Commonwealth's Closing the Gap Implementation Plan

5 August 2021

Commonwealth's Closing the Gap Implementation Plan

Prime Minister, Minister for Indigenous Australians

The Morrison Government has released the Commonwealth’s first Closing the Gap Implementation Plan, and with it committed more than $1 billion in new measures to support to help achieve Closing the Gap outcomes.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said with the release of the Plan, the Government was turning the commitments made under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap into practical action.

“This is a plan that’s been led together with Indigenous leaders, to back Indigenous communities,” the Prime Minister said.

“When we overhauled the Closing the Gap program we set four priority reforms to fundamentally change how governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people work together. This Implementation Plan details how governments will do our part to achieve those reforms.

“It highlights the real and practical actions to be taken across all areas of government and also commits funding to actions that will ensure we get there. We’ve listened together and are taking action together.

“We’re doing things differently with accountability and transparency, and in true partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders.

“This is a truly whole-of-government plan, developed by Ministers, departments and agencies across the Commonwealth with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partners, in particular the Coalition of Peaks.

“This is a practical plan that builds from the ground up by making good on the harm caused to Stolen Generations survivors to supporting this and future generations of young people with more education opportunities.

“This plan is about real reconciliation, how we get there, and making sure all governments are held to account, state and federal.”

Measures announced with the release of the plan are focussed on new areas in the National Agreement that require early investment, like the Priority Reforms, justice and languages.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt said the measures included $378.6 million for a new redress scheme for Stolen Generations survivors from the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory. This scheme is critical to continue the nation’s reconciliation journey and will support healing.

“The scheme, for living survivors who were removed as children from their families in then-Commonwealth territories, includes a one-off payment in recognition of the harm caused by forced removal and gives each survivor the opportunity, should they wish, to tell their story and receive an individual apology,” Minister Wyatt said.

There are also new measures in areas which evidence suggests will have the greatest impact over the long term, including early childhood, health, education and supporting families.

“We are providing an additional $254.4 million towards infrastructure to better support Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations do their critical work, and on their terms. ACCHOs have been a significant part of the Government’s response to COVID-19 and this funding will improve their facilities and maintain the high level of care they offer their communities,” Minister Wyatt said.

“We are also investing $160 million in new funding to ensure the best start in life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, through initiatives such as the Healthy Mums and Healthy Bubs program, the Community Child Care Fund, the Connected Beginnings Program and the Early Years Education Program.”

Minister Wyatt said the Implementation Plan and associated investments showed the Commonwealth was serious about delivering on the National Agreement.

“This first Commonwealth Implementation Plan sets a foundation for our efforts in achieving the targets in the National Agreement over the coming decade,” Minister Wyatt said.

“We will report on our progress each year, and the plan will be updated at the same time in partnership and based on evidence and data. This will keep us accountable and ensure we are aligned with the priorities of the people it affects most.

“Progress and change are not a Commonwealth responsibility alone and all parties are responsible for delivering on the commitments in the National Agreement. States and territories are delivering their own implementation plans, and together with the Commonwealth’s Plan detail a full picture of the national effort being delivered under the partnership.

“All parties to the National Agreement are deeply committed to working together with a determination to forge a better future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.”

More information:

The Commonwealth Implementation Plan details the range of programs and strategies in place across the Commonwealth that contribute to Closing the Gap, as well as new investment and initiatives. Read the full list of new investments below.

The measures announced with the release of the Implementation Plan build on announcements in the 2021-22 Budget that also contribute to Closing the Gap, in areas such as mental health, jobs and skills, and aged care.

Commencing in 2022, the Commonwealth will produce an annual report to outline progress being made to deliver the actions outlined in the Plan and all other governments will do the same.

The Productivity Commission is maintaining a dashboard of data on all the targets and indicators at a national and state and territory level. It will also publish a data compilation report in July every year, as well as conduct a review every three years.

The Commonwealth Implementation Plan will be updated as necessary alongside the Commonwealth’s annual report. When the Commonwealth provides its annual report, it will also set priorities for the coming year. Setting priorities will be done in partnership and be built on what the data and evidence says is working and what isn’t.

Read the full Commonwealth Closing the Gap Implementation Plan.

New investments to support delivery of the Commonwealth Implementation Plan

Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme - Minister for Indigenous Australians
Will support healing and wellbeing of around 3,600 Stolen Generations survivors removed from their families in Commonwealth territories to positively impact their health and the intergenerational healing of their families and communities.
It will also contribute to intergenerational healing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through recognising and acknowledging the wrongs of the past.

$378.6 million

Developing the Cultural Competence and Trauma Responsiveness of the Indigenous and non-Indigenous Child and Family Sector Workforce - Minister for Families and Social Services
Will deliver workshops to assess and build organisational and workforce cultural competency and capability.

$7.7 million

Closing the Gap in Life Expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People - Minister for Health and Aged Care
Will deliver new or renovated health clinics and associated housing for health professionals. Funding will support the need for increased remote consultations using digital equipment and upgrading deteriorating or non-existent infrastructure.

$254.4 million

Strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Treatment Services - Minister for Indigenous Australians
Will provide investment to increase access to outcomes-focused alcohol and other drug treatment services, repairs of AOD infrastructure as well as new services, and strengthening the capacity of the AOD workforce.

$66million

Assessing Needs and Increasing the Involvement of Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) in the Child and Family Sector - Minister for Families and Social Services; Minister for Women’s Safety
Will assess the barriers identified by ACCOs and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders to have greater involvement in family support services.

$3.2 million

Early Childhood Package - Minister for Education and Youth
Will deliver a set of interlocking initiatives to lift the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in quality and culturally appropriate early childhood education and care services.

$122.6 million

Healthy Mums Healthy Bubs - Minister for Health and Aged Care
Will support the delivery of primary health care, including maternal and antenatal care services.

$45 million

On Country Boarding Schools - Minister for Education and Youth; Minister for Indigenous Australians; Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education
Will provide investment for more options for local secondary education in remote communities. This will include the support to build three facilities.

$75 million

Outcomes and Evidence Fund (Try Test Learn) - Minister for Families and Social Services
Will incentivise evidence-based service delivery and develop evidence of what works to facilitate transformational change and deliver tangible, improved outcomes to support child and family safety.

$38.6 million

City-County School Partnerships to Improve Remote School Outcomes - Minister for Education and Youth; Minister for Indigenous Australians
Will establish a competitive fund to incentivise and support large, high performing independent schools to partner with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander schools to improve the quality of teaching and student outcomes.

$26 million

Scaling Up Success - Minister for Education and Youth; Minister for Indigenous Australians
Expansion of evidence-based approaches that are successfully addressing key drivers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student education outcomes. This measure will focus on expanding access to programs that have already proven to be effective in improving primary school reading outcomes.

$25 million

Indigenous Languages and Creating Regional Jobs - Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts
Will provide increased investment in the Commonwealth’s existing Indigenous Languages and Arts program and include funding for additional language centres to protect the most at risk Indigenous languages.

$22.8 million

Closing the Gap Coordination and Delivery - Minister for Indigenous Australians
Will ensure that the Coalition of Peaks has the capacity to coordinate and meet its commitments under the National Agreement and can deliver priority reform tasks under the Implementation Plan.

$10 million

Funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS) for Expensive and Complex Cases and to Support Criminal Justice Reform Through Coronial Inquiries - Attorney-General
Provide legal assistance to families of deceased individuals in coronial inquiries, and to support clients involved in complex and/or expensive cases. Appropriate legal representation in these matters supports the identification and resolution of systemic issues which drive deaths in custody and over-incarceration.

$9.3 million

Funding for Cultural Safe and Appropriate Family Dispute Resolution for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People - Attorney-General Will provide funding to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families resolve post-separation parenting and property disputes through culturally safe and tailored models.

$8.3 million

Justice Policy Partnership - Minister for Indigenous Australians and Attorney-General
Will support establishment of a joined up policy partnership on justice to agree focus areas for action to drive outcomes on reducing Indigenous incarceration (adult and youth).

$7.6 million

Preventing Harm in Australia’s Prisons and Other Places of Detention measure (OPCAT) - Attorney-General
Will provide support for jurisdictional implementation of the OPCAT to deliver better outcomes for detainees and reduce recidivism and greater public confidence in the justice system.

Subject to negotiations with states and territories

Improving Multi-Disciplinary Responses to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families with Multiple and Complex Needs - Minister for Families and Social Services; Minister for Women’s Safety
Will strengthen service models to effectively respond to multiple and interrelated issues in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families which may lead to child abuse and neglect.

Subject to negotiations with states and territories

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43514

Interview with Tom Elliot, 3AW

3 August 2021

TOM ELLIOTT: Mr Morrison, good afternoon.

PRIME MINISTER: G'day, Tom.

ELLIOTT: I heard your announcement the other day, it was National Cabinet late last week, saying that if we get to 70 per cent, we get most of our freedoms back. If we get to 80 per cent, it's, we’re basically open for business. Are you confident we can get there? Because, I reckon more than 30 per cent of Australians are either anti-vaxxer or vaccine hesitant?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, there's nothing that we've seen that says that, Tom. I mean, the Australian Bureau of Statistics themselves has said that 75 per cent of Australians are supportive of getting the vaccine, and we're connecting them to it. I mean, another day with over 200,000 doses delivered and administered across the country. It continues to ramp up, more than a million every week. The pace of the past month which doubles, the double dose vaccination rates across the country - one in five have now had two doses, 40 per cent have had the single dose. And, as you keep going up, two thirds of over fifties have had their first dose and just about 80 per cent, it should click, click over that in the next day or so, of over seventies. So, Australians know that we need to do this and they're turning up and they're doing it. And, the more supply and the more points that there are to get it, they're responding and they're doing a terrific job.

ELLIOTT: Well, speaking of supply, I mean, clearly if we want to get younger people vaccinated, and depending on which state health officer you talk to, young can mean anything from under 40 to under 60. But, I mean, we've been told they have to get Pfizer, not AstraZeneca. When will we have enough Pfizer, so … ?

PRIME MINISTER: No, they're not being told that. I mean, in New South Wales, particularly right now …

ELLIOTT: In Queensland, Queensland they’re being told that.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, well I tell you what ATAGI says and I can tell you what the Therapeutic Goods Administration says. And, in the last 24 hours, almost 10,000 people under the age of 40 took AstraZeneca. That's in the last 24 hours.

ELLIOTT: No, I know. But, the Queensland Chief Health Officer is telling, saying to everybody up there that she will not countenance giving under 40s AstraZeneca.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, that’s, she can have that view. But, that doesn't align with what the Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation says. It doesn't align with what the Therapeutic Goods Administration says. It doesn't align with what the Chief Medical Officer says and it doesn't align what, what I’ve been saying. She's entitled to that view and I respect her. But ...

ELLIOTT: But, it's not a helpful view, though, is it?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, you'll have to talk to her about that. That's not the national view, though. That's not the medical view that is being put forward by the national vaccination program, by General Frewen, and where that is supported then we're seeing those vaccination rates, whether they be in New South Wales or elsewhere and Victoria, I've got to say, Victoria has done a great job with AstraZeneca going through their state hubs. They've been one of our best performing in the state hubs with AstraZeneca. But, the biggest performer on AstraZeneca has been the GPs, and with more pharmacists coming online now, that's how we get the job done.

ELLIOTT: Sure.

PRIME MINISTER: But, Australians, Australians know we need to do this to get it done. That's how we've kept the death rates so low in Australia. I mean, 30,000 Australians would be dead from coronavirus …

ELLIOTT: Sure.

PRIME MINISTER: … if it was the same as other countries.

ELLIOTT: Ok. But, there's a lot of younger people who say, ‘No, I want Pfizer,’ there’s some older people as well. Now, let's just say, ok, we're going to give them Pfizer. When do we have enough Pfizer so that everybody who wants Pfizer can get it?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, there's a million of it coming in every week now, and that's significantly up from the 300,000 we were getting back in June. And it keeps increasing as we go from month to month. But, my point, Tom, is that that hesitancy that was there around AstraZeneca, and it really got talked down there, and the UK Government and many others, it's the most, it's the most recognised coronavirus vaccine in the world, more so than even Pfizer. And, the clinical and the, the empirical evidence is it is just as effective when it comes to suppressing it, you getting it, getting serious disease, and fatality. So, it's a good, it's a good vaccine that has saved millions of lives around the world. And, and it will here, too. That's why we ensured it was available here and we manufactured it here.

ELLIOTT: Look, I don’t, seriously, I mean, I got inoculated with AstraZeneca. I've had my two shots.

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah.

ELLIOTT: I've got my vaccine certificate. I'm an absolute supporter of it. But, there is, there are a lot of people out there who have listened to some other messages and say we want Pfizer. Look, let’s ...

PRIME MINISTER: We’ve got to keep encouraging them to go and listen to the broader advice, Tom, and …

ELLIOTT: Yep.

PRIME MINISTER: ... because that's what gets this done. And, that's why I mentioned that figure - about almost 10,000 young people who've heard that message, are going and doing it, because and that what that says to me is that Australians want to get this done. They know where we want to get to. That's what the national plan, the four step plan - 70 per cent, then 80 per cent. At 80 per cent, those who are vaccinated can travel, they can come back. You know, we won't have to have these costly lockdowns. We’ve got to have them now because the Delta variant is so different. It’s like dealing with a different virus.

ELLIOTT: Ok, but, when, I know you announced this out of National Cabinet. And, at National Cabinet all the premiers are supposed to agree with you and each other and all come out with a united, happy front. But, I mean, you know, only a few weeks ago the premiers all agreed that a lockdown would be the last step, and instead here in Victoria at least it became the first step again. If we get to 70 or 80 per cent, is there a guarantee from Daniel Andrews, from Gladys Berejiklian, from Annastacia Palaszczuk, from all the other premiers that they will not go, put us back into lockdown again? Can we guarantee that?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, let me deal with what you just said a moment ago about lockdowns in this period. I mean, the reason why the response from all the states has changed on lockdowns is because the evidence that was coming from this new Delta variant changed. I mean, you can't, you can't treat this virus as if it's static. And, when we learn new things about it, we have to adjust our response. Now …

ELLIOTT: Sure, ok, but that's fine but ...

PRIME MINISTER: Now, I've always been one under, you know, previously, who've, you know, tried to avoid these lockdowns earlier on, and under the Alpha variant you could do that and you could suppress it with good contact tracing and isolation and testing and all that sort of thing. The Delta variant - we’ve tried that, it doesn't work.

ELLIOTT: Didn’t work. Ok, so, so, but …

PRIME MINISTER: You’ve got to go to lockdowns quick and hard. Now, with the premiers and chief ministers now, we all agreed to that plan last Friday.

ELLIOTT: Ok.

PRIME MINISTER: And, I can tell you, at 70 per cent vaccination and 80 per cent vaccination where, which is different to now, where people are protected, the economic advice which we did with the health advice shows that it's not justified when you get to those levels. I mean, there may be quite specific instances if you had a population, a very vulnerable population, let's say an Indigenous population in a rural area of Victoria or something like that, that has a very low level of vaccination, then you might have to take steps to protect them. But, this idea of widespread statewide lockdowns, when you get to 80 per cent, the economics and the health can't justify it.

ELLIOTT: Ok. So, so has Daniel Andrews agreed to that, because he won’t talk to that?

PRIME MINISTER: He agreed to the national plan and these targets last Friday, yes.

ELLIOTT: Right. Ok, so, so if we get to 70 or 80 per cent of vaccination, Daniel Andrews ironclad guarantee - no more Victoria wide lockdowns?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I just can't see that scenario. And, neither, I believe, can he, because when you're at 80 per cent, you can control it without that, unless there's some, you know, unforeseen event that occurs, Tom. And, you know, I appreciate that people want that type of certainty and we're giving as much of it as we possibly can. And, that's why we did this work, evidence based work. The Doherty Institute is one of the best of its kind in the world, and we're one of the few countries that have actually worked out scientifically what the vaccination rate has to be in order for you to take these steps. Other countries have had freedom days. It's not about a day. It's about a rate of vaccination where you can move forward. And, we've worked that out scientifically. I haven't picked it out of the sky. It's backed up by the science.

ELLIOTT: Ok, so …

PRIME MINISTER: I wish it was lower. I really do. But, it’s not.

ELLIOTT: Well, it is lower in other countries.

PRIME MINISTER: It is what it is.

ELLIOTT: Ok. Well, what do we have to do to accelerate, or what can we do? I mean, Anthony Albanese’s saying give everybody $300 bucks. We just had a caller who said, ‘Let's give one person a billion dollars, like in a lottery.’ There's trying to convince younger people and some sceptical older people that it's a good idea to get vaccinated. But, what else do we have to do as a, as a nation, as a society to, to accelerate this, this vaccination rate?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, we're already seeing it, Tom. And, what we need to do is just get more points of presence so people conveniently can go and get it. And, we need just to keep increasing the supply. Australians understand that they need to do this. And, what I've seen from Australians over the course of the last 18 months, and particularly Victorians last year is they went through the horrible lockdowns over that period of time - is, you know, they, we supported them financially, three quarters of a billion dollars a week, like we're doing, having to do in New South Wales now. But, that was to help them get through. Australians want to do this because they know it's good for them, it's good for their families, for their communities, it's good for their country. The incentives that we're providing is, you get vaccinated, then we move through these stages and we can live with the virus. And, I don't agree that Australians need the cash to do this. I think Australia has very good records of achieving high vaccination rates, immunisation rates. Very different to what you see in other parts of the world. So, we get it. And, Australians have done a lot, and I'm backing them in.

ELLIOTT: Ok.

PRIME MINISTER: I don't think a cash incentives like this, and neither does the work that General Frewen has done with his team, who’ve looked at all of these things and at this point they just go, it doesn't, it doesn't shift the dial. What shifts the dial is, you can go and get it there and you can go and get it now. I mean, the fact that we've got queues, the fact that we've got appointments that have to be a week or two or sometimes even longer in advance, is telling us that people want to get it and they're going to get it. So, let's just get more supply, more points of distribution, and the pharmacists, I think, will be a big part of that.

ELLIOTT: Scott Morrison, thank you for your time.

PRIME MINISTER: Thanks a lot, cheers.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43513

Interview with Oliver Peterson, 6PR

3 August 2021

Oliver Peterson: Prime Minister Scott Morrison, good afternoon.

Prime Minister: G'day Oly, good to be with you and g'day to everyone in WA.

Peterson: G’day to you too. We've got a target - 70 per cent, 80 per cent of Australians to be vaccinated. But, do we have a date, Prime Minister? Do we have a timeline?

Prime Minister: We've got clear targets and how soon we get there is up to every Australian, from the west to the east to the north to the south, and we are really starting to hit our marks and our pace now. Just in July, we've had 4.5 million doses that were delivered. That's up on 3.4 the month before and 2.1 the month before that. We've got one in five Australians who are now double dose vaccinated and two in five that have had at least their first dose. So, now we are really starting to get this done with over a million doses being done every week. So, a lot of supply, a lot of GPs, a lot of pharmacists now are starting to come on board, together with the state clinics. So, this is totally doable. And, as many have already said, certainly achieving that first step at 70 per cent, which is where we need to get to to start saying goodbye to lockdowns, and then 80 per cent to hopefully then make them a thing of the past.

Peterson: Do we get to a point, though, if we reach those targets you just mentioned - 70, 80 per cent - but if there's also enough vaccination in the country, because supply’s obviously been an issue, these mass hubs, you mentioned pharmacies there as well, the GP network. So, if everybody gets a chance to get a jab within, say, a week or two, and hypothetically speaking it's February 1 2022, you go, okay, we open up on this date regardless of whether or not we've hit that 70 per cent or 80 per cent benchmark, if there is enough supply of the vaccination in the country?

Prime Minister: Well, the supply won't be an issue to the end of this year. Everyone who was looking to have a vaccine will certainly have that opportunity, that's what Lieutenant General Frewen has assured me. So, that won't be the issue. The only issue will be ensuring that everybody comes forward, and I'm very confident they will. We're already seeing that happen right now. But, what the medical advice, what the science is telling us is that if you go and try and open up and take away from you the tools that have kept people safe and healthy through the course of the COVID pandemic, at vaccination rates at less than 70 per cent, well, you're taking a big risk with people's health. And, that's why we waited to ensure we got the right advice from the Doherty Institute. It's one of the best medical advisory teams in the world. They're advising not only the Commonwealth Government, states and territories, but people around the world, and their advice is pretty clear. To enable you with this Delta variant, and that's the key Oly, the Delta variant is a game changer, whereas before you could stay ahead of this thing with tracing and testing, this Delta variant knocks that right on its head. So, these short, sharp lockdowns are the way to manage that when you're in this phase we're in right now. If we get to 70 per cent, that changes the game again for us and we're able to go forward. And it's certainly at Phase 3, Phase C, when we get to 80 per cent, well, you know, we can really start moving ahead, and that's when things will be a lot more back to normal.

Peterson: When you say everybody, everybody above the age of 16, or does this include children as well?

Prime Minister: Correct, no, everyone over the age of 16, that's the advice we had. For children under 16, we're still working through the issues that have arisen there most recently. And, the advice we have at the moment is the way the virus works amongst those under 16 is a bit different to those above. And, so that's why they're advising that the vaccination targets should be set as a percentage of the population aged over 16.

Peterson: What sort of privileges will vaccinated Australians have - avoiding lockdowns, going to the footy, for example?

Prime Minister: Well, we're still working on those details. The states ultimately are the ones that will determine those because they have the powers to enforce it. The Federal Government doesn't have any power to stop someone going to the footy or not going to the footy. That has to be done by public health orders. And, so, that's what's being worked on by a group of states, which includes the Northern Territory and Victoria and Tasmania. They're working through all those options and they're going to bring those back to us. But, in Phase B, if you're vaccinated, you'll have exemptions to restrictions and which specific ones, well, we'll get to those very soon. 

But, there is a reason for that. If you've had the vaccine, you know, you are less likely to get it. You're less likely to pass it on. You're less likely to have a serious disease putting you in hospital, and you're less likely to die. So, for people who've got the vaccine, they've had the vaccine, they present less of a public health risk to themselves and others. If you haven't had it, you're vulnerable and COVID hasn't got any less infectious or any less able to impact on your health. And, if you've taken the decision not to protect yourself, well, state governments will have to take steps to protect you.

Peterson: Yeah, well, that's already what Mark McGowan, the Premier, has said here in WA. He's indicated on Friday that even at 80 per cent vaccination he will still go his own way on lockdowns, Prime Minister.

Prime Minister: Look, we had a good discussion about that on Friday, and I don't think people should take Mark out of context. I mean, at the end of the day, if there's something terrible happening, well, of course, no Premier is going to say they're going to stand by and let people get sick and get seriously ill. But, the facts are, when you're dealing with a population right now where one in five people are double dose vaccinated compared to four in five double dose vaccinated, it's a bit like the difference between standing outside at zero temperatures wearing your budgie smugglers, and standing outside wearing your Gore-Tex coat. I mean that, sorry to give you that graphic image, but that is what it's like. And, to try and cast forward and think that you have to take the same sort of precautions when you're at 20 per cent as at 80 per cent, it's chalk and cheese. It's another world. And, that's what we're seeing overseas as well. And, so, it would be, it would have to be a fairly extraordinary circumstance that would warrant that. But, I understand what the Premier was saying. But he was, you know, he was worked very constructively with us on Friday and I appreciate that.

Peterson: What about the shy-vaxxers Prime Minister? Not the anti-vaxxers, but the people who are listening to our chat this afternoon, they want choice, they want Pfizer. They don't want AstraZeneca. What do you say to them? Do they wait?

Prime Minister: Well, I encourage all Australians to take the vaccines that are available to them, and what we're seeing in other states, and Western Australia should not think they're immune. I mean, we've just had south east Queensland had to go into a lockdown, we've got New South Wales in one now and Victoria and South Australia have been there as well. They're out of those now, and let's hope Queensland comes out quickly, too. 

But, once these things happen, I mean, Western Australia could find themselves in that situation. I know everyone's doing everything they can to prevent that. But, the only way to be protected from this virus, is to be vaccinated. And, so, I would encourage people to get that vaccine and the vaccines that are available to them and in New South Wales, that's exactly what they're doing. People of all ages talking to their doctors, getting informed consent. Remember, if you don't have the vaccine, you are more likely to get it, transfer it, get very, very sick and be in a respirator on it or die. So, they're four pretty good reasons. The other one is the sooner we get the country vaccinated, the sooner we can be where we all want to be.

Peterson: Speaking of New South Wales, do you regret that that state did not go harder and faster earlier and lockdown?

Prime Minister: Well, I think that's the clear lesson, and that's not a criticism. That's just the reality of the Delta variant. And, you know, all through the COVID-19 pandemic we've had to learn and we've had to change our responses and adjust to what's going on. Now, you know, that’s, New South Wales made the decision based on the best advice and understanding that they had. They'd made plenty of decisions earlier in the pandemic where they didn't do those things and they were proven to be right on those occasions. 

So, you know, the Delta variant, the virus sets the rules here and you've got to adapt and respond. And, I think the response is now in, with this variant, as opposed to what have been happening earlier, I think requires that approach until we can get to 70 per cent. And, the way it works is, is this. The whole country has to get to 70 per cent and your state has to get to 70 per cent for you to, for your state to go into it. So, when we get to the point where people can travel overseas again, it won't be enough for the whole country to be able to achieve that if you're in Western Australia. Western Australia will need to get there as well. And, one of the challenges both Australia has and Western Australia in particular has, is when there hasn't been many cases and where there hasn't been many outbreaks, that's where vaccination rates tend to be lower. That's why Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, countries that have had very low death rates, their vaccination rates haven't been as high as in other countries where literally hundreds of people were dying every day. So, in Western Australia, you know, we've got to roll our sleeves up and get vaccinated and have that sense of urgency because we wouldn't want to see WA left behind.

Peterson: How do Australians though go, Prime Minister, from accepting nothing, no cases, we’re on this elimination path, to getting to that point where we open up, the virus obviously will spread. How do we start to change our thinking and accept living with the virus? Do you see that as a big logistical challenge for the entire country?

Prime Minister: Well, the key thing is, is that people can feel safe in that environment and that's why the vaccine is important. Now, I don't subscribe to the elimination strategy. Never have. And, neither has the National Cabinet. Suppression has been what we've done, and we've done it very effectively. But, when we move to the next phase, that's when we're managing how many cases we're seeing that require hospitalisation and serious illness. And, certainly in the third phase, you know, that's when we're really starting to manage it like any other virus. And, what the scientific modelling shows us is when we get to 80 per cent plus that puts us on the same level of other infectious diseases, and with other infectious diseases, yes, there are serious cases. There are hospitalisations. And, sadly, there are also fatalities that result from that. But, when we get to 80 per cent plus, that means, you know, COVID-19 is like any other infectious disease, largely. It is still highly infectious and you still have an unvaccinated population, which we have to be very careful of. We're seeing that in the United Kingdom even now. I mean, they're at, they’re not at 80 per cent yet, I stress, but they're not too far away from it. But, in the UK, where they're still seeing cases, I can tell you that right now, yesterday, the most recent figures on their website are 65 people died yesterday, and the hospitalisations increased over the last week by almost 15 per cent and 911 each day. So, they're not quite at 80. But, remember, they had the virus out and about and not under control, like we've had it here in Australia. So, here we have the opportunity to get the trifecta - saving lives, saving livelihoods and getting vaccinated.

Peterson: Before you go, Prime Minister, politically, do you regret not calling an election last year?

Prime Minister: Last year?

Peterson: Mm.

Prime Minister: That would have been 2020.

Peterson: Yes.

Prime Minister: That was not even constitutionally possible.

Peterson: But you regret the fact that National Cabinet now has just become a political weapon to really make it all about team red versus team blue?

Prime Minister: Oh, I don't accept that. I think the National Cabinet has worked well together. I mean, conflict makes the headlines, but the day to day working together and agreeing and getting things done doesn't tend to make the headlines, and there's been plenty of that. And, I appreciate the role that Premier McGowan has played both with myself and as part of the National Cabinet. And, the election, I've always said, will be next year, and that’s, we'll focus on that next year.

Peterson: Sure.

Prime Minister: Right now, and throughout all of this term, I've just been focusing on saving people's lives, saving their livelihoods, keeping Australia safe and secure - not just from COVID, but from the many challenges we face in our own region - as well as keeping our economy strong so we can support the big changes we're making to support those in aged care and disability care, expanding our mental health support, supporting our veterans. So, you know, you get on with the job of government every single day. The election's next year.

Peterson: Well, the local federal election posts already for the Labor candidate here in Perth, Tania Lawrence - this is running against Ken Wyatt in Hasluck. It doesn't actually have a picture of Anthony Albanese, but a picture of Mark McGowan. So, is he your biggest ...

Prime Minister: Well, Mark's not running for Prime Minister.

Peterson: I realise, but is he, is he your biggest threat in the battleground here in Western Australia? Mark McGowan versus Scott Morrison?

Prime Minister: No, no, I think Western Australian voters understand the difference between state and federal politics, and they know if they vote Labor in Western Australia they'll get Anthony Albanese, and if they vote Liberal in Western Australia they'll get Scott Morrison. That’s, I think Western Australian voters understand that. They know that Mark McGowan and I work very well together. They've seen that not just during COVID, but they've seen it over a long period of time, whether it's been on infrastructure or many other things. We have a positive professional working relationship. We're from different sides of politics. But, that doesn't matter. When you lead a government, you work together, and that's what the Premier and I have done, and we have a healthy respect for each other. What I have noticed is that the Labor Party at a federal level, they're happy to have a crack at the government every other day about the vaccination program. I'd just be happy if they encouraged people to get vaccinated, and maybe if they spent their efforts doing that, we’d be doing a lot better.

Peterson: Sure. But, Albo's now got a very small alternative as an opposition - negative gearing policy’s dead. They support your tax cuts now as well. So, does it make the situation harder for you in the lead up to that campaign?

Prime Minister: Look, you never believe what Labor says on taxes. Remember the, ‘There'll be no carbon tax under the government I lead’? Even some of your older listeners will remember Paul Keating's L.A.W. - law - tax cuts, which were then reversed on the other side of the election. Labor Party will tell you anything you want to hear about taxes before an election. And, on the other side, you know what their form is. So, look, I think people understand Labor in the economy, Labor on national security. They know they're not the party that can be trusted on those issues. The Coalition has always demonstrated our form on those things. We're about keeping Australians safe. We're keeping our economy strong and keeping Australians together as we meet the very significant challenges that we have. And, next year, people will have the opportunity to make their decisions on those things. And, but right now, we've just got to keep focusing on the job and a very serious one it is.

Peterson: Final question before I let you go, Prime Minister, and I do appreciate your time. Christmas this year, will 70 per cent of Australians be vaccinated?

Prime Minister: I think that's very achievable, I really do, and I'm not the only one who's saying that. But, the only way we can really realise that, Oly, is if everybody turns up to the task, just like our Olympians have shown us. We all turn up to the task and we have a gold medal run till Christmas, then I think that's absolutely achievable. So, that's really our shared task altogether. And, the other thing I want to ensure is that everybody we want sitting around that Christmas dinner table is there and that we're protecting people's health and we're ensuring that, you know, this idea that you just let it rip and it's all okay, COVID, with Delta, gets into a community, it wreaks terrible havoc. We've seen that all around the world. It's still happening. As good as things have been in Western Australia, as we've seen so many other states, that can change quickly. That's why we need to get to those vaccination rates as soon as we can.

Peterson: Prime Minister, I appreciate your time. Thank you very much.

Prime Minister: Good on you, Oly. Thanks for the time mate. Cheers.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43511

Interview with Leon Byner, 5AA

2 August 2021

Leon Byner: Thanks for your time this morning.

Prime Minister: G'day Leon, good to be with you.

Byner: Your targets are 70 per cent vaccination rate, we move into phase B, that offers us more freedoms, 80 per cent when we move into phase C. I guess two little bits here. How confident are you that we'll achieve these targets and when will we achieve them? Is there a month, a certain date?

Prime Minister: Well Leon, I am confident we'll achieve them and we're making really great progress. I mean, just this month just concluded, four and a half million doses which were administered. That's up on 3.4 the month before that and 2.2 the month before that, we've doubled, more than doubled the double dose vaccination rate in the last month. And that will continue to accelerate. So Australians are coming out more and more now, our GPs, pharmacies, state clinics, all of this means that we're vaccinating people at the rates, of well over now a million a week. So you keep that pace up, you get the job done. When we achieve it? Well, that's up to every Australian. That's up to every single one of us. And each step each of us takes towards that GP, pharmacist or clinic to get that vaccination is a step closer to achieving it.

Byner: Now, I've seen that you've written an opinion piece in The Australian. In it, you say 70 per cent is our next mark to get to phase B, 80 per cent, phase C. Like you, I wish it were lower, but it's not. So it's what the detailed scientific analysis of the virus tells us. So do you think the 70 and 80 targets are too high?

Prime Minister: They are what they need to be and that's what we have to achieve because of the Delta strain of this virus. The Delta strain has completely rewritten the rules on COVID. Whereas before you could use your testing and tracing and all of those things to stay, stay ahead of it. Delta moves too quickly now, so it completely changes everything. So that's why it is the right decision now in the Delta environment to move quickly and firmly as the South Australian Government recently did. And now you're out of it, which is great. Now, when that happens, we need to provide that economic support. Now, over $20 million was provided directly to South Australians over the course of that week, of that week of locked down to over 36,000 people. And so that support is there. It's now going to be made available in Queensland, as it has been in New South Wales and Victoria. So we'll work, as we have with the state governments, to make these lockdowns effective so we can get out of them as quickly as we can and stay ahead of this. But the way we move past that phase is to get to that 70 per cent where it becomes far less likely to have to do that. And so we start saying goodbye to it at 70 per cent. And at 80 per cent, we go even further where they should be very rare, if at all.

Byner: All right. So let's clarify the 70 per cent, are we saying fully vaccinated, in other words, both doses of the vaccine or is it just the first one?

Prime Minister: No, two doses and the whole country has to get to an average of 70 per cent. And then each and every state when they move into phase B is based on them achieving that. And I think it's very important, you know, I look at these numbers very closely. You'd expect me to every day. Need to keep vaccination rates lifting right across all age groups. But I'd particularly be stressing in South Australia to your listeners, especially if you're over the age of 60. And I'll encourage you, please go and see your GP. Please go to the various points that you can go and get this vaccine. The AstraZeneca vaccine is saving millions of lives all around the world. It's as effective as the alternatives. And it's there and it's available and it keeps you safe, your family safe, and it keeps your community safe and it gets Australia to where we want to get too.

Byner: Now on that point, Prime Minister, the latest data suggests that more women are getting the COVID jab over young men. Why do you think that is? And what do you suggest might be done about it?

Prime Minister: Well, I don't know if that's a universal position. I mean, it changes as the ebbs and flows of the vaccination programme roll out. And so I wouldn't say that's a hard and fast rule. I mean, for example, right now we're seeing a big surge in younger people taking up the vaccine in New South Wales because they're getting the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Byner: Yeah.

Prime Minister: And that is really surged up. And we welcome that. And, you know, anywhere across Australia, including in South Australia, anyone can have the AstraZeneca vaccine. That requires informed consent. It's you know, people take risks driving their car every year, and that's greater than what we're talking about with this vaccine or any vaccine, for that matter. Pretty much. I mean, all vaccines, any medicines have these very mild and small risks. It's important to know what they are. You can give your informed consent and you can go and get the vaccine. So men, women, young, old, middle aged, parents, kids. I mean, you know, I don't mean under 16, obviously, we haven't made decisions around that yet. All of this is very important for Australia to get to where we want to get to.

Byner: Prime Minister, if a city or state goes into lockdown, there's immediate support from those in declared COVID hotspots to get some financial support. And that's really good for individuals. But I want to talk about businesses. It does seem that there is a bespoke relationship between federal and state governments on this. Have you done a deal with SA's Premier, Steven Marshall, on how to help business if the state goes into lockdown?

Prime Minister: Well, as occurred with the last lockdown, that didn't become necessary because it was short and the State Government put in a very good programme and they're administering that where the state thinks that we need to go further than that, then as we have done in other states, those opportunities are available there. But the Premier and I discussed that and they've put in a very strong programme and they're not seeking any further support from the Federal Government at this point.

Byner: Do you think business owners should be able to ask their customers if they've been vaccinated and prove they have been?

Prime Minister: Well, the law doesn't allow for that. I should stress I mean, unless there's a public health order that goes to those matters, that's my advice. Then, you know that that currently doesn't enable those sorts of things to occur, just like it wouldn't enable people to be prevented from attending a venue or something like that. But state governments can put those in place, Phase B of the plan is all about ensuring that those who have been vaccinated do get exempted from restrictions. And that plan is now being worked on by Northern Territory, Victoria and Tasmania. They're bringing back a series of proposals to us that would give that greater detail. But there's a reason for that. And it's got nothing to do with politics or freedoms or anything like that. It's just it's just simple. If you're vaccinated, then you're less of a public health risk. To yourself firstly because you're less likely to get it. You're less likely to be hospitalised and less likely to die from it. You're also less likely to transmit it. And so people who are vaccinated have taken steps to protect themselves and others around them. And so in that circumstance, it only stands to reason that where you have taken that step, then there would be exemptions for you. If you haven't, then you're at risk of catching it and suffering severe disease and worse. So if people are taking the protections of a vaccine, then that really does limit the options that governments have to try and protect the public health of the population. That's why it's important everyone gets vaccinated.

Byner: You know, I notice that your Deputy PM, Barnaby Joyce, yesterday said that he'd like small business owners to have the ability to ask customers and question and gave the example of a barber shop. Should the owner have the right to ask customers sitting in his shop waiting for a car if they've been vaccinated against COVID?

Prime Minister: Well, it's a fair question, and it's one that state governments ultimately would have to make decisions on because they're the only ones who can put rules in place that allow for that. Those powers don't exist at a federal level. They exist at the state level. But there certainly things that are being discussed by the premiers and I and how that, whether, if that is, the way they wish to proceed, we wish to proceed, whether that's necessary. We obviously talk to the health professionals and the economics advisers. I want to stress this too Leon, the plan that we've set out isn't just based on the medical advice. It's actually based on the economic advice that we got from all the Treasuries, including the Commonwealth Treasury. And it showed that if you don't do those short, sharp lockdowns in this phase with the Delta variant, it ends up costing you even worse. So it's very important that we understand that it's not just in the health interests, it's actually in our economic interests when we're dealing with Delta to get on top of it as fast as we can. Otherwise, the cost is far greater as we're seeing in New South Wales.

Byner: Just away from COVID, for a sec. I see that Labor's dumped its plans to pursue negative gearing and will now also support all of your tax cuts. Does that dent your ability to attack the Opposition in the lead up to the next election, do you think?

Prime Minister: They've got form. Remember the carbon tax that was never going to happen on their watch? Many of your listeners remember Paul Keating’s L.A.W. tax cuts that they reversed when they came into government. Labor Party will tell anyone, anything they want to hear about tax before an election. But we all know what they do. We all know what happens. They say one thing before the election, do another thing after on tax. So, no, I think people know Labor's DNA for high taxes.

Byner: Well, the next election, I'd be interested in whether you think it's going to be tough or not, because the polls seem to suggest that Anthony Albanese can get over the line.

Prime Minister: Elections are always tough. I never approach an election in any other mode. I mean, I've noticed the commentary going back several years now. People have been offering all sorts of apparently wise commentary. But I always maintained a very humble spirit towards elections and to the support of the Australian people. You have to earn it every day and every election is tough. And so there's a lot at stake when we get to that point in that next election, which I've always it is going to be next year. And it's about the future of our economy. It's about our national security as a country. I mean, in this country, we've also been able to outperform countries all around the world in terms of saving lives. Over 30,000. People might have heard me use that figure. If we'd had the same fatality rate of countries just like us across Europe, the United States, the United Kingdom. There would be 30,000 and more, people dead in Australia right now, and we avoided that and we prevented that together with the Australian people and working together as a country, we prevented that. A million people got back into work after last year's COVID-19 recession. And our economy will bounce back from these lockdowns, too, because we've got the economic settings right and we've provided the right support that gets Australia through. So we've demonstrated both the ability to save lives, save livelihoods, continue to protect our national security and supporting whether it's our manufacturing industries or our resources sectors, our employment generating sectors across the country, while at the same time dealing with the big challenges in aged care and mental health. I mean, the government continues to work across all of these fronts, Leon, and we will do so until the next election and hopefully with the support of the Australian people beyond.

Byner: As Prime Minister, what's your most important message you'd like to give to South Australians?

Prime Minister: Get vaccinated, full stop. Get vaccinated. Because the sooner we get that job done, the sooner we can continue to take the country forward.

Byner: Prime Minister, thanks for joining us.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43510

Interview with Neil Breen, 4BC

2 August 2021

Neil Breen: Good morning to you, Prime Minister.

Prime Minister: G’day Neil, and can I say thanks to everyone across south east Queensland for their patience. It's, it's, you know, a difficult thing to go through these lockdowns. But, as you say, people now know the drill. And, sadly, this is the drill we have to follow with the Delta variant. It's changed everything. And, and the way to get on top of these things and ensure you don't have longer lockdowns is move quickly. So, support that strongly.

Breen: Yeah, it is different Prime Minister, because in March the Chief Health Officer in Queensland Dr Jeannette Young, who's been notoriously cautious since the start of it, said there wouldn't be any more lockdowns because we seem to be in a good space and we can do targeted things. But, then Delta came around and the entire population is accepting of the fact, yeah, we need to lockdown. They're all on board.

Prime Minister: Well, the difference is with the Delta variant is it just moves at a much more rapid pace. And, whereas before our contact tracing and Queensland has very good contact tracing and, and testing, but it just moves faster. And so to stop it getting ahead and staying ahead, that's why those, those short and hopefully short and strong lockdowns are so necessary, as they proved it could be done in Victoria and South Australia. Sadly, in New South Wales it's going a lot tougher than that. But, hopefully in south east Queensland, that will, you know, there'll be more of the Victoria and South Australian experience. But, making those work is really important. And as with the other states financial support will be provided by the Federal Government after the end of the first week. So, next Saturday people will be able to apply if they've lost more than eight hours and more than 20 hours of work a week, they'll be able to apply for those payments of $450 for eight to 20 and $750 for more than 20 hours. And, if you’re on a benefit payment, whether it's a pension or whether it's a Parenting Payment, Youth Allowance, JobSeeker you can access $200 payment on top of those other benefits you're getting. And that will all become able to claim from next Saturday at Services Australia.

Breen: So, from Saturday, so we wait until we're a week into the lockdown then people who lost the work can go in, as you said $750 for 20 plus, $450 for eight to 20 hours. So, we wait a week is that correct?

Prime Minister: That's right. You wait a week and for, and for the hours you lost during that lockdown, then those payments are processed very quickly. We've already paid in, already in bank accounts around the country around a billion dollars already now. And, so it's proved to be a very quick way and it's done on, based on actually what happened. And, so people know that at the end of this week, if they've gone through this lockdown, then they'll be able to get that support payment and that'll come through very, very promptly. They’ve been able to do it sometimes in as little as half an hour or a couple of days, which will happen over the course of that weekend. So, people can, will know that's there, and hopefully it won't go beyond that. But, if it does as it has in New South Wales and indeed as it went into a second week in Victoria, well, the same thing will be repeated the week after that. But, you won't have to make a further application.

Breen: Ok, these targets you've set, they're bullish. First target 70, second target 80. Third target is everyone, and booster shots and everything. Will everyone play ball, Prime Minister? Will the chief health officers of all the different states and all the premiers who seem to be bullish about their poll prospects, the more, sort of they run their own states in their own way, will everyone get on board and say yeah, 70 per cent, we're not going to do lockdowns?

Prime Minister: Well, it's, it's, there may still be very unique circumstances where we understand that that may be required, but we're not talking about the sorts of things that we're experiencing now in New South Wales or south east Queensland. I mean, there are variants, they’re new variants. And so, you know, we'll be careful. But, no, that is it. They will become much less likely and much more targeted too. I mean, the sorts of things we envisage is there might be remote Indigenous communities or things like this and, of course, that might be necessary, or particular parts of the state. So, it gets a lot more surgical at that point. But you're right, we start saying goodbye to them at 70 per cent, and they become basically pretty much a thing of the past when we hit 80 per cent. I mean, the UK’s now at 72.5 per cent. We’re at, we've now got about one in five Australians fully vaccinated. We’ve got 40 per cent, two in five, that have had at least their first dose. We've seen our vaccination rates on double dose now more than double in the last month. I mean, in July we were up some 4.5 million vaccines in the month. That's 3.4 [million] was back in June. So, a big increase there. 2.1 [million] the month before. So you know, we had those early problems, we've got on top of them, we've turned it around and, we know, we've got our gold medal run till the end of the year to get this done.

Breen: One of the key things though, is AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca has been a problem because of the, the media it got, the advice it got. The different points of view from people like our Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young. But when you get the risk process changing or the numbers changing because of what's happened in Queensland, would you expect that the position in Queensland about AstraZeneca to change now, because COVID’s going to be more of a risk to you than AstraZeneca?

Prime Minister: Well, I think that balance of risk change is very obvious. And, what we're seeing in New South Wales now is AstraZeneca dosage rates amongst 16 to 39 year olds just rapidly escalate. And, and the risk is a very, very small risk. I mean, there are many, with any vaccine, with any medication, there are, there are small risks associated with this. But I mean, driving around your car for a whole year is more risky than, than this vaccine. The things that people do most days of their lives, whether at work or elsewhere, are more risky than this. And so it is a very low level risk. But, you do need informed consent if you're under the age of 60. And, that's why we made the opportunity available for people to talk to their doctors about it. But, you don't have to have that vaccine with the GP. I mean, you can, of course, but you can go and have your AstraZeneca vaccine whether it’s a pharmacist, a GP or one of the state-based clinics. But, it's an important vaccine, it’s saved millions of lives around the world and, and can here in Australia. And so, it's important that in Queensland that those AstraZeneca vaccination rates increase, and I’d encourage people to go and do it and talk to their doctors about that to get their informed consent.

Breen: I know that you've been talking about people who've been double vaccinated having more freedoms than others. That'll be, that's a major policy. That'll be a major thing because a lot of people will feel as though they're being denied their freedoms by that happening. But, I do notice that New South Wales stadiums is talking about double vaccinations to get into The Ashes and NRL games. This is coming, isn't it?

Prime Minister: Well, ultimately that'll be, I mean, the Federal Government can't legislate that. We don't have the powers to do that. Public health is, as we've said so many times now, Neil, the states decide that. So, if venues and things like this want to do that, my advice is then they will need the backing of, of state public health orders to achieve that, to make those sort of things mandatory. That's my advice. And, they’re issues that those venues and other things will have to work through with state governments. So, ultimately, that'll be a decision for them. But, when it comes to those arrangements, I think they'll be, there'll be a keen interest in it, because when we get to Phase B we are looking to, you know, provide exemptions for vaccinated residents. And, there's a simple reason for that.

Breen: Exemptions, what sort of exemptions? What sort of exemptions?

Prime Minister: I mean, it’s got nothing to do with politics, or liberty or anything like that. It's simple. If you're vaccinated, you're less likely to get it, you're less likely to transmit it, you're less likely to get a serious disease, and you're less likely to die. So, you are less of a public health risk if you're vaccinated than otherwise. And, if we want to protect the health of people in whatever state around the country, then, you know, if you're vaccinated, well, that is a way of protecting people's health. If you're not vaccinated, then you're at greater risk. And, as a result, if you're not having the vaccination, then clearly state governments are going to have to take decisions to protect people in those circumstances because they’re, they're basically unprotected.

Breen: Do you mean exemptions from say, a lockdown for instance?

Prime Minister: Well, it can be, it can be any number of things. And, we've got the Northern Territory Government working together with the Victorian Government and the Tasmanian Government right now. They're bringing back to National Cabinet the recommendations of the options that states can pursue. And, what it really is is this, it's exemptions that would apply to people who are vaccinated because they've taken the step to reduce their risk to other people and to themselves. And, when they've done that, well, you can make a health decision. Nothing to do with politics. The virus doesn't care what your political views are. They don't care about it, it doesn't care about any of that stuff. It just cares about whether you're vaccinated or not. And if you're vaccinated, it is less able to impact on you, your family, your community. And so, where people have taken those steps, well, clearly it's just common sense that they can be exempted from restrictions that would be necessary for those who haven't got that protection and are very vulnerable.

Breen: Should businesses be able to ask customers if they're vaccinated? Do you think that'll become a thing?

Prime Minister: Well, I've heard some commentary on that, and I know the DPM's had a bit to say about that. But, ultimately, that goes to the, to the legal situation, and businesses should be careful about that. And, they should make sure, talk to their business associations and groups and, and make sure that they're not falling foul of any discrimination laws. Because these things are important. We've been making our own Australian way through this, Neil, as I've talked about before. And, you know, they're important principles at stake here, for people's freedoms and what they can do. But equally, we also have a obligation to each other and not to cause harm to each other, and by getting vaccinated we are less likely to cause harm to someone else.

Breen: Prime Minister Scott Morrison, thanks for joining us on 4BC Breakfast.

Prime Minister: Thanks, Neil. Just before I go, can I make one other point, just quickly.

Breen: Yes.

Prime Minister: If you're a sole trader, if you're a sole trader, you can access the COVID Disaster Payment. So, at the end of this week, if you know, you're not getting paid because you haven't got any work and you're a soul trader, it's just not for those who are employees, if you're a sole trader, you can also make that claim. There's, I'm sure there will be under the Queensland Government a business support in these early phases as well. But, if you’re a sole trader, the COVID Disaster Payment can help you.

Breen: The Queensland business support, the $5,000 grant announced today, doesn't apply to sole traders, only to sole traders that somehow employ people. So, sole traders will go under your scheme. That clarifies it, because I’ve been getting questions.

Prime Minister: That’s right.

Breen: Thanks Prime Minister.

Prime Minister: Yeah, if you're a sole trader, you'll get support from the Federal Government. Good on you. Thanks.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43509

Interview with Chris Smith, 2GB

31 July 2021

CHRIS SMITH: The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, is on the line right now, PM, thank you very much for your time.

PRIME MINISTER: No worries, Chris, good to talk to you.

SMITH: I was so, I guess, encouraged. I was so delighted to see your presentation yesterday afternoon, late. It was important that you did so, although you needed a mining light to read what what you were trying to read.

PRIME MINISTER: Yes, I did actually, it was a bit dark down here in Canberra.

SMITH: But to have, I can't tell you how much of a relief it is to have a real specific goal out. And I think 70 per cent is not too much to ask, is it?

PRIME MINISTER: No. And absolutely achievable. And then onto the 80 per cent mark as well. And the UK has now just achieved 70 per cent. They've got over 70 per cent now of their eligible population. And Israel has, they're the only two countries in the world who have, by the way. But, and we're seeing Canada, I think, rapidly approach that. But once you get your programme really moving, which ours is now we had, you know, over 200,000 doses yesterday, we're more than a million every week, in fact, over six days, it is cranking up. I'm so pleased that AstraZeneca, that vaccine, you know, it was talked down for a long time and it's making a big comeback as it needs to, particularly across greater Sydney. I'm very pleased that the the medical advice is supported, what I was saying over well over a month ago, saying we need this vaccine to get this job done. So it is very achievable. But what I would say is this, Chris, we didn't sort of pluck this figure out of the air. I knew we needed one. Of course we needed the target, but it needed to be one that actually was based on science and economics, things that so we knew if we could get to that mark, we could have a confidence that you wouldn't then have to go back, like we've seen so many other countries do. They announced this Freedom Day and then they can't, they have to delay it and all the rest of it. The day where we move forward is the day where we hit those targets. The calendar won't determine it, the vaccination rate will determine it.

SMITH: I know what you're saying and you've been reluctant even in that presentation yesterday to put a timeline on this. I get it. I understand it. But, boy, wouldn't it be nice to get there by Christmas Day?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, look, I believe that's entirely possible. There'll be enough vaccines. There'll be enough pharmacies, enough GPs, enough clinics, enough of all of that to achieve that. So it's all up to all of us now.

SMITH: Yeah.

PRIME MINISTER: And we can all do this together. I get it that people have been frustrated and I’ve, you know, expressed, you know, my apologies on that a week or so ago. But we've got to focus on what we need to do now. I mean, the programme has massively turned the corner, so I take responsibility for that too. Take responsibility for the problems we've had. But I've also taken responsibility for fixing them, which is what I know the public want. They appreciate not every country gets everything right and there are always going to be problems dealing with a global pandemic. But, you know, when there are problems, we fix them. The vaccination programme is significantly turned around. We're really hitting our marks now. Lieutenant General Frewen, who I put into that job back in late May, early June, has really got the programme focused. So, yeah, Chris, I think that can be done. Whether it gets done or not is up to everybody.

SMITH: Tell me. We've seen a spike from Monday and my feeling and I spoke to Dennis Shanahan about this earlier this morning. My feeling is that the death of that 38 year old at RPA on Sunday and then the rally on Saturday has seen this incredible spike amongst those who are under 40 to go out and get the AZ, which is just fantastic. Those numbers, as you said yesterday, during the week have been well, it's been so heartwarming to see. Now, that's the under 40s. I've got a lot of over 40s listening to this radio programme right now who are still hesitant. I'm trying to change the hesitancy as many people are on this radio station. What can you say to them now?

PRIME MINISTER: Four things. First of all, if you get the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is the safe and effective vaccine that has been vaccinating the whole world and saving millions of lives, you're less likely to get it. You're less likely to pass it on to someone, particularly someone who's very vulnerable, like an elderly relative or someone like that. You're less likely to get a serious disease and end up in hospital on a respirator. I was talking to a woman just the other day who had that terrible experience and she just said to me how awful it was and how fearful she was and you're less likely to die. So there's four good reasons. The next thing I'd say is that by getting vaccinated, you're getting a step closer every single day to getting us back to about as normal as you can be when you're living with COVID-19. So people can go and visit their aged care- the relatives in aged care, that we can get back to stadiums, that we can get back to live entertainment and all of these sorts of things, that people can travel overseas and return, that we can get more of our people who are overseas. And we've had to reduce the number of people who can come into the country at the moment because of the Delta variant. It is a big national programme. It's great for you personally, your own personal health, but the sooner we do this, the sooner we're able to get into that phase of life where we all want to get to. So everybody wins from you getting vaccinated. But you most important of all.

SMITH: I fear that we're going to have trouble getting to 80 per cent because it's a different Australia you and I live in. There was a time when you and I would get our smallpox shot, typhoid, cholera, without warning. We'd have our passport or whatever it was on a card. And we show it at the boarding gate and we go to other parts of the world and see the world. In the 60s and 70s, we trusted the system. We trusted our medical scientists. There's this tinfoil hat, flat earth brigade out there, they were there on Saturday, that are just doing endless destruction to that kind of attitude.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I agree with that. And appreciate, you know, people like yourself not amplifying it. It's important that we address this just with cold, hard facts. And you know what? The virus can't read the placards, doesn't care about what your political views or what your ideological position is. It doesn't care. It still acts. And whether it's on the economics or it's on the medical science, we know that unless you can get to at least 70 per cent, the virus wins, the virus wins and lockdowns are absolutely necessary. And we'll see more of them while we're still in this phase. And when we get to the next phase, they become massively less necessary. Now, this is a terrible image for me to put in your head, Chris, but as a man of a similar age, you'll appreciate it. If I were to walk out here in Canberra this morning wearing nothing but my board shorts, I would freeze. But if I go out there with a big coat on, I'll be fine. That's what getting to 70 per cent vaccination is.

SMITH: Yeah.

PRIME MINISTER: And you can go outside and you can do what you need to do. I went and picked up the eggs from the chooks this morning, but you can do that. And at the moment when we're not at that stage, then obviously you're more vulnerable. And so the virus doesn't care what anybody thinks. It just acts as it does. And this Delta strain is far worse. And I think people are getting that now. Yeah, you know, six months ago, New South Wales was able to deal with cases and all of that because they had, they have a very good testing and tracing regime. Delta smashes that. And it means that we have to get vaccinations to this level to ensure that all of those systems work like they used to and better.

I mean, I wish the number was 50. I wish the number was less, but it's not. And I can't tell people that it's a different number. 70, based on the science we know gives us that more than a fighting chance to ensure we stay ahead of it. And then when you get to 80, Chris, I'm more optimistic. I think, as we've seen in other countries, once the vaccination programme has its roll on and we're certainly seeing that now and the supplies increase, I mean, there's a million doses of AZ right now. It can go anywhere in the country. And I've got to say, can I send a big thank you to the GPs and pharmacists? Those GPs in Sydney are leading the country on the highest rates of AstraZeneca vaccination in the country. They are doing the massive heavy lifting. They're talking to their patients. They're talking them through. I got a text message from a good mate the other day who said, look, I'm worried about getting this because I don't like needles. That was his hesitation. Everyone's got their own hesitation. But he says, but I want to go and do it because I want to show my team the people I lead, that this is important. I said, well, mate go and talk to your GP. He or she will have some strategies for you to be able to deal with that. And we made the Medicare item number available so people can do just that. If you are concerned, don't talk to Doctor Google, go talk to your doctor. Don't talk to someone who's going to tell you you're going to turn into a magnet or, you know, don't go on Facebook to listen to people who don't know what they're talking about. Go and talk to your doctor.

SMITH: Yeah, very true. We can't express that explanation enough. One last one.

PRIME MINISTER: Sure.

SMITH: Greater Brisbane will go into lockdown from 4pm today after six local cases were recorded in Queensland. The eleven LGAs, which already had mask wearing requirements, will be required to lockdown. They reckon this is a three day lockdown. Oh, no, not Queensland. What do you know about these six cases and is it cause for concern?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, it is in Delta, and you know, you saw that in South Australia. Look, you know, I'm not being critical, but we're living that experience in New South Wales. South Australia moved quick. They're out of it. Victoria, moved quick. They're out of it. In New South Wales, we're living with a long lockdown. And in this phase of Delta, as I said last night, in this phase, you've got to move quick. And that means it can be short. Once it gets going, it is very hard to get back in the box, as we're seeing in New South Wales, so, you know, we just got to make this lockdown work in New South Wales, I'm very pleased that the Defence Forces are now going in and we've had that request and they'll greatly assist. I mean, Mick Fuller is a great Commissioner. You know how big of a fan I am of the New South Wales Police. I think they do an amazing job. I love them. But, you know, the ADF can come in and support them and the great work they're doing, you know, we'll get this done in Sydney and it's a lot harder once it gets going. So in this, that's what we mean by this suppression phase. And then you get to the next one when you're at 70 per cent where that wouldn't be necessary for large scale lockdowns like that. When we get into those next phases, the only reason you'd do something like that is if it was in a particularly vulnerable community, like, for example, a remote indigenous community or something like that, where there was a particular need to use that type of a tool. So it goes from being a broad based measure to something that's quite surgical. And if we can get there, Australia, if we can get there, Sydney, and get that at 70 per cent, then we can we can look forward to life being very different, especially to what it is now in Sydney.

SMITH: Hear hear. I hope your optimism about 80 per cent is right. I hope I'm wrong. Have a great weekend. Thank you very much for your time.

PRIME MINISTER: Thanks, Chris. Good on you mate, cheers.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43507

Record $104 Million for Cyclone-Affected Communities

29 July 2021

Prime Minister, Premier of Western Australia, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education, Western Australian Minister for Emergency Services

Communities devastated by Severe Tropical Cyclone Seroja will receive the largest disaster recovery package in Western Australian history, with $104 million made available to support the next stage of the recovery and rebuild.

Jointly funded by the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), the $104 million package will support continued recovery efforts across disaster affected communities in 16 local government areas.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his Government continued to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Western Australians affected by Severe Tropical Cyclone Seroja.

“We’re there each step of the way, ensuring cyclone-affected communities in Western Australia can rebuild,” the Prime Minister said.

“These communities will continue to get the support they need, that’s the commitment we’re making today with this more than $100 million investment to help them build back stronger than ever before.”

Premier Mark McGowan said the record funding package would provide impacted communities with the support they need to undertake the long recovery and rebuilding effort.

“I would like to assure those impacted by this disaster that the State Government will see these efforts through for as long as it takes.

“My Government will continue to work closely with each and every community on their rebuilding efforts to make sure together we recover – stronger than ever.”

Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Senator Bridget McKenzie said the size of this recovery package highlighted the extensive trail of destruction the cycle left in its wake in April this year.

“The extent of damage across an area of 133,000 kms2 within 16 local government areas in the Mid-West, Gascoyne and Wheatbelt regions has never before been seen in Western Australia,” Minister McKenzie said.

“The affected local governments and their communities face a challenging and prolonged road ahead and the Australian Government is here to support them in their long-term recovery efforts.”

Minister for Emergency Services Reece Whitby said the WA Government had been working closely with local communities to determine their needs for the next stage of the recovery and rebuild.

“Our priority is to ensure the best possible community-led recovery – helping to support individuals and businesses as they get back on their feet,” Minister Whitby said.

“This package has been developed to provide tailored recovery initiatives, as we continue what will be a long and difficult process.

“We know these communities are resilient and we will continue to work with them in the coming months and years as they rebuild.”

The package includes:

• Financial support for the clean-up and restoration of damaged community, recreational, cultural and heritage assets

• Funding for a community welfare and outreach program

• Grant programs to help residents, primary producers and small businesses with clean-up and repair

This community recovery package is in addition to support already being provided by the WA and Commonwealth governments under the DRFA.

Information on disaster assistance is available on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at disasterassist.gov.au

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43501

National Cabinet Statement

30 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.

Since the beginning of the pandemic there have been 33,909 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 923 people have died. More than 24.8 million tests have been undertaken in Australia. Testing has increased nationally over recent days with 1,209,935 million tests reported in the past 7 days.

Globally there have been over 196.5 million cases and sadly over 4.1 million deaths, with 660,253 new cases and 11,538 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 roll out continues to expand. To date 12,005,978 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Australia, including a record 210,742 in the previous 24 hours.

In the previous 7 days, more than 1,154,985 vaccines have been administered in Australia. More than 39.9 per cent of the Australian population aged 16 years and over have now had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including over 64.6 per cent of over 50 year olds and over 78.5 per cent of over 70 year olds. More than 18.2 per cent of Australians aged 16 years and over are fully vaccinated including more than 25.2 per cent of over 50 year olds and more than 40.5 per cent of Australians over 70 years of age.

Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd provided an update on current outbreaks of COVID-19.

Lieutenant General John Frewen, Coordinator-General of Operation COVID Shield, provided a briefing on the vaccination program, which continues to expand significantly.

National Cabinet received a detailed briefing from the Director of Doherty Epidemiology, Professor Jodie McVernon on modelling of COVID-19 infections and vaccinations to define target levels of transition to Phase B and Phase C of the four step National Plan to Transition Australia’s COVID-19 Response, taking into account COVID-19 transmission, severity and vaccine effectiveness of the delta variant.

The modelling has informed an updated four step National Plan to Transition Australia’s COVID-19 Response by COVID-19 Risk Analysis and Response Taskforce (Taskforce), led by the Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Mr Phil Gaetjens, and the Commonwealth Treasury economic impact analysis of COVID-19 transitions. Analysis is being coordinated with Commonwealth, state and territory Treasuries, Health Departments and First Secretaries Departments.

All leaders reiterated the importance of Australians, especially those in vulnerable groups, to get a COVID-19 vaccination. Both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are registered for use in Australia and are proven to be effective in preventing serious illness and death, as well as limiting transmission.

National Cabinet agreed to meet next on Friday, 6 August 2021.

National Plan to Transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response

The National Cabinet agreed in-principle to an updated four-step National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response (National Plan) taking into account the Doherty Institute COVID-19 modelling and the Commonwealth Department of Treasury economic analysis.

The National Plan charts the way back.

The National Plan provides a graduated pathway to transition Australia’s COVID-19 response from its current pre-vaccination settings focused on continued suppression of community transmission, to post-vaccination settings focused on prevention of serious illness and fatalities, whereby the public health management of COVID-19 is consistent with other infectious diseases.

The National Plan sets out four phases to effectuate this transition. Each phase will be triggered by the achievement of vaccination thresholds of both the nation, and the individual state or territory expressed as a percentage of the eligible population (16+), based on the scientific and economic modelling conducted for the COVID-19 Risk Analysis and Response Taskforce.

The updates agreed in-principle today by the National Cabinet are the Vaccination thresholds to move to Phase B and Phase C. The National Cabinet will commission further detailed modelling over the coming months to update and refine the National Plan as required.

A sub-group of National Cabinet consisting of Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory will also prepare options on how restrictions can be eased for vaccinated Australians in Phase B.

Phase A. Vaccinate, Prepare and Pilot (Current Phase)

Australia will continue to strongly suppress the virus for the purpose of minimising community transmission. Measures may include accelerating vaccination rates, closing international borders to keep COVID-19 out, and early, stringent and short lockdowns if outbreaks occur.

Phase B. Vaccination Transition Phase (~70% of adult population fully vaccinated)

In this phase, Australia will seek to minimise serious illness, hospitalisations and fatalities as a result of COVID-19 with low-level restrictions. Measures may include maintaining high vaccination rates, encouraging uptake through incentives and other measures, minimising cases in the community through ongoing low-level restrictions and effective track and trace, and with lockdowns unlikely but possible and targeted.

Phase C. Vaccination Consolidation Phase (≥80% of adult population fully vaccinated)

In Phase C, Australia will seek to minimise serious illness, hospitalisations and fatalities as a result of COVID-19 with baseline restrictions. Measures may include maximising vaccination coverage, minimum ongoing baseline restrictions adjusted to minimise cases without lockdowns, and highly targeted lockdowns only.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-06/national-plan-to-transition-australias-national-covid-19-response-30-july-2021.pdf

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44091

Interview with Neil Mitchell, 3AW

29 July 2021

Neil Mitchell: Prime Minister, good morning,

Prime Minister: Good morning Neil.

Mitchell: Thank you for your time, if we are going to be open by the end of the year, will that mean everybody has had both, is properly vaccinated with both vaccines or both shots, or just one?

Prime Minister: Well, two shots, but not everybody. I mean, there's no country in the world where everybody would ever get it. 

Mitchell: No, anybody what who wants it. 

Prime Minister: Everybody who wants it. That's the key point. And we've got to get the vaccination rates to the thresholds that are needed to to go to that next phase. And that's the next key thing we have to decide, is those vaccination rates we have to achieve to enable that very outcome. But certainly in terms of the supply of vaccines, the rate of vaccination, we're achieving now more than a million a week, almost 40 per cent of Australians have now had their first dose. And those second doses are now under the advice where you can get your AstraZeneca second dose from between four to 12 weeks and your Pfizer was already three weeks. So we will see those continue to rise in the months ahead …

Mitchell: You've got it all to do, though. I mean, if you're going to have people take AstraZeneca, then you've got about eight weeks to get the first shot into them. If they're going to get their second shot by the end of the year, they've got to have their first shot in by October. 

Prime Minister: Well, and that's why we're pleased to be seeing ... 

Mitchell: And you can do that, you reckon? 

Prime Minister: Well, we're at 196,000 a day. And that is the massively up from where we were before. And as the supply continues to ramp up and the take up continues to ramp up, then, you know, the United Kingdom was, was at 65 per cent recently, just over 70 per cent. So these are the sort of levels you're talking about to try and …

Mitchell: So how many millions of people have to be vaccinated with at least once with AstraZeneca, if possible, before October, the how many millions are still waiting? Because it's about well, you've got 31.6 with the first dose, 13.9 with the second one in there, about ... 

Prime Minister: Well, it's actually more than that now, Neil. I mean, it's 38.96 on a first dose. And we've had over 17 per cent, almost 18 per cent on a second dose. And I've got to say, Victoria is just doing a bit better than that, which is very welcome. They've had a much higher take up, particularly in state clinics of the AstraZeneca vaccine, as the Victorian Government has done a really good job with that, which has really boosted their vaccine levels. But we saw this in Canada. We've seen it in other countries that once it gets its roll on which we're really seeing now, we've really turned the corner on that programme and dealt with some of the earlier problems we've had. And it just keeps increasing from here. But it needs everybody else to cooperate, obviously, we can offer it but only people can take it. 

Mitchell: OK, but that means everybody who wants it will have had at least the first shot by October. 

Prime Minister: No, it doesn't mean that at all, Neil. You can have an AstraZeneca second dose within four weeks. 

Mitchell: Oh, so you'll bring that forward? 

Prime Minister: We already have. 

Mitchell: But you've only brought it forward because of the situation in New South Wales. Well, look, I'm not due to have my second AstraZeneca until the middle of August. Should I go and have it now? Is that what you're telling me? 

Prime Minister: Well, I'm saying is that it's under the the licence for AstraZeneca. It can be four to 12 weeks. 

Mitchell: Yeah, I know. But the advice is 12 weeks gives you maximum coverage. 

Prime Minister: But they've also said that it can happen between four and 12 weeks. Jenny, my wife, she had she brought us forward just the other week. 

Mitchell: Why? Because she's in Sydney? 

Prime Minister: Well, she is in Sydney. But I need to get the whole country vaccinated as well. And the sooner we get there, and it can be done safely …

Mitchell: So are you asking everybody to bring forward their AstraZeneca dose? 

Prime Minister: I'm just saying we should get vaccinated as soon as possible. 

Mitchell: But is that the way, do you want everybody to, Prime Minister, people are screaming for leadership on this, as you well know. Do you want everybody to bring forward their AstraZeneca dose? 

Prime Minister: Well, if they are in a position to do that, well, that that is consistent with the licence for AstraZeneca. 

Mitchell: What do you mean in a position to do that? 

Prime Minister: Well, you've got to give informed consent, one, particularly if you're under the age of 60, and that's the advice and the advice on AstraZeneca is it is an effective and it is a safe vaccine. And, you know, a lot of people have tried to put a lot on AstraZeneca. And I think they've been proved wrong. I mean, this is the vaccine, Neil, that vaccinated the United Kingdom. This is the vaccine that is the most recognised vaccine in the world and has saved millions of lives. And we have it, we're producing it in Melbourne. And it can really help us hit the targets that we want to hit. That's simply what I'm saying. 

Mitchell: When will there be enough Pfizer available for everybody?

Prime Minister: We're ramping that up to a million doses a week that's been brought forward. That will continue to increase as the weeks go forward. So ... 

Mitchell: When will enough be available? I've got people ringing me wanting it and they can't get it. When will enough be available? 

Prime Minister: Particularly when we get into September, October, November, December. The supplies increase even further, but we're already at a million doses coming in every week. 

Mitchell: Okay, so but there's not enough there yet. What about Moderna? When does that arrive? 

Prime Minister: That starts in September. 

Mitchell: Okay. And you expect people to be taking. Okay, let's lock it in. What people are looking for is some hope, some planning for the future. 

Prime Minister: And that's what we were doing. 

Mitchell: Do you reckon you can guarantee we will be open by the end of the year? 

Prime Minister: No one can give those guarantees, Neil, because the virus is unpredictable and it would be irresponsible to do so. What I can do is say that the supplies that we have, the rollout that is hitting the marks that it's hitting now is that by the end of the year, people who have wanted to have that vaccine will have had that opportunity. And how high the vaccination rate is that we achieve, that's up to all of us to come forward and get those vaccines. 

Mitchell: Now, if we do open and we've got, you know, a significant percentage vaccinated, which would be great. I agree. Peter Doherty said the other day, we'll see an epidemic amongst those who aren't vaccinated. So if people choose not to be vaccinated, is it on their head if they get sick or die? 

Prime Minister: Well, it's ultimately everybody's own personal decision about their health. If you're vaccinated, you're less likely to get it. You're less likely to transmit it. You're less likely to get a serious illness and you're less likely to die. They are four good reasons why people should get the vaccination. 

Mitchell: Does that mean we face an epidemic amongst the unvaccinated, as Peter Doherty suggesting? 

Prime Minister: Well, we're seeing this play out in other countries like the UK, and there are still people dying every day in the United Kingdom. But I'm pleased to see their numbers of cases and these are coming down. But of course, if you're not vaccinated, Neil, well you don't have that protection. And that is just a simple fact. And what that would mean is, is that particularly when we go into the next phase, not the full phase where we can get back to a lot more normal than we are certainly now, where we'd all hope to be. But the next phase, which is what we're discussing at National Cabinet tomorrow, then in those circumstances, the people who choose not to get vaccinated, well they can't expect to have the same restrictions not imposed on those who, I should say, who are vaccinated …

Mitchell: It sounds like you're talking about a vaccine passport of some sort. 

Prime Minister: No, I wouldn't use that phrase. 

Mitchell: Well, how will an unvaccinated person be treated differently? 

Prime Minister: Well, what I'm simply saying is, is if you're not vaccinated, you've made a choice and you're entitled to make that choice. If you're not vaccinated, you present a greater health risk to yourself and to others than people who were vaccinated ... 

Mitchell: Yes, but I thought you just said, they would face different circumstances? 

Prime Minister: That's just a simple fact. And those health decisions would have to be made on that basis. 

Mitchell: So what does that mean? 

Prime Minister: Well, it means that people unvaccinated, they're more at risk and would have to have more restrictions on people who are unvaccinated because they're a danger to themselves and others. 

Mitchell: What sort of restrictions? 

Prime Minister: Well, these are the things we're still working through, Neil, because we're not at that point where we have a high enough vaccination rate across the country that enables those choices to be made. But when we get to that point, I think Premiers and I have been very clear. Your own Premier in Victoria has been very clear about this, that if you choose not to get vaccinated, well, that by your own choice, that means we would have to be careful that you're not putting yourself in a position of risk of getting serious illness and fatality. 

Mitchell: Okay, so some sort of restrictions will be discussed, obviously. Well, you and I at the very beginning of this, talked about making vaccination compulsory. You said you'd look at it and then decided not to. You still have the power to make vaccination compulsory. Will you revisit that? 

Prime Minister: No.

Mitchell: Why not? 

Prime Minister: Because I think it's the wrong decision for Australia. It's just not how we do things and I believe we'll achieve the vaccination rates that are essential, that do not require that. 

Mitchell: So do you support the companies who are making it compulsory? Several companies in the States, Google, Netflix, Washington Post, Qantas is looking at it here. Do you support companies making it compulsory for staff? 

Prime Minister: Well, you can't make compulsory things that aren't able to be made compulsory under our laws. That's the first point I'd make. So any decisions that companies make have to be consistent with our laws and particularly our employment laws. And I know they would be looking very carefully at that. But I'm responsible for the decisions that we make, and the decisions that we make is that it's not mandatory. And there is only one area where that has been recommended, and that is for aged care workers. State governments as yet have not done that. So we've just got on with that job and and we're over 50 per cent first dose vaccinations for aged care workers now. But I would say in New South Wales, as we're going through the outbreak here compared to last year in Victoria, which was just so terrible, in aged care facilities we've got them all vaccinated as we have in Victoria and around the country, double dose. And that means that we haven't seen the same devastating effect in New South Wales from this recent outbreak. 

Mitchell: The, by the way, the numbers, just through, seven is today's number, the latest infections overnight, one mystery case they announced yesterday, but the other six have all been quarantining during their infectious period, which is good. We've got one …

Prime Minister: It's very good news. 

Mitchell: Yeah. 

Prime Minister: And it's great to see Victoria coming out. And during that, if you allow me just to make this point, Neil, on financial supports, just under $80 million has already been paid to Victorians, some 140,000 of them under that COVID disaster payment. Victorians will also get a second payment. And that will be made on a, it's an automatic payment and that will come through, I understand, on Friday. 

Mitchell: I'd like to get more on that in a moment. Prime Minister, just before we leave the vaccine, if you like. You've also got the power to quarantine. The State Premier here is talking about a ring of steel around Sydney, which I know has been rejected. But you have got the power to quarantine parts of New South Wales or indeed Sydney. Would you consider that? 

Prime Minister: Well, no, those powers aren't as clear cut as that, Neil, I would say. So, no, it's not as simple as that. And it is important the lockdown in New South Wales works and that the New South Wales Government ensures that that's the case. That's why we've provided every support to assist them do that with federal resources. And obviously, Operation COVID Assist, the ADF programme, which was so successfully used in Victoria. 

Mitchell: So you don't have the power under the Biosecurity Act 2015? 

Prime Minister: The way you're describing it? I don't think it's as simple as that, Neil. No. 

Mitchell: Okay. But you wouldn't want to do it anyway. 

Prime Minister: Well, Neil, it's sort of a moot point, given it's not as simple as you suggest. 

Mitchell: Look, I think a lot of people are getting frustrated by the lack of unity. Gladys and Daniel belting each other every five minutes in their press conferences. The National Cabinet does a lot of discussing, but not much else. We need leadership. We need leadership. Can you not get the New South Wales and Victorian Premier and bash their heads together and say, hang on, come on, we've all got to go the same way on this? 

Prime Minister: Well, I'd say this first, Neil. I know National Cabinet has its critics. I mean, what's the alternative? Premiers and Chief Ministers and the Prime Minister don't meet?

Mitchell: What's it achieved? Hotel quarantine? What else? 

Prime Minister: Can I tell you what it's achieved? 

Mitchell: Yeah. 

Prime Minister: We've saved 30,000 lives and got a million people back into work, Neil. Now, that didn't happen by accident. That happened by governments working together. It ensured that we had kept trucks moving. We kept planes moving. We ensured that support was delivered. We ensured that we got consistent advice coming up through our medical teams that are meeting almost every single day during the pandemic and feeding up to the leaders. Most of what happens between the state governments and the leaders, no one out there sees, but every single day we're in contact ... 

Mitchell: Well, we need this public unity ... 

Prime Minister: No, let me finish, Neil, because he made a pretty strong point. 

Mitchell: Yeah, I think there is a lack of unity, the perception of the public is we are not being led.

Prime Minister: Well, what the public sees are the disagreements. What they don't see is all the agreements …

Mitchell: Well they should see that leadership, Prime Minister, because they're screaming out for leadership. 

Prime Minister: Neil, tell me a family that gets together every single week and doesn't have a disagreement. People are no different, whether they're premiers or whether they're in a family grouping. And what we do is we keep meeting. I'll tell you, it would be a failure if it didn't meet. It would be a failure if people didn't talk and didn't work through difficult issues, which we do every single week. We have met more times as a team of premiers and chief ministers and the prime minister than COAG met almost over 30 years. Now, that has happened because I've kept pulling them together and getting into the room and sorting things out every single day. 

Mitchell: So, you are bashing heads together already? 

Prime Minister: Well, I wouldn't put it like that, Neil. 

Mitchell: Well, who's the annoying uncle in all this family? 

Prime Minister: Well, I'll let others make that judgement. 

Mitchell: I think we've decided. 

Prime Minister: I have no doubt, and I know it's frustrating when people see premiers taking pot shots at each other and the state governments taking pot shots at the federal government. That doesn't help anybody. I agree with that. And I often make that, give that counsel to, to our group. But what's important is they keep working together. I think people in Victoria know that I and the Premier have a very good working relationship, we're certainly not political bedfellows. We both understand that. We're professional leaders who work together just like we did to sort out the payments when Victoria went into this most recent lockdown and the arrangements which the Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, did with Tim Pallas for this additional support as Victoria's coming lockdown, that's people working together, Neil. And so to suggest that people aren't and there's no outcomes, I think is just a bit of a cliche which doesn't hold up. 

Mitchell: Well, I can tell you the cliche from the people, from the public, from my audience is we need leadership. We're screaming for leadership. We're sick of disunity. We want a plan. We want a strategy. Leading to that, what about a freedom day? If we do open, say, January or sometime, Freedom Day or Freedom Month, something to hang onto, would that work? 

Prime Minister: Yeah, and that day won't be decided based on some arbitrary figure that someone dreams up, Neil, it'll be based on the advice that we're getting from the Doherty Institute that I commissioned ... 

Mitchell: But, would you promote a national, would you say OK here's a Freedom Day coming? 

Prime Minister: Neil, let's talk about what enables that to happen. You don't just pick a day and, you know, get some fireworks. That's not science. It's not medicine. It's not policy. What you do is, is you get one of the world's best scientific organisations, the Doherty Institute, to tell you what the rates, risks are against various vaccination levels for the general population. And then you get the best economic advice from your Treasury to work out what the cost of various restrictions are. And you come up with what the right vaccination rate is to enable that to happen. That is what we are doing right now, and we've been doing it for many weeks to get that right. And so on Friday, we will have the first of those discussions based on that Doherty modelling and on the advice of the Treasury across all the states and territories. Now, will we get there in one meeting? No, I don't think we will. If we do, great. But if we don't get there in one meeting, we'll keep meeting until we work out what those rates are. So I can tell you what is the vaccination rate Australia has to achieve, Victoria has to achieve, to get to the next level. There'll be a straight answer on that. But I won't be making it up, I won't be pulling it out of the air.

Mitchell: Have they provided that yet? 

Prime Minister: They have provided the base advice, which comes together with the Treasury advice, and that's what we're working through right now. So as you say, Neil, have to make the decisions about what those levels are, and we will make those decisions. It's not something you do in a rush. It is something you do carefully  and that's what we're doing and we've been doing it for weeks.

Mitchell: But the Doherty Institute has come up with a percentage figure have they?

Prime Minister: No, I wouldn't put it like that, because it's not just that. It's your scientific modelling. The way you come up with the number is you've got your epidemiological advice. So your science based advice on how the virus moves. You've got to look at the capacity of your health system and how it can respond to outbreaks to manage hospitalisation and ICU and ventilators. You've got to look at the economic advice about what it potentially means for lockdowns and other forms of restrictions. And that's how you come up with the answer. And that's exactly what we're doing, doing the homework to get the decision right. And we're doing it together as a National Cabinet. 

Mitchell: I really appreciate your time. On financial matters with what's happening in New South Wales, it's going to be very difficult to avoid a recession, is it not? 

Prime Minister: Look, and I don't share that view because what we know is, of course, the September quarter will be massively hit, not just obviously by the New South Wales lockdown, which will be most significant. It's the biggest economy in the country. But also we've had lockdowns, a brief one in South Australia and in Victoria as well. So that will take a toll. But what we do know, the economy is fundamentally strong. What has happened is you get an artificial restriction that comes in through these lockdowns caused by the pandemic. But what we know is on the other side is the economy comes back very quickly. And because the restraints are lifted and the reason we're putting so much economic support in, as I said already, there's that $200 million additional support we're doing with the Victorian Government, which was announced yesterday by our Treasurers, that Dan and I discussed, and there's the $80 million, which will double pretty much ... 

Mitchell: Do you reckon ... 

Prime Minister: Let me finish, $80 million, which will double to $160 million for the most recent Victorian direct support to individuals. What that does is keeps your economy as whole as possible. So on the other side of the lockdowns, it comes back. That's how more than a million people got back into work after last year's COVID recession. It's how our economy was bigger than it was before the pandemic. On the most recent national accounts. It will take a short term hit, there's no doubt about that. But our experience is the economy comes back strongly if you keep it as whole as possible, which is what we've done. 

Mitchell: I understand and a lot of Victorian businesses have fallen through the cracks. And I know, I accept that what you and the State Government put together here looks pretty good. And I'll go through the detail later. Do you reckon we can be sure there'll be nobody else falling through the cracks, or as sure as we can be? 

Prime Minister: Well, of course that's what we endeavour to do, of course that’s what we endeavour to do. We can't replace every dollar that people have lost. And I don't think that's what people expect us to do. They expect us to do what we can to help them get through, which is what we did last year. I mean, the IMF, the International Monetary Fund, just this week said Australia had one of the best, if not the best economic responses to the kind of a pandemic of any country in the world. So you marry that up with saving over 30,000 lives, which is if we'd had the same death rate of COVID-19 as other countries around the world, just like us, 30,000 more people would be dead in Australia today. It's a startling figure when you think about it. 

Mitchell: Horrifying. Just very quickly, finally, because I know you're at a time and so am I. 

Prime Minister: You're right. 

Mitchell: When will we actually put a hole in the ground for this quarantine facility out at Mickleham?

Prime Minister: We've already let the tender to multiplex and and they're getting on with it and the Premier and I are keen to see that happen and see the first 500 rooms come on well before the end of the year. 

Mitchell: Great. Thank you very much for your time. I appreciate it. Thank you for speaking with us. 

Prime Minister: Thanks, Neil. Thanks for the opportunity.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43505

Interview with Kim Landers, ABC FM

29 July 2021

Kim Landers: Prime Minister, good morning. 

Prime Minister: Good morning. 

Landers: Is this the final model of the support that's going to be given to businesses and workers for as long as there are lockdowns?

Prime Minister: Well, that's what we believe so. But we never set and forget. I mean, COVID is a challenging virus and we always are agile to make sure we're hitting the mark as best as we possibly can. That's what we did last year. We went through several iterations before JobKeeper last year, which was very successful in the same way this year as we've been responding to the Delta strain of the virus and how it's impacting how lockdowns are coming in. We've adjusted to that as well. And and we've always been prepared to move as we have and these new payments of up to now $750, which is non-taxable, I want to stress, and the other payments of $450 and $200, all of which are non-taxable. And for welfare beneficiaries, they're also non-assessable on your income test for accessing your welfare payments. And remember those $200 payments for those who have lost more than a day, a week, eight hours a week, you can make those applications in New South Wales next Tuesday. 

Landers: So you've now made it pretty clear that you support hard, fast lockdowns. Why have you now accepted that that's the new gold standard, so to speak? 

Prime Minister: Because that's the experience. I mean, that's what we're seeing. I mean, we're all working to respond to the Delta strain all around the world. And you have to, you know, make your decisions based on the evidence and what you're seeing. And as the evidence emerges on this, then you need to adjust your plans to have the right response. 

Landers:  You said yesterday that by Christmas we'll be seeing a very different Australia to what we're seeing now. So are you confident of that deadline that there's going to be enough of us vaccinated by that time for there to be no need for lockdowns? 

Prime Minister: Well, that's certainly my hope, and it's based on the fact that we are now reaching vaccination levels of more than a million a week of doses. We now have around about 40 per cent of people on first doses around the country. We've got over three quarters of those aged over 70 on first doses, and those second doses arriving and we have around about tripled the rate of double dose vaccinations in the course of just a month, earlier in this month.

Landers: So you're sounding pretty confident of that Christmas deadline now. 

Prime Minister: Well, I mean, what I'm saying is, is that we keep that up and barring any unforeseen circumstances that we're on that road. Now, what that means is and the National Cabinet, I instituted a process some time ago where we had to work out scientifically what were the level of vaccinations that could give you confidence to go to the next phase of our plan, phase two, which will be, I think a transition phase to a third phase, which is where you consolidated and you have a rate of vaccination where certainly lockdowns shouldn't be required in those circumstances and in the next phase, only in quite extraordinary or targeted circumstances, because your level of vaccination is high enough to ensure that you're testing and tracing and other restrictions can keep pace with this Delta variant. Now, at the moment, that's not possible and it's not possible virtually anywhere in the world, I should stress as we're seeing all around the world, there's the UK, there is Israel and Malta, I understand that have vaccination rates in excess of 70 per cent, nowhere else in the world has that. 

Landers:  Well, when you talk about vaccination rates, we got some state breakdowns yesterday. It showed that in New South Wales, for example only 17 per cent of adults are fully vaccinated. And in the over 70s in the state, it's just under 40 per cent. So with those figures that would suggest that there's a long way to go.

Prime Minister: Of course, but we're making up that ground very, very quickly. And that's what we're seeing if you look at Canada vaccination rate. 

Landers: So we could make up that ground by Christmas, you think?

Prime Minister: You can certainly make up ground on this vaccination programme, as we have each and every month. I mean, we went to just over about two and a half million to three and a half million, this, this month we'll be well over four million. We'll get to 12 million by the end of the week. You know, and this is what we've seen in programmes like Canada and other parts of the world. Once the vaccination programme gets that roll on, then you keep hitting those marks, then you get there. But that that is a function of everybody coming forward. And we are seeing Australians coming forward. There was the Australian Bureau of Statistics survey that showed that 75 per cent of Australians were happy to go forward and get that vaccination. So making those vaccinations available to people, the new walk in clinics for AstraZeneca, the new ATAGI  updated advice which says people should seriously consider that AstraZeneca vaccine. I'd encourage them to do exactly as they've been advised to do. Talk to your GP if you need to. We've made that available. Go to the pharmacists who are doing it, the GPs, the state based clinics. I'm pleased to see the New South Wales Government really getting behind the AstraZeneca vaccine and other states like Victoria have had many more of those AstraZeneca vaccines, and that's why their rates have been higher. 

Landers: So, Prime Minister, I understand that National Cabinet tomorrow is going to look at some modelling done by the Doherty Institute on how many Australians must be vaccinated in order to end those business shutdowns and border closures. Can you let us know what target that the Doherty Institute has suggested? 

Prime Minister: Well, we will once we've been able to make some decisions on that and once we've considered that advice carefully. 

Landers: When will you be making those decisions? 

Prime Minister: Well, I hope we'll be making that soon.  

Landers: Does that mean we might hear about it after National Cabinet tomorrow?

Prime Minister: No, I don't think that will be the case tomorrow. And I think there will be a fair bit of discussion that'll have to be had. It's because it's the scientific modelling. It's the economic advice. It'll be the first opportunity that the Premiers and I have had to discuss that  report that has only just come in through the course of this week. Officials have been working through it at a very senior level at the state and the federal government. Our health advisers have been doing the same because we don't want to get stuck in neutral on this. We want to be able to go forward. I mean, countries that have launched into open have found themselves within days having to walk back. Now, we don't want that. So we're doing this scientifically on the basis of that very good modelling, which is informing us. But that's also drawing on the economic modelling of the costs of lockdowns and the costs of providing support and compared to the alternatives. And so we'll make those decisions. And once we're in a position to do that, we'll, of course, we'll be advising and that will give us clear targets on the next step and the step after that. 

Landers: Well, to be clear that vaccination target or threshold that Doherty is proposing is that based on the people who've been offered the jab or who would have taken up the jab?

Prime Minister: It's based on whole population studies and comparisons to the way that the virus has behaved in other countries. And it's one of several pieces of data on which you have to make this decision. The economic data, the scientific data, the capability of health systems, all of this. There are not many countries in the world, I'm pretty certain Singapore has gone down a similar path in coming to their decision, but using such a scientific process to actually hit what these marks are, be very clear what they are. And I believe they're achievable. But that's up to all of us to go and get vaccinated to achieve those. There'll be ample supply over the course of the balance of the year and the fact that ATAGI, the Technical Advisory Group on Immunisations have upgraded their advice, which I like to see, you know, right across the country, because it's a good vaccine. It's saved tens of thousands, if not millions of lives around the world. It's the most recognised vaccine in the world.

Landers: Can I just ask you one final question?

Prime Minister: Sure. 

Landers: Last week, the Commonwealth gave New South Wales an extra 50,000 Pfizer doses. Is there any scope to get more Pfizer to New South Wales? 

Prime Minister: Not on the current supplies, but they've already got 90,000 extra this week. That was part of their scheduled increase. That's to the GPs and the state based. That's on that's on top of the 200,000 already provided. There was also 150,000 AstraZeneca. But they can get as much as AstraZeneca as they can get into the clinics and start lifting those AstraZeneca vaccination rates in New South Wales. And next week it goes up by 110,000. So there's already additional supplies going into New South Wales, both of Pfizer and of AstraZeneca on top of the additional amounts that we were able to provide. But there's no further amounts that can be provided. And it's very important we don't disrupt the national vaccination programme. I don't want to see people's appointments cancelled in any other parts of the country. That can disrupt confidence and the momentum of the national vaccination campaign. Because remember, this Delta strain could present itself in any part of the country, any given day. And so I need to continue to ensure that we're vaccinating the whole country. The lockdown in Sydney has to work for it to be lifted and we need to focus on getting that right and that the lockdown is working and isn't breached and staying at home, get tested, get vaccinated. And let's get on with it. 

Landers: Prime Minister, thank you very much for your time this morning. 

Prime Minister: Thank you.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43504

Interview with Karl Stefanovic, Today Show

29 July 2021

Karl Stefanovic: Good morning, PM. Thanks for your time this morning. People are really stinging out there and they are desperate. Why couldn't you roll this out a month ago or at least have a plan to do so? 

Prime Minister: Well, we've already rolled out $411 million to 450,000 people across Sydney up until now and so that support is, that help has been there and more help is coming next week as those payments lift from $600 to $750 and from $375 to $450. And from next Tuesday you can make an application on your welfare payment to access that $200, that goes on top of your pension or your JobSeeker payment, parenting payment or Youth Allowance. And that just gives further support as we go into a second month of these lockdowns in Sydney. But $400 million and more already in people's bank accounts, giving support to more than 400,000 people across New South Wales.

Stefanovic: This one just got big on everyone, didn't it? How long will the payments go for? 

Prime Minister: As long as the lockdown goes.

Stefanovic: So if this lockdown in Sydney goes until Christmas, you'll keep the payments coming? 

Prime Minister: Those payments will keep coming. Just like we were providing that support last year, because what that does, what these payments done and the increase in the payments for the businesses that we're doing 50/50 with the New South Wales Government, what it does is it helps people get through. It's not supposed to replace every dollar they were earning before. But just like with the supports we gave last year and JobSeeker and JobKeeper and the cash flow support, it keeps the businesses as whole as possible because on the other side, because we've got a million jobs back in to Australia after the pandemic recession last year. And that's what I foresee this time. We keep them together. When the lockdown lifts, the jobs come back. 

Stefanovic: That's the point isn't it, though, that you have no control over the states imposing lockdown so how can you guarantee there won't be more? 

Prime Minister: Well, I can't guarantee there won't be more lockdowns. The Delta variant is the one that is most punishing here. I think the lesson of these last six weeks or so is that under the Delta strain, going quickly and early is clearly the new mode of operation. And we've seen, we've seen Victoria and South Australia come out quickly. And that's great news in those states. But we have to press on in New South Wales, in Sydney we've got to make sure this lockdown is effective. When the lockdown works then the lockdown will end. And that's why staying at home, getting tested, getting vaccinated, these are the things that we need to do in Sydney to make sure that this works. 

Stefanovic: So the States will what sign an agreement tomorrow, with no more lockdowns when vaccinations reach an agreed target, and what might be that target? 

Prime Minister: I don't think we'll reach an outcome tomorrow. I didn't suggest we would. Tomorrow is the first time we'll get together to look at this new scientific evidence and research that we've got from the Doherty Institute, which will give us a good indication of what the vaccination levels you have to achieve to move to the next phase and the phase beyond that. But the vaccination rates, about 40 per cent of those in Australia who are eligible have now had their first dose. Obviously, for those much older and the over 70s group that's approaching almost 80 per cent now. And our double dose vaccination rates across the country are lifting sharply. So more than a million doses a week. And that means that, yeah we've had our problems earlier in the programme, as I've discussed and been pretty clear about. But we've turned that corner and it's really hitting its marks and that's what we need. And we keep doing that, that's what enables us to get where we want to be. 

Stefanovic: But to say that vaccinations will bring about an end to lockdowns, that's not entirely accurate is it? 

Prime Minister: No, I don't think so. I mean, it can certainly help. And that's why I think the boosting of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the new advice from the immunisation advisory body is very important. It's a strong vaccine. It's an effective vaccine. It's the most recognised COVID-19 vaccine in the world. And it's saved millions of lives. And it can do the same here in New South Wales and across the country. So lifting those AstraZeneca vaccine rates in New South Wales will be incredibly helpful. There are more Pfizer vaccines, of course, but the AstraZeneca vaccine and the low rates we've had there need to lift and and that will certainly help the efforts with the lockdown. But on its own, it won't stop the lockdown. 

Stefanovic: Definitively, will everyone who wants a vaccine in Australia have one by Christmas? 

Prime Minister: I believe that will be the case, yes. And that's what Lieutenant General Frewen tells me as well. There'll be the supply. And as I said, we're hitting more than a million a week now. We're really turning it around. We've caught up a lot of ground on this programme and Australians are responding really well. And we need that to continue, not just in New South Wales, but right around the country. The Delta strain is incredibly virulent and there's no country in the world that is not struggling with this. All around the world, countries are really wrestling with this and we've learnt a lot in recent weeks and we'll be talking about that tomorrow. But you know where the Delta strain hits, you've got to act on it quick. And we've seen that. I think that's the clear lesson. And we need to take that and we need to move forward as quickly as we can. 

Stefanovic: OK, we spoke to a construction business earlier in the show and those in those lockdown, local government areas are really struggling. Banks are predicting, some of the key banks in this country predicting Sydney could lose 300,000 jobs over the next month. That is a huge number. How worried are you about that? 

Prime Minister: Well, of course I am. That's why we put those support payments in to help people to get through this. But on top of that, that's why we've increased the business support that's being delivered through the New South Wales Government to help get those businesses through the lockdown. I'm pleased, I think there has been some changes to how they're going to work the construction side of this. But of course, there will be that impact. But there is hope and that is just in the same way a million jobs came back after we came out of the COVID-19 recession last year, then what we're seeing here is the economy strong, very strong. The labour market, the employment market before this hit Sydney, people were concerned about not being able to get staff. And so I expect that we'll see the New South Wales economy turn around quickly, provided, and that's why the payments are so important Karl, because it keeps those businesses as a whole as possible. So when the restrictions lift they can get back to work and the jobs can come back. So, yes, there is that risk, but there's also the hope that the economy turns around very quickly. And we're not seeing that big rise in JobSeeker applications, because our disaster payments are working. 

Stefanovic: We're not really seeing the numbers come down though at the moment in New South Wales. I mean, it's that bleak. Have you asked any serious questions of the New South Wales Government and what they're doing? 

Prime Minister: Well, of course I do. The Premier and I, we speak very regularly and we're in constant contact about how they're dealing with this and we give them every support we can. But I would note what we haven't seen in New South Wales, if there's some comfort in this, is we haven't seen those infectious in the community cases exponentially growing. So, I mean the lockdowns keeping somewhat of a lid on it. 

Stefanovic: Yeah. 

Prime Minister: But we need to do better than keep a lid on it. We need to drive it down and for that to happen, Karl, this lockdown just has to work. It has to have all the features that ensures that we drive this down, because there's no shortcuts. 

Stefanovic: OK, I've seen Year 12's in Sydney are going to receive the vaccinations, I'm interested in your thoughts on this, taking some of those jabs off country areas. Will your kids get a vaccination? 

Prime Minister: Well neither of them are in Year 12, so they're not part of that programme. They're much younger than that. We gave New South Wales 50,000 vaccines last week and there's 47,00 Year 12 students. So that’s, how New South Wales provides those vaccines, really is a matter for them. But I welcome the fact that Year 12's can go back. I know how much stress this must be on those Year 12 students and on their families, on their parents. I know how worried they are about them. It's hard enough doing your HSC, but have to do it in this environment. So, look, I think that's a good call. And I welcome that very much on their behalf and also their parents. Can I remind everyone across New South Wales in particular, that those lifeline supports for mental health support, Beyond Blue, Kids Helpline, the Butterfly Foundation, we've increased funding for all of those organisations to provide support to people and so they can get that assistance. 

Stefanovic: OK, just to clarify though, you'd have no problem with your kids getting a vaccine? 

Prime Minister: No, I wouldn't. Just in the same way, I mean, Jen brought forward her AstraZeneca second dose, both my mother and mother in law, have both had their second doses. Absolutely. It's a safe, very important vaccine that's going to help protect Australia. If you have a vaccine, you're less likely to get it. You're less likely to pass it on. You're less likely to get a serious illness and you're less likely to die, all for very good reasons.

Stefanovic: How are your kids going at home schooling, more importantly how is Jen going? She's carrying the load. 

Prime Minister: She is. And she's been carrying the load all of our married life and particularly with the family. She's long-suffering and she's amazing and hi Jen, and she's supporting them through home schooling. Sadly, I won't get to see them for quite some time because of the lockdown. I was with them until I had to come here to quarantine. But all families mate, are going through stuff. We've all got to get through this stuff. And you know, we'll do our bit. But it's much harder for families right across Sydney. I know that, particularly if you're in an apartment or something like that. I know it's really tough. But, you know, that’s when I think of Ariarne Titmus and our rowers and all of our Olympians, I think they're really showing us the way about how to just head down, go forward and get this done. 

Stefanovic: I'm sure glad the first lady wakes up with Today. Thanks for your time, Prime Minister today we appreciate it. Good on you.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43503

Interview with Natalie Barr, Sunrise

29 July 2021

Natalie Barr: Scott Morrison, good morning to you, Prime Minister. Now, I'm going to get to the payments in a minute. 

Prime Minister: Good morning, Nat. 

Barr: But I want to talk about how on earth we have got to this point. Earlier in this pandemic, you said the vaccine rollout was not a race. Now you're saying it's like a gold medal run at the Olympics. If you treated it as a race from the start, would we be in this mess? 

Prime Minister: When Professor Murphy and I made those remarks, we were talking about the regulation of the vaccines, Nat. I'm not sure if people are aware of that. And my critics have used them against me, but we've always been treating this with the greatest of urgency. That's why we've been able to turn around the vaccination programme from the early setbacks, which were the non supply of vaccines. And, of course, the advice we had on AstraZeneca. And we've been able to scale that up now. We went from about two and a half million to three and a half million, this month we'll be well over four million in vaccinations. We are now vaccinating at the rate of more than a million a week. Yesterday, we had another record day, 196,000 vaccines. There are pop up clinics all around, and particularly for AstraZeneca with those walk-in clinics there, particularly in south western Sydney. And the vaccination programme is hitting the marks we need it to do now. And if we weren't treating it with that urgency, then certainly we wouldn't have been able to turn this around and catch up that ground that we're catching up every single day. 

Barr: But that's the message that was put out to the public. That line is still in people's minds. People are still saying, I think I'll wait, aren't they? That messaging was what was put out? 

Prime Minister: Well, no. We were talking, as I said, about the regulation of the vaccines. I don't think anyone would have wanted the Therapeutic Goods Administration, those who regulate whether vaccines are safe to cut corners. I don't think anyone would have wanted that. That's very important for the confidence of the vaccine programme. And that's why they didn't cut any corners. And that's why I can tell you the TGA didn't do any emergency approvals. They did the the normal appropriate approvals, didn't cut any corners, made sure everything was done properly so we could assure the public that the vaccines are safe and indeed they are. And it's important that people take those opportunities to get those vaccines. And as we move towards the end of the year, it's up to all of us to go and join that national effort. And that's what I'm encouraging people to do, to look forward to get it done, particularly if you're in Sydney to abide by that lockdown. The sooner the lockdown works, the sooner we're out of the lockdown. That's the truth of that. And we've all got to push through, get tested, get vaccinated, stay at home if you're in Sydney and across the country, we can't be holding back either. That's why it's important the vaccination programme all around the country keeps pressing forward. 

Barr: But you can say that it was bad luck that the AstraZeneca didn't work out and now it's branding isn't that great, although I know it's a great vaccine. But while other countries like America were ordering one hundred million Pfizer in the middle of last year, we didn't put our order in until early this year, did we? 

Prime Minister: Well, what we did is we went from 10 million to 20 million to 40 million and we were able to bring forward the Pfizer doses to a million a week earlier than we'd originally contracted. But, you know what, Nat now it's just about getting the job done.

Barr: Very late though.

Prime Minister: I mean, no country gets everything right. And the vaccination programme is hitting the marks we need it to hit now. I think Australians, we just got to focus forward and get this job done, Nat. 

Barr: Are you sorry that it's happened like this, for mucking it up while other countries ... 

Prime Minister: I made those remarks last week. 

Barr: We've got a rescue bill of a billion dollars a week and rising. The major banks are saying that 300 jobs are going to be lost in greater Sydney. People are on their knees in Sydney at the moment. This is a disaster. 

Prime Minister: This is why we're providing that economic support in the same way we did last year. The Delta variant is not unique to Australia. It's impacting countries all around the world, regardless of where their vaccination programmes are. That's what's happening all around the world. So Australia is, is fighting this like any other country and will continue to do that. And where people need that support, they're getting it just like they have when they've needed it in the past. And those payments of $750 for more than 20 hours, $450 for less than 20 hours and $200 on top of welfare payments, where you have lost more than a day's work a week. That is what is going to help people through these difficult weeks and the next month ahead, just like it did last year and our economy bounced back incredibly strongly. You'll probably note that those countries that have had low death rates, those countries that have had low case rates are the same countries, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan. These same countries are the ones whose vaccination programmes are in similar space. And so when it comes to managing COVID, the table that is very important is a low number of deaths. And Australia has one of the lowest death rates in the world and it has one of the highest economic success rates in the world. And so now we're going for the third of those key achievements, and that is to ensure we get our population vaccinated.

Barr: So those payments, the $750, will that be subject to tax?

Prime Minister: No, it won't and I've made that very clear this morning, back through the system, they won't be taxable. JobKeeper, by the way was. And we are treating this as a disaster in these areas where this has befallen people in the same way the payments that we make for bushfires and the payments we made for floods and other natural disasters, we are making these payments under that disaster payment framework. And so they are rolling out incredibly quickly, over $400 million already out the door. And in particular, those payments are getting made into cases of within a half an hour of people making applications. Now, next Tuesday is the day if you're on a pension or a JobSeeker payment or parenting payment or youth allowance, that you can start making those claims next Tuesday at Services Australia. If you're already receiving a disaster payment in Sydney, then your next payments will just be updated next week. You'll get the $600 payment this week and next week it'll go up to the $750 and $450. And for those viewers in Melbourne, your payment, your second payment on Friday that will be coming through. And if you're in South Australia, you've made your applications this week, those payments will be flowing through to you very, very shortly.

Barr: Prime Minister, we know you've got to go. But one last thing. How good are our Aussie athletes? 

Prime Minister: Oh, look it's wonderful. I think it's lifting the spirits of the nation and inspiring people. I spoke to the Titmus family last night to Robyn in particular and up there, and we had a great chat. And it's wonderful seeing all those families up there together in Queensland watching the Games. But I can tell you that they're both pretty, pretty happy Tasmanians as well. They're very, they may have adopted Queensland, but I can tell you they're pretty passionate Tasmanians. And we had a great chat about that yesterday. So Ariarne is just, you know, she's the Queen of the pool. But to our rowers, to everybody, they are just doing us incredibly proud. 

Barr: Yeah, such a long road for them. And it's great, all of our athletes are to be congratulated aren’t they. Thank you very much for joining us.

Prime Minister: Absolutely. All of them. 

Barr: Thank you.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43502

NSW Business Support Package Expansion

28 July 2021

Prime Minister, Treasurer

The Morrison and Berejiklian Governments continue to work together to support businesses in New South Wales during the current COVID-19 lockdown.

With Greater Sydney set to remain in lockdown until at least 28 August 2021, both governments have agreed to expand the COVID-19 Business Support Payment.

Under the expanded payment, eligible entities, which includes not-for-profits, will now receive payments of between $1,500 and $100,000 per week based on the level of their payroll with the maximum turnover threshold increased from $50 million to $250 million.

The payment will continue to be calculated based on 40 per cent of payroll for businesses that have suffered a 30 per cent or more decline in turnover.

For non-employing businesses, such as sole traders, the payment will remain set at $1,000 per week.

The expanded payment will now cover more than 400,000 businesses employing 3.3 million workers in NSW subject to eligibility.

The payment will also provide more substantial support for businesses to cover unavoidable costs such as rent, insurance and maintenance as well as employee costs during an extended lockdown.

The expanded support will continue to be conditional on businesses maintaining their employee headcount as at 13 July (covering permanent and long-term casual employees) by not taking active steps to terminate their employment.

This will help maintain the connection between employers and employees and in doing so support the economic recovery once restrictions are eased.

The expanded payment will take effect from 18 July 2021, the start of the program.  Businesses that have already submitted an application will not need to do anything, their payment will be automatically adjusted consistent with the expanded program.

Workers who have lost hours will continue to be supported by the COVID-19 disaster payment with more than 812,000 claims granted in NSW to date with more than $411 million in weekly payments.

The Prime Minister Scott Morrison said as NSW’s restrictions looked set to continue, his government had been developing options to supercharge the partnership with NSW to support businesses.

“These businesses are the ones we all need still standing to drive the recovery on the other side,” the Prime Minister said.

“Our support has never been set and forget and even before Service NSW had started to deliver the support on Monday that we announced earlier this month, my government had been looking at what else businesses would require to strongly emerge on the other side of this lockdown.

“Whether you’re a worker who has lost their income or a business that’s suffering, even more help is on the way.”

The Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said as the virus and the situation in NSW continues to evolve so does the Morrison Government’s response.

“The expansion of the NSW COVID-19 Business Payment remains consistent with the approach we have taken throughout the pandemic in delivering temporary, targeted and proportionate economic support,” the Treasurer said.

“Up to an additional 1,900 businesses employing around 300,000 people could benefit from the expanded eligibility while increasing the cap will also make the payment more generous for some businesses currently accessing support.”

Businesses should contact Services NSW or visit https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/ for more information.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43498

Victorian Business Support Package

28 July 2021

Prime Minister, Premier of Victoria, Treasurer, Treasurer of Victoria

A new jointly funded package from the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments will give Victorian small and medium businesses the extra support and confidence they need to recover from the recent lockdown.

The new Victorian Business Support Package will deliver an additional $400 million in support to thousands of businesses, with funding to be split 50/50 between the Commonwealth and Victorian Government.

The package includes a new $85 million Small Business COVID Hardship Fund and $156 million Business Continuity Fund, as well as delivering support for commercial tenants and landlords.

It will also build on Victorian Government support for licenced hospitality and alpine venues, with $70 million for the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 and $9.8 million for Alpine Business Support.

The programs will be administered by the Victorian Government.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Victorian businesses had borne the brunt of the heavy cost of lockdowns that kept the state and Australia safe.

"Together we can and we will recover from this," the Prime Minister said.

"We've done it before, and we'll do it again.

"Last year, Victoria and our nation faced heavy blows from COVID, but with the right supports in place our economy and businesses came back strongly and a million people returned to work.

"We will continue to do what is necessary to support Victorian businesses as we face the evolving challenges of COVID-19."

The Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews said, "This package is all about jobs – protecting and growing jobs to support Victoria's economic recovery."

"With this funding we'll continue driving jobs and economic recovery here in Victoria, and for the nation."

The Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the Morrison Government supported Victorians during the crisis and will continue to support them to the end of this crisis.

"Having battled five lockdowns Victorian businesses have been amongst the hardest hit in the nation," the Treasurer said.

"No amount of support can make up for what business owners have experienced over the last year and half, but this latest package will support them as they reopen after this latest lockdown."

The Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas said, "We're supporting Victorian businesses each step of the way as we continue to fight this pandemic."

"We know small businesses have been doing it tough and this new fund will give them the support they need to recover."

Five key elements make up the support package to help businesses deal with ongoing public health restrictions.

Business Continuity Fund

A $156 million Business Continuity Fund will be established to deliver $5,000 grants to up to around 30,000 businesses that remain impacted by capacity limits placed on businesses by necessary public health restrictions.

Twenty-four eligible sectors are covered by the fund including gyms, cafes, restaurants, catering services and hairdressers.

Recognising businesses located in the CBD will continue to be impacted due to restrictions on the number of staff allowed in office buildings, they will be eligible to receive an additional $2,000 recognising reduced foot traffic due to office density limits.

All recipients must have received or been eligible for the previous Business Cost Assistance Program.

Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021

The Licenced Hospitality Venue Fund will receive a $70 million boost, with grants of up to $20,000 to be made available to support licensed venues as their operations continue to be impacted by current restrictions.

These grants recognise that larger venues depend more on dine-in and have higher operating costs, so need more support than smaller operations.

Again an additional $2,000 will also be made available to the business if it is located within the CBD.

To receive this funding, venues will need to have received or been eligible for the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021.

Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme and Landlord Hardship Fund

The package, to be fully funded by the Victorian Government, will deliver $80 million to provide support to landlords that provide rent relief to their tenants.

The Commercial Tenancies Relief Scheme will be reinstated to provide much needed rent relief to small to medium commercial tenants and their landlords with more details on the roll out to be provided by the Victorian Government soon.

Small Business COVID Hardship Fund

A new $85 million fund will be established to support small businesses who have not been eligible under existing business support funds.

Small businesses with a payroll of up to $10 million who have experienced a 70 per cent or greater reduction in revenue will be eligible for grants of up to $5,000.

Alpine Business Support Program

Alpine Business Support will receive a further $9.8 million to deliver grants of between $5,000 and $20,000 to 430 Alpine based businesses in recognition of restricted inter and intra-state travel during the peak winter season.

The funding also includes an additional $5 million support to alpine resort operators and management boards.

The Commonwealth and Victorian Governments continue to work together to support Victorians through this challenging time.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43497

COVID-19 Disaster Support Payment Boosted

28 July 2021

Prime Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Minister for Families and Social Services, Minister for Government Services

Increased financial support for hundreds of thousands of workers in New South Wales will be available from next week as part of the Commonwealth Government's expanded national COVID-19 Disaster Payment.

Payments will continue to support workers in every state and territory who lose hours due to a state government lockdown or public health order.

Eligible workers will receive $750 per week if they lose 20 hours or more of work while those that lose between 8 and less than 20 hours, or a full day of work, will receive a payment of $450 per week.

This new level of payment recognises the significant impact that the new COVID-19 Delta strain is having on communities, businesses and workers.

The Commonwealth Government will provide financial support to those in a declared Commonwealth Hotspot. The provision of financial support outside of these areas will be provided where requested at the cost of state or territory governments.

The new national payment rate will commence for payments processed week commencing 2 August and will be automatically updated for those already in the Services Australia system.

It will be available from day one of any potential lockdown in the future, with claims made from day eight in arrears for the previous seven days. A weekly payment will then be made for the duration of the hotspot declaration.

There will be no liquid assets test applied to eligibility for these payments and an individual does not need to run down personal annual leave.

Individuals who currently receive an income support payment through our social security safety net will receive a weekly payment of $200, in addition to their existing payment, if they can demonstrate they have lost more than 8 hours of work and meet the other eligibility requirements for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment.

Claiming this payment must be done through Services Australia and myGov and will be a separate stand-alone payment. It will be paid weekly for however long the lockdown and Commonwealth Hotspot remains in place.

Our Government will continue to support Australians facing the economic consequences of extended lockdowns.

The Commonwealth Government, through Services Australia, has processed more than 955,000 COVID Disaster Payment claims, paying out more than $490 million to workers in New South Wales and Victoria.

More information about the COVID-19 Disaster Payment can be found on the Services Australia website.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44090

Interview with Jim Wilson, 2GB

28 July 2021

JIM WILSON: And in a very positive move, Scott Morrison has listened. Now, today's major economic announcement is welcome news, and the Prime Minister joins me on the line. PM, welcome back to Drive.

PRIME MINISTER: G'day, Jim. Yeah, I wish it was better news today, but I think we were all probably expecting that a bit today. But, it's still pretty brutal.

WILSON: Well, you've announced more financial support. Good on you. Ok, so in simple terms for all of my listeners this afternoon, what have you announced today for struggling businesses and individuals across our state?

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, let me just start by saying we've been doing this all the way through this pandemic. Already, before what we announced today, Jim, 463,500 people in New South Wales we've already provided a $411.7 million to. That's the COVID Disaster Payments that have already gone out, already in people's bank accounts. And, up until now, there were two payments - a $600 payment if you'd lost more than 20 hours, and a $375 payment if you'd lost between eight and 20 hours a week. What we're going into next week is we're going to increase that $600 payment to $750, and the $375 payment to $450. Now, if you're already registered and receiving those COVID Disaster Payments, you don't have to do anything. Next week, after this week's payment, next week you will just get the extra $750 and the $450 - that will come straight through. But, if you aren't receiving those payments yet, you can apply. You can go to Services Australia, to their website, and make the application there. And, it's a very quick process. We've had payments approved, processed and paid within half an hour.

Now, the other thing we've done today is if you're on a welfare payment - if you're on a pension, if you're on JobSeeker, Parenting Payment, Youth Allowance, things like that - you're obviously continuing to receive support from the Government. You can access a $200 COVID Disaster Payment if you've lost more than eight hours a week. So, that means we'll extend it to those groups next week. You can apply from next Tuesday. You will already have a Customer Reference Number for myGov.au - my.gov.au. And, so, you'll be able to go on from next Tuesday, make that if you've lost more than eight hours a week, and you'll get that $200 payment, in addition to, say, your JobSeeker payment, which is about $315, but it will also be in addition to your pension payment or your Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment or something like that.

WILSON: Ok. JobKeeper was a huge success during the height of the last COVID outbreak. I mean, this new $750 payment, Prime Minister, for individuals, is at the same level of the original JobKeeper.

PRIME MINISTER: Correct.

WILSON: Now, the New South Wales Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has been pushing for JobKeeper to be reintroduced. So, when you look at those numbers, the fact that they're $750 bucks - the original JobKeeper - $750 bucks from next week, why not just bring back JobKeeper?

PRIME MINISTER: Because, it's complicated. It doesn't go direct. It doesn't go to casuals. It doesn't go, it depends on who your employer is. The business doesn't have to go and borrow the money and pay it to you. It comes direct to you. It's not flexible enough. It can't be targeted to particular states. It has to be done across the entire country. In other words, JobKeeper was the right answer last year. But, this year you need something far more targeted, far more, far quicker. And, you're dealing with this year's problem. You don't play last year's grand final this year. You play what you have to play for this year. And, so, JobKeeper was a great program, but it was designed to run nationally for six months across the entire economy. We've got a particular problem in New South Wales. It needs targeted support. And, what we're doing is we've got those payments that we're doing which are going direct. And, in addition to that, what we also announced today with the State Government - they're managing this payment - that you can be a sole trader and you can get support of a $1,000 a week, or you can be a company with a $250 million turnover and you can get payments of up to $100,000 a week. And, that, at the top end, represents about 15 per cent of your payroll. Others will, would have their payments maxing out about 40 per cent of their payroll. So, you put those two things together. The businesses are getting carried through. The individuals are getting carried through. It's far more targeted. And, certainly for the individual payments it's far quicker, because, as I said, we've already got $411 million out the door and in people's bank accounts.

WILSON: Were there too many rorts in JobKeeper?

PRIME MINISTER: No, that wasn't it. It was just a different scheme for a different problem.

WILSON: So, categorically, it's not coming back? JobKeeper will not be ...

PRIME MINISTER: No, there's, well, there's no need for it. This is better, is my point.

WILSON: Yeah.

PRIME MINISTER: This is actually much better. And, you know, it's being able to get to more people. Many casuals who are out there, they had to go, the way we had to deal with it back then is they went and went on to JobSeeker, and we had the COVID Supplement, you might remember that. And, we supported them through that mechanism. This way we can deal with both in the same system.

WILSON: Your business support seems to be based around a figure of 40 per cent of their weekly payroll. Are you confident that's enough?

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, because those who've had their hours reduced, we're paying them those amounts. See, the way JobKeeper worked is the business didn't get any money to keep the business going. It was, that's not what that did. The businesses got money to pay to their employees. Now, we're doing that direct. So, what we're doing is paying money to businesses to keep them going, and that means they can get through these, these next few weeks, over the next month, and on the other side be in a strong position to come out of it and to restore their business, open their doors again and get going again, and getting people back to work again.

WILSON: Are you worried, Prime Minister, that the problems in New South Wales, the health crisis right now that we're confronted in this city, will extend to other parts of the country?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, of course, but the other states and we're working together with all of them to ensure that that doesn't happen, including New South Wales. That's why it's so important to stay home. I mean, when I hear reports of people, you know, going past out of Sydney and going to the snow, well, I get obviously disappointed. That's not what the rules say. The rules say stay at home. I said it at the press conference today, none of us like the lockdown. You know, I'm in Canberra at the moment. I'm in quarantine at the moment. I've been in quarantine or lockdown for the last six weeks. None of us like that. But, it's what we have to do to get through this, and the sooner the lockdown works, the sooner we're out of it.

WILSON: Do you think we would be in this position if New South Wales had pursued a hard lockdown earlier?

PRIME MINISTER: Oh, look, you know, there'll be plenty of Monday morning quarterbacks on this. There'll be plenty of hindsight. The Delta variant is, has been unpredictable and everybody's been trying to work out how's the best way to deal with that. So, you know, I'm not going to get into that, Jim. Well, we've got, what we've got to focus on is what we have to do going forward.

The Government made the best decisions they had on the information available to them in the best interests of the state. I mean, the New South Wales Government has done a great job over the last 18 months. I mean, last year the New South Wales economy didn't fall over to COVID. That kept the entire national economy going. This year, we've got a problem now and we're dealing with it. As Commonwealth, Federal Government, we're putting in three quarters of a billion dollars a week into New South Wales to keep it going, three quarters of a billion every single week.

WILSON: Are you at odds with the New South Wales Premier, Prime Minister? The New South Wales Premier says vaccines are the answer to get out of this lockdown, out of this mess. You suggest lockdowns are the key out of this outbreak. Can you just clarify, are you at odds with the, she says vaccines, you say lockdown. Where does it, where do you stand?

PRIME MINISTER: No, I don't think that's how to characterise it at all, Jim, and with great respect, I think that verbals us both. Both have a role to play, with both saying that. But, the principal thing that is going to get us through here is making sure the lockdown works. Vaccines help, there's no doubt about that. That's why we've sent not only 200,000 additional - well, actually it was 350 [000] additional vaccines into New South Wales, which included 200,000 Pfizer doses - but on top of that, the Pfizer doses have increased up to 90,000, by 90,000 this week, on top of everything else. They were the scheduled increases. So, those supplies are increasing. And, the AstraZeneca, I applaud the New South Wales Government's walk-in AstraZeneca clinics. We've got the, we've got the new ATAGI advice, the medical advice, which is encouraging people across all age groups to take that AstraZeneca vaccine and to have informed consent. We've provided financially for GPs to be able to give people information and have a consult with them if you want to ask further questions. So, they both, they both help. But, it's not a substitute for the lockdown. The lockdown has to work. If the lockdown doesn't, if we don't all make the lockdown work, well, you can't lift the lockdown. And, that's why we've all got to comply with those rules.

WILSON: Businesses have been reporting problems accessing the money. Has that now been fixed, Prime Minister?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, you'd have to put that to the New South Wales Government because they're managing that program. We're managing the COVID Disaster Payment to individuals. And, and my, when we first announced that - the Premier and the Treasurer and I in New South Wales a few weeks ago - they said that the applications would open this week and, and money would start to flow by about the end of this week. So, as best as I know, they're on track for that.

WILSON: Ok, just on the vaccination rates. We're now at 30, almost at 39 per cent for those with the first dose of the vaccine. This is in the total population. More than 17 per cent are now fully vaccinated, 17.19 per cent.

PRIME MINISTER: Correct.

WILSON: What percentage will we be at by Christmas, do you think?

PRIME MINISTER: I can't tell you, but I do know that by, we will have enough supply and the distribution to ensure that everyone who wants one will be able to have got one. So, now it's all of our job. And, so, with that being available, it's up to all of us to get that vaccination rate as high as we possibly can. But, what I'm, if, what we're running at now at more than a million doses every single week, that puts us on track to achieve, you know, a vaccination rate across the eligible population like we're already, well, like we're seeing overseas in the most advanced vaccinated countries. But, it won't happen by itself. The vaccine won't come and knock on your door and jump in your arm. We need you to make the appointment - AstraZeneca, for Pfizer.

Our GPs, they're doing an absolutely amazing job in rolling out this vaccine program, particularly in New South Wales. The GP program there is really doing the lions, it's doing the lion's share of the work. But, it has also been doing predominantly AstraZeneca vaccines up until now, and it has the highest rate of GP vaccinations in any state or territory of the country. So, the GPs in New South Wales, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.

WILSON: Before I let you go, Prime Minister, we do appreciate your time. You're from Sydney. You said you're at The Lodge and in Canberra with, in quarantine. Your family is in Sydney at the moment.

PRIME MINISTER: Correct.

WILSON: What is your message to the millions of people currently in lockdown listening to the program this afternoon? We all need a bit of hope.

PRIME MINISTER: Hang in there. We're going to get through this and we're going to push through, just like our Olympians are over in Tokyo. I think they can inspire us. We've just got to hang in there and push through. Stay forward, look, keep looking forward. I'm looking forward to the time when I can reunite with my family. That's going to be at least a month away now because I need to be in Parliament and I need to quarantine for Parliament. And, so, that means I won't be back home for some time. But, that's, look, that's, everyone's going through far harder than that. I'm not complaining about it. I'm just saying, we've all just got to push through, and we push through together and we get through together. On the other side of this, Jim, once you come out of the lockdown, what we know is when you put these economic supports in that we've been talking about, it enables the businesses and the employees to be able to bounce back very quickly. We saw that after the COVID-19 recession last year. We got a million people back to work. We had more people in work than we had before the COVID recession. The economy was bigger than it was before the recession. So, we know that these economic supports work. They just don't get people through each day. They enable the economy to, to surge again on the other side. So, if we keep doing it, we make the lockdown work, then we can look forward, with higher vaccination rates, which are really going at pace now, that we can, you know, we can look back on this and say, well, I'm glad we were able to get through that. It was really tough, but we just have to knuckle down and just keep going. So, thank you, Sydney. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

WILSON: Well, well done on today's major economic announcement. It is a help, and there are people crying out - small businesses, individuals - and well done to you and the Government for coming to the party. Thank you. Thank you for your time, Prime Minister, this afternoon.

PRIME MINISTER: Thanks Jim, cheers.

WILSON: Good on you.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43500

Foster Report

26 July 2021

Prime Minister, Minister for Finance

The Government has today agreed to adopt all ten recommendations of the final report by Stephanie Foster PSM into the processes and procedures relating to serious incidents in the parliamentary workplace.

Every Australian has a right to feel and to be safe at work.

The report has made some significant findings and recommendations to improve how serious incidents are prevented and dealt with in the parliamentary workplace.

The final report incorