of the Royal Australian Navy.
Ms Jones will commence on 16 August 2021. The position of Secretary has been vacant since Mr Chris Moraitis PSM was appointed as Director-General of the Office of the Special Investigator in January 2021.
Currently Associate Secretary of the Department of Defence, Ms Jones has previously held Deputy Secretary positions in the Department of Finance and the Attorney-General’s Department, including as the Deputy Secretary responsible for National Security, Criminal Justice and Emergency Management. Ms Jones received a Public Service Medal in 2017 for outstanding public service in the area of national security and emergency management.
I congratulate Ms Campbell, Mr Griggs and Ms Jones on their appointments. I have every confidence that they will lead by example and ensure the Australian Public Service continues to play an integral role in our nation’s COVID-19 recovery and provide high-quality services to all Australians. All three appointments are for a period of five years.
Defence and Veterans Suicide
8 July 2021
Prime Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Defence Personnel, Minister for Veterans' Affairs
Today the Government has formally established a Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide following approval by the Governor-General.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Royal Commission recognised the unique nature of military service, and the ongoing effects on the physical and mental health of members and veterans as a result of their service.
“We recognise the contribution and sacrifice of the men and women who have served our country,” the Prime Minister said.
“The death of any Australian Defence Force member or veteran is a tragedy that is deeply felt by all Australians. As a Government we are committed to addressing the ongoing impact of service, including preventing future deaths by suicide and providing opportunities for healing.”
The inquiry will be led by Mr Nick Kaldas APM, former Deputy Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force, where he commanded around 14,000 staff members and a budget of more than $2 billion. Mr Kaldas also has extensive international experience in law enforcement and peacekeeping, including as Director of Internal Oversight Services for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, and as Chief of Investigations for the United Nations Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in Syria.
Mr Kaldas will be supported by:
The Hon James Douglas QC, an esteemed former Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland and respected member of the legal community, and
Dr Peggy Brown AO, a consultant psychiatrist and national leader in mental health policy with extensive experience in health and mental health service planning, governance and administration.
The Royal Commission will inquire into systemic issues and common themes related to defence and veteran death by suicide, including the possible contribution of pre-service, service, transition, separation and post-service issues, and other matters believed by the Royal Commission to be relevant to its inquiry.
The Royal Commission will be able to inquire into any previous death by suicide, including suspected suicide. It will be conducted independently of Government, including the Departments of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs.
In making recommendations on systemic issues, the Royal Commission will be informed by the individual experiences of defence members, veterans and their families and support networks.
The Royal Commission will conduct its inquiries in a trauma-informed way and private sessions will be available to those who wish to share their story in private.
A legal financial assistance scheme will be available to people called as witnesses to the Royal Commission. An independent legal advisory service, counselling and support services will also be made available to people engaging with the Royal Commission.
The Terms of Reference have been informed by feedback received during an extensive public consultation process and views from states and territories. Over 3,000 submissions were received during the consultation on the themes.
“I thank all those who provided feedback on the themes for the Terms of Reference. Each piece of feedback received during this process was integral in informing the final Terms of Reference,” the Attorney General, Michaelia Cash, said.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Andrew Gee welcomed today’s announcement and said he hoped the Royal Commission became a seminal moment in Australia’s care of veterans and their families.
“The Royal Commission is a crucially important piece of national work that I hope can be a catalyst for positive change in the treatment and care of veterans and their families, both now and for future generations,” Minister Gee said.
“Our country asks so much of the men and women of the ADF and we owe it to them and our veterans to make sure that this Royal Commission and its findings lead to lasting results.”
The National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention Bill, currently before the Parliament, will be amended to ensure that the National Commissioner will complement, and not duplicate, the Royal Commission’s important work. The National Commissioner will be the permanent body responsible for implementing the Royal Commission’s recommendations. These landmark measures will together reduce deaths by suicide of defence members and veterans.
The proposed amendments will provide for the commencement of the National Commissioner’s functions and powers following the conclusion of the Royal Commission, or at an earlier point in time if recommended by the Royal Commission.
The Royal Commission is due to provide an interim report on 11 August 2022 and a final report on 15 June 2023.
Further information on the Royal Commission, including the Terms of Reference and information on how to make a submission will be available at Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide
The Australian Government is committed to supporting the health and well-being of those who have served our nation in the defence forces. $11.7 billion in federal funding supports more than 325,000 veterans and their families each year.
If you, or someone you know, need support, you can contact:
Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
Open Arms (current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families are able to seek this free and confidential support) – 1800 011 046
ADF Mental Health All-hours Support Line (for current serving ADF personnel and their families) – 1800 628 036.
Safe Zone Support (for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families) – 1800 142 072. When you call Safe Zone Support, you do not need to identify yourself if you do not want to.
National Cabinet Statement
2 July 2021
The National Cabinet met today for the 45th time to discuss Australia's COVID-19 response, recent outbreaks of COVID-19 and the Australian COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy.
Since the beginning of the pandemic there have been 30,685 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 910 people have died. Currently there are 4 cases in Australia requiring ICU hospitalisation and no cases on ventilators. More than 21 million tests have been undertaken in Australia.
Globally there have been over 182 million cases and sadly over 3.9 million deaths, with 429,948 new cases and 8,360 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge in many countries around the world.
Australia's COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues to expand. As of yesterday, 7,970,153 doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered in Australia, including 163,178 doses in the previous 24 hours. Today Australia will reach its 8 millionth COVID-19 vaccination. In the previous 7 days, 807,777 vaccines have been administered in Australia.
To date, 30 per cent of the Australian adult population have now had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including over 50 per cent of over 50 year olds and over 70 per cent of over 70 year olds.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly provided an update on current outbreaks of COVID-19 in a number of locations and of both the Alpha and Delta variants.
Lieutenant General John Frewen, Coordinator General of Operation COVID Shield, provided a detailed briefing on the vaccination program.
National Cabinet agreed to meet next on 9 July 2021.
National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID Response
National Cabinet agreed to formulate a National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID Response from its current pre vaccination settings, focussing on continued suppression of community transmission, to post vaccination settings focussed on prevention of serious illness, hospitalisation and fatality, and the public health management of other infectious diseases.
National Cabinet agreed in-principle that the plan consists of the following phases, each triggered by the achievement of vaccination thresholds expressed as a percentage of the eligible population (16+), based on the scientific modelling currently being conducted for the COVID-19 Risk Analysis and Response Task Force.
The document is attached.
A. Current Phase - Vaccinate, prepare and pilot
Continue to suppress the virus for the purpose of minimising community transmission. Measures include:
Implement the national vaccination plan to offer every Australian an opportunity to be vaccinated with the necessary doses of the relevant vaccine as soon as possible;
Temporarily reduce commercial inbound passenger arrivals to all major ports by 50 per cent from current caps by 14 July to reduce the pressure on quarantine facilities, due to the increased risks of the Delta strain of the virus;
Lockdowns to be used only as a last resort;
Commonwealth to facilitate increased commercial flights to increase international repatriations to Darwin for quarantine at the National Resilience Facility at Howard Springs;
Commonwealth to extend additional support through the International Freight Assistance Mechanism to ensure maintenance of essential freight supply lines impacted by the reduction of commercial caps at international airports;
Trial and pilot the introduction of alternative quarantine options, including home quarantine for returning vaccinated travellers;
Expand commercial trials for limited entry of student and economic visa holders;
Recognise and adopt the existing digital Medicare Vaccination Certificate (automatically generated for every vaccination registered on AIR);
Establish digital vaccination authentication at international borders;
Prepare the vaccine booster programme; and
Undertake a further review of the national hotel quarantine network.
B. Post Vaccination Phase
Seek to minimise serious illness, hospitalisation and fatality as a result of COVID-19. Measures may include:
Ease restrictions on vaccinated residents - such as lockdowns and border controls;
Lockdowns only in extreme circumstances to prevent escalating hospitalisation and fatality;
Restore inbound passengers caps at previous levels for unvaccinated returning travellers and larger caps for vaccinated returning travellers;
Allow capped entry of student and economic visa holders subject to quarantine arrangements and availability;
Introduce new reduced quarantine arrangements for vaccinated residents; and
Prepare/implement the vaccine booster programme (depending on timing).
C. Consolidation Phase
Manage COVID-19 consistent with public health management of other infectious diseases. Measures may include:
No lockdowns;
Continue vaccine booster programme;
Exempt vaccinated residents from all domestic restrictions;
Abolish caps on returning vaccinated travellers;
Allow increased capped entry of student, economic, and humanitarian visa holders;
Lift all restrictions on outbound travel for vaccinated persons; and
Extend travel bubble for unrestricted travel to new candidate countries (Singapore, Pacific).
D. Final Phase
Manage COVID-19 consistent with public health management of other infectious diseases. Measures may include:
Allow uncapped inbound arrivals for all vaccinated persons, without quarantine; and
Allow uncapped arrivals of non-vaccinated travellers subject to pre-flight and on arrival testing.
National Cabinet agreed that the COVID-19 Risk Analysis and Response Task Force be tasked to make recommendations on finalising the plan, including recommended vaccination targets for each phase of the plan based on the modelling.
Phases will continue to maintain simple risk mitigation and prevention measures such as hygiene, tracing and testing.
National Partnership Agreement
National Cabinet welcomed the Commonwealth Government's $752 million extension to the National Partnership on COVID-19 Response through to 30 June 2022. The National Partnership on COVID-19 Response provides Commonwealth funding to support state and territory efforts to address the pandemic, including the Hospital Services Payment, State Public Health Payment, Vaccine Schedule, Aged Care Schedule, and the Private Hospital Viability Guarantee.
Under the National Partnership on COVID-19 Response, the Commonwealth Government has provided to date an estimated $5.765 billion to support states and territories to proactively manage the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the broader Commonwealth health response which totals more than $27 billion.
International Passenger Arrivals
National Cabinet noted that international aviation remains critical to supporting the return of Australians from overseas as well as maintaining freight access (imports and exports) and Australia's long-term international connectivity. It was also noted that international passenger arrival caps introduced by National Cabinet have been essential to safely managing and aligning international passenger arrivals with available quarantine capacity.
The Commissioner of Australian Border Force Michael Outram APM presented information to National Cabinet on international passenger arrivals which was noted. Around 83.9 per cent of travellers to Australia during June 2021 are Australian permanent residents and their families.
National Cabinet agreed to temporarily reduce the current international passenger arrival caps by 50 per cent to manage the pressure on quarantine facilities due to the increased risks posed by the Delta strain of the virus. These arrangements will:
commence by 12.01am Wednesday 14 July and remain in place until 31 August; and
be subject to a review by National Cabinet before the end of August and on a regular basis throughout the remainder of 2021.
National Cabinet agreed that returning Australians will continue to be prioritised as part of these arrangements.
Given the impact of the reduction in current cap arrangements the Commonwealth will fund an:
increased number of facilitated commercial (repatriation) flights, utilising capacity at the Centre for National Resilience at Howard Springs; and
extension of additional support through the International Freight Assistance Mechanism to maintain essential freight supply lines.
National Cabinet Statement
28 June 2021
The National Cabinet met today to discuss Australia’s COVID-19 response, recent outbreaks of COVID-19 and the Australian COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy.
National Cabinet continues to work together to address issues and find solutions for the health and economic consequences of COVID-19.
Across Australia a number of new community outbreaks have appeared in Greater Sydney, Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, the Darwin region and the Perth-Peel region. Concerningly a number of these outbreaks are linked to the delta variant which has significantly higher transmissibility.
Health measures put in place by National Cabinet throughout the pandemic have been effective in bringing outbreaks under control and reducing the severity of the health impacts. While there are now over 270 active cases in Australia (166 in NSW, 45 in Vic, 40 in Qld, 9 in SA, 8 in NT, 3 in WA), there are only 2 cases in ICU and no Australian is on a ventilator.
Since the beginning of the pandemic there have been 30,528 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 910 people have died. More than 20.4 million tests have been undertaken in Australia. Testing has increased nationally over recent days with 628,000 tests reported in the past 7 days.
Globally there have been over 181 million cases and sadly over 3.9 million deaths, with 318,555 new cases and 6,422 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge in many countries around the world.
Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues to expand. To date 7,374,666 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Australia, including 48,346 doses in the previous 24 hours. In the previous 7 days, 783,925 vaccines have been administered in Australia. To date 28.6 per cent of the Australian population aged 16 and over have now had at least a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including over 68.1 per cent of over 70 year olds.
COVID-19 vaccinations are working to reduce transmission. National Cabinet noted that in a recent exposure event in NSW, of the 30 people that were at the event, 24 unvaccinated people have now tested positive for COVID, but six vaccinated people who attended the event have not been infected at this stage with the COVID-19 virus.
National Cabinet agreed on the imperative to work together to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to Australians as quickly as possible.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly provided an update on current outbreaks of COVID-19 in a number of locations and of both the Alpha and Delta variants.
National Cabinet noted the importance of national coordination and that the Commonwealth Department of Health National Incident Centre will continue to coordinate action across Australia.
Lieutenant General John Frewen, Coordinator General of Operation COVID Shield, provided a detailed briefing on the vaccination program.
Lt General Frewen reaffirmed that all states and territories are provided COVID-19 vaccinations on a proportional population basis, as agreed by National Cabinet. To date over 10.8 million doses have been allocated to states and territories, general practices (GPs), Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and community pharmacies. Lt General Frewen noted that there are more than 2.6 million doses of AstraZeneca currently available to be administered. National Cabinet encouraged the 2.3 million Australians aged 60 years and over who have not yet been vaccinated to come forward and be vaccinated now.
Around 221,000 second doses of AstraZeneca were administered last week, the week after the latest ATAGI advice.
An additional 236 GPs have been brought online to administer COVID-19 vaccines, bringing the total number of GPs administering the vaccine to 5,085 across Australia. Community pharmacists are also being bought online to support the rollout in regional Australia.
National Cabinet noted that Lt General Frewen will commence a wargaming process with states and territories to ensure that the distribution channels and access points are sufficient once the supply of vaccines further increases.
National Cabinet agreed to meet next on Friday 2 July 2021.
Mandatory Vaccinations for Aged Care Workers
The National Cabinet agreed to mandate that at least the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine be administered by mid-September 2021 for all residential aged care workforce.
The National Cabinet agreed that COVID-19 vaccinations are to be mandated for residential aged care workers as a condition of working in an aged care facility through shared state, territory and Commonwealth authorities and compliance measures.
This is the third time AHPPC has considered this matter. They will continue to look at the issue to ensure we do not encounter any unintended consequences as an outcome of this decision.
The Commonwealth will support this decision though an employee vaccination support grant.
Residential Aged Care COVID-19 Employee Vaccination Support Grant
Residential aged care workers will be supported to be vaccinated through an $11 million program to enable them to attend off-site vaccination centres and GPs.
Under the grant, Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) will be paid for the following three categories of eligible expenditure:
Casual staff going off-site for vaccination – a flat fee of $80 payable per staff member, per dose;
Paid leave for casual staff who become unwell after vaccination and do not have other leave entitlements – one day’s paid leave (at a rate of $185) for up to a quarter of the provider’s total number of casual staff; and
Facilitation of off-site vaccination for employees – up to $500 per site in flexible vaccination facilitation costs per site, which may be used for activities like: transport services, arranging groups of staff to be vaccinated and or any other reasonable expenses that incentivise staff to get vaccinated.
Quarantine
National Cabinet agreed to changes to Australia’s quarantine arrangements based on AHPPC advice:
National Cabinet endorsed the AHPPC advice: Minimising the risk of transmission from high risk international travellers in managed quarantine facilities
The AHPPC recommends accommodating international quarantine residents, or other high infectious risk quarantine residents, separately from other lower risk residents. This may involve designating different facilities or zoning through allocating separate areas in a facility (i.e. designated floors for international or other high risk travellers). In the event that international quarantine residents share a facility, zoning may be implemented by putting groups in cohorts according to level of risk and ensuring that staff do not work across zones.
National Cabinet endorsed the AHPPC advice: Testing travellers once they leave managed quarantine, and requested that AHPPC work on implementation to mandate post quarantine testing and specifications for this.
AHPPC reinforced advice that all travellers leaving managed quarantine must get tested and isolate until they receive a negative test result if they develop symptoms at any time in the 14 days after leaving quarantine.
AHPPC agreed that all international travellers should get tested at days 16 or 17 following quarantine, if there have been potential exposure sources within the quarantine facility, regardless of whether they have symptoms. Options are being explored to support post-quarantine testing at the national level. AHPPC will continue to explore the management of persons post-quarantine to reduce the risk to the community whilst testing is being undertaken.
National Cabinet endorsed the AHPPC advice: Vaccinating and testing quarantine workers to require vaccinations and testing for quarantine workers including those involved in transportation.
Protecting quarantine workers is an essential part of reducing the risk of transmission and incursion into the community. The primary mechanisms through which this can be achieved is vaccinating all quarantine workers and undertaking regular routine testing of workers to identify transmission events should they occur.
Vaccinations: All quarantine workers and their household contacts are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.
All quarantine workers should be strongly encouraged to undergo vaccination, and jurisdictions may implement requirements for quarantine workers to receive vaccinations. This includes those directly employed in quarantine facilities under Commonwealth, state or private arrangements. Importantly, this also includes anyone who works in a red zone.
Given recent incursions, Delta variants and the current epidemiology of clusters occurring around Australia, the AHPPC recommends mandatory vaccination for all quarantine workers.
Testing: In November 2020, the AHPPC recommended regular testing of quarantine workers. In response to the increasing risk posed by Variants of Concern, since February 2021, daily testing of quarantine workers has been implemented nationally. However, to date this has been limited to those directly involved in managed quarantine programs.
In response to lessons learned from recent transmission events, current epidemiology and discussion through the Continuous Improvement Framework, the AHPPC recommends extending this requirement to all workers directly and indirectly involved in managed quarantine. This includes workers involved in transport of quarantined individuals.
National Cabinet agreed that travellers who have been through 14 days hotel quarantine in one jurisdiction will be able to enter another jurisdiction without having to go through another 14 days quarantine. These travellers will still be required to take a post quarantine COVID-19 test at day 16 or 17.
National Cabinet further reaffirmed that managed quarantine for international arrivals continues to play a vital role in Australia’s public health response to COVID-19. Through the Continuous Improvement Framework, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) regularly considers lessons learned in managed quarantine including the outcomes of evaluations, audits and reviews. This supports a process of continuous quality improvement in line with the National Principles for Managed Quarantine.
Indemnity arrangements for COVID-19 vaccinations
National Cabinet noted that the Commonwealth will establish a COVID-19 professional indemnity scheme to provide additional certainty to healthcare practitioners who are providing advice to people in relation to COVID-19 vaccination. The scheme covers COVID-19 vaccines approved by the TGA and approved for use in the vaccine program.
National Cabinet noted that GPs can continue to administer AstraZeneca to Australians under 60 years of age with informed consent and that this measure will provide confidence to medical practitioners to administer both AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines to Australians.
Aviation, interstate freight transport and mining (FIFO) workers
National Cabinet agreed to seek advice from AHPPC on COVID-19 vaccinations for aviation, interstate freight transport and mining (FIFO) workers.
Media Statement
10 April 2027 June 2021
Following consultations with the Deputy Prime Minister, I am announcing proposed changes to the Ministry which I intend to recommend to the Governor-General.
The Liberal-National Coalition has been a successful and enduring partnership for seven decades.
The Deputy Prime Minister and I will continue this strong partnership, one based on shared values and a shared vision for building an even stronger Australia.
Our focus remains on two outcomes – protecting lives and protecting livelihoods, as we continue to combat COVID-19 and build on the economic recovery that has led to the creation of almost one million jobs since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Deputy Prime Minister the Hon Barnaby Joyce MP will continue our strong legacy of infrastructure investment as the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development.
The Hon David Littleproud MP will serve as the Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia. Minister Littleproud has been the driving force behind securing a strong and competitive future for our agricultural sector.
Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie will return to the Cabinet as the Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education and as Minister for Drought and Emergency Management. She will have a clear focus on service delivery in regional Australia and be responsible for the continued work developing Australia’s disaster management capability.
The Hon Andrew Gee MP will join the Cabinet and serve as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel.
The Hon Keith Pitt MP will continue to serve in the outer Ministry as Minister for Resources and Water.
The Hon David Gillespie MP will join the Ministry as Minister for Regional Health and undertake the role of Deputy Leader of the House.
The Hon Kevin Hogan MP will serve as Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister and as Assistant Minister for Local Government.
The Hon Michelle Landry MP will continue to serve as Assistant Minister for Children and Families.
A proposed updated Ministry list is attached.
Outside of the formal executive, Senator Susan McDonald will take on the role of Envoy for Northern Australia.
These changes will provide the strongest female representation in an Australian Government Cabinet on record, building on the previous record also achieved under my Government.
However, it is not just about the size of the female contingent in my Cabinet but the skills and the experience they all bring to help us solve our nation’s challenges.
I wish to thank the former Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack for his selfless and dedicated service to Australia, his tireless efforts as Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Regional Development and his faithful commitment to a strong Coalition Government.
I also wish to thank Ministers Darren Chester and Keith Pitt and for their strong contribution and service as members of the Cabinet and Minister Mark Coulton for his dedicated service in the Ministry.
It is proposed that new Ministers will be sworn into their roles on Friday.
Interview with Paul Murray, Sky News
25 June 2021
PAUL MURRAY: Prime Minister, g'day and welcome to Gladstone.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, g'day Paul, I'm envious. I was up in Gladstone not that long ago. It’s an absolutely very special part of the world and it makes an enormous contribution to our country, particularly over these last 18 months, we’ve relied heavily on regional towns, regional centres like Gladstone.
MURRAY: PM, elephant in the room, let's talk about the Sydney situation and how other places have reacted. I think we're getting close to a line in the sand moment here where, as I explained a bit earlier in this show before this conversation, there are availability to get vaccinated in every capital city tomorrow. Right? Every five minutes, literally in some places. So if people want to get vaccinated, they can get vaccinated. They can do it as early as tomorrow. But for whatever reason, they aren't doing it. Why can't we get an arrangement, an agreement at all the states, that people who have been vaccinated won't have to have border bans applied, won't be held back from being able to see relatives at birth, death and marriage? Why can't we at least say that now, as one of the benefits on top of not getting the virus?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, let me just sort of back up a bit first. I mean, the vaccination programme is really starting to ramp up. I mean, we're getting around 140,000 doses happening a day. And, you know, we're getting through about a million doses in about seven, eight days now. So this is a much stronger performance. And that's because, you know, more people have been going out and doing it. But the system has been really ramping up. Operation COVID Shield - it was about, several weeks ago, about a month ago now - I put Lieutenant General Frewen in charge of the vaccination rollout and we’re basically running it like I ran Operation Sovereign Borders many years ago with Lieutenant General Campbell, as he was known back then, now the Chief of the Defence Force. And so you bring the sort of logistics, strategic planning mind of these great people in our Defence Forces and you apply them to, he has command over all the resources he needs, the distribution, the strategic communications, the interactions with the GPs and the states, and we're seeing a real response to that. And he's laid this thing out for the next six months. So I think that's been a good change and it will really get us into the next gear.
But the point you make about people being vaccinated, they've had the two, if they’ve had the two doses, now we're still some way away from those two dose positions coming in. Right now with the vaccines, two thirds of those who are aged over 70, so our most vulnerable population, they have had their first dose. Half of those aged over 50 have had their first dose and over a quarter, now pushing 30 per cent, of those aged over 16 have had their first dose. You'll see the second doses then kick in at the three week, three month mark, depending on which vaccine they’ve had. So we are seeing those overall vaccine levels rise. But until, you know, that happens, then obviously you've got to wait for those two doses before you could consider what you're talking about.
Now, I did raise this a few months ago when I was over in Perth and discussing it with some people over there. It got sort of written up as, and when I went up to Queensland, it got written up as a sort of a vaccine passport. That's not what it is. It was just simply saying that if you've been vaccinated, that the state governments would recognise that, and you'd be able to move around in times like this. Now, the states aren't ready to accept that. I’ve put it to them, they're not ready to accept that as a, as something you can do. It happens a fair bit overseas, well, quite frequently overseas. They do it in the United States and in some parts of Europe and the United Kingdom when people are vaccinated. The difference there is that COVID’s right through all those countries, and that's not the case in Australia. So, you know, these are the steps that we've asked the states to consider, both to support the vaccination programme, but also that when people get vaccinated, then, you know, we can keep Australia as open, behind international borders - no one's talking about dropping those …
MURRAY: No.
PRIME MINISTER: … but if we can keep Australia as open as possible behind those international borders, then we'll continue to see our economy do as well as it has been.
MURRAY: But given that that, you know, the best part of six million doses that are out there, within a few weeks, those people become fully vaccinated. I get it. It's not 10 million, it's not 15, but eventually it will be those numbers. Have the states given any indication that when we hit X number of vaccinated people, they will consider the situation that you first suggested, and I'm doubling down on at the moment, because it feels like you need more incentive than just you won't get the virus. While obviously that is the main incentive …
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, when I spoke to the South Korean President, President Moon, they've had a strong increase in their vaccination rates. And the principal reason for that is exactly this - this is why it's actually increasing - that if people are vaccinated then they're not subject to the restrictions on, you know, going to see family and things like that, how many people go to a restaurant, attending events, things like that. Now, I know there are real reservations in Australia that, you know, the idea that the vaccine entitles you to do something and doesn't allow others to do it. There is a concern about that in the community, and I acknowledge that, I understand that. I mean, the vaccine is not compulsory and we would not make it compulsory. But at the same time, if the health risk is lower after someone's been vaccinated, and that has to be established, then that does provide, you know, those things for states to consider. Now, we are moving towards that. We've been running a process now for the last couple of months with the premiers, through my Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, looking at the modelling and looking at the epidemiology and what would need to happen with vaccination rates and so on. That hasn't landed on any conclusions yet, but that work is going on. And I want to assure people that we're always trying to look at what's the next thing, what's the next thing, what's the next thing. But the virus, you know, proves to be quite a formidable opponent, and it keeps changing and there are new variants, and that creates new risks.
MURRAY: I want to turn to the longer term solutions about how to live with this, I don’t want to use that stupid term ‘the new normal’, but there was an opinion poll that came out that was, showed just nine per cent of Australians believe that hotel quarantine is a long-term solution to the quarantine system. Allegedly, 65 per cent of people suggesting we need purpose-built quarantine facilities. Now, I know that there's political advantages in certain states pushing that, and let's not bore everyone with those side issues. But have we hit a moment now of critical mass that we need to move on from the system that, yes, has worked well, but we need to move on from that?
PRIME MINISTER: The thing that was concerning us, the premiers and certainly myself, was that our health system would be overrun - that there wouldn't be enough ventilators, that the ICUs would collapse and we'd see large scale death. Now, we have avoided more than 30,000 deaths in Australia because of how we've managed COVID, and when I was with the other leaders, they are still just amazed about how Australia has been able to avoid the fatal calamity that inflicted so many of their countries. And right now, Paul, right now, there is not one person in an ICU with COVID, not one. Now, that's not the case in so many other parts of the world. But on the issue of quarantine, you know when this first hit, we needed to put in place a quarantine arrangement as quickly as possible. You know, we had people coming in on planes, we had borders going up. It was a lot of uncertainty. And so we agreed, amongst the premiers and I, that we would put this hotel quarantine system in place. Now, it's had a lot of critics. But I tell you, not too many outside this country, because about 370,000 people have been through that system, and I think there's been about 26 breaches and less than ten of those has led to community transmission. So if I told you a year ago when we did this that, you know, I reckon we do this, we'll get a 99.9 per cent success rate, I think you would have told me that, mate, I know you believe in miracles, but that's a bit of a stretch. But that's actually what's happened. So I think we should be aware of just and, you know, the rest of the world looks on at this and goes, that's incredible. I mean, New Zealand's had a similar experience. They run exactly the same hotel quarantine system as Australia does, and they've had breaches there too. The breaches in any system would occur. It's what you do when they occur. And this is what's happening in Sydney right now. New South Wales, I have no doubt, has the gold standard contact tracing system, not just in Australia, but I think in the world. That's how good I think they are. And that's why I think, you know, fellow Sydneysiders, you and I, can feel very confident that if anyone’s going to get on top of this with their tracing and not have to shut the city down, it's the New South Wales Government.
MURRAY: When we talk in the future, I'll talk about China, Murray-Darling, all the rest of it. I'd love to get you into one of these pubs to talk to good people, like the people that are in this room. So I’ll ask you one last question before you go.
PRIME MINISTER: I wish I could. Plenty of time mate.
MURRAY: Yeah, well, when it's possible. Yeah, correct. So how does Barnaby help you win the next election?
PRIME MINISTER: By working together, I mean, that's it. I mean, the Liberal and Nationals have been in government more often than not since Robert Menzies founded the Liberal Party. And he said himself that, you know, we do our best for the people of Australia when we work together. We come from slightly different perspectives, we have a different take, and there are a lot of rural and regional people in the Liberal Party, as there are in the Nationals. But we do our best when we work together and when we come together and focus on the things. We do our best work when we don't try to be separate from one another, but when we get together and knuckle down and work hard for the country, and that's what we've done as a Government. I mean, Barnaby and I worked together when I was Treasurer and he was Deputy Prime Minister back some three years ago, so we’re quite used to working with each other. We know each other very well and I think we can get a lot done, but we get it done together, heading in the same direction.
MURRAY: PM, nice to talk to you. I was going to say enjoy the next couple of weeks, but you're at home.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'm looking forward to getting back to Sydney and seeing Jen and the girls. I've already been away for several weeks and more, so a bit more to go, but staying in touch with them. But you enjoy yourself up there. I mean, it's a wonderful place to be up there in Gladstone. Kenny O'Dowd, you might pop into, he'll be on his way back home after Parliament's been sitting these last two weeks. He's done a terrific job up there, Kenny, and he's a great fellow. So, say g'day everyone up there at Auckland House or and at the other places, down at the local swimming pool, where I got up there one afternoon and swam with the kids during squad. They left me behind a long way, I must confess. But it was a great, it's a great town.
MURRAY: Good stuff, thank you PM.
PRIME MINISTER: See you, Paul.
Meeting Hosted by the Prime Minister and Senior Government Members with the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations, Communique
25 June 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Indigenous Australians
The Prime Minister today hosted the second roundtable of senior Ministers and the Coalition of Peaks, a representative body made up of more than 50 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled peak organisations.
The Prime Minister noted the joint success of the Australian Government's and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations led by NACCHO in supporting their communities through the COVID pandemic. Continuing leadership in the roll-out of the vaccination strategy is critical and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership is appreciated and recognised by all government members.
The Morrison Government and Coalition of Peaks are working together, with the states and territories and Australian Local Government Association, to implement the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap, signed by all Australian governments in July 2020. Full implementation of the Priority Reforms, together with action on the 17 socio-economic targets, will significantly improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The meeting focused on the Commonwealth's first Implementation Plan which sets out the initial actions the Commonwealth is taking to give effect to the National Agreement. The meeting focused on the Priority Reforms, which are transformation for the way governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and are key to accelerating progress on closing the gap. Discussion focussed on how the Partnership can continue to evolve and improve. The Commonwealth's Implementation Plan and associated investments will be released in early August.
The Co-Chairs of the Joint Council for Closing the Gap, Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt MP and Convenor of the Coalition of Peaks, Ms Pat Turner noted the achievements since the meeting in January last year, including the negotiation of the National Agreement and the two new targets on domestic violence and access to information; the joint development of implementation plans by all jurisdictions with the Peaks, which will be provided to the Joint Council in August; the establishment of four sector strengthening working groups to build up vital community-controlled sectors, especially around Early Childhood, Health, Housing and Disability; and the release of the Productivity Commission's data repository and dashboard to monitor progress.
The meeting affirmed the critical work underway to establish the Justice Policy Partnership (the first of five agreed to under the National Agreement), which will establish a joined-up national approach to reduce incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults and young people. The meeting noted the importance of reaching final agreement to the new inland water and community investment targets, as per clause 87b of the National Agreement.
The Coalition of Peaks also noted the importance of focused and joined up approaches to cultural heritage protection, the importance of the Commonwealth's ongoing role in the Northern Territory, the ongoing co-design of an Indigenous Voice and the need for workforce sustainability and skills development amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Priority Reforms are:
Priority Reform 1: Building and strengthening structures that empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to share decision-making to accelerate policy and place-based progress against Closing the Gap;
Priority Reform 2: Building formal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sectors to deliver closing the gap services;
Priority Reform 3: Systemic and structural transformation of mainstream government organisations to improve accountability and respond to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; and
Priority Reform 4: Shared access to data and information by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations to support the achievement of the first three priority reforms.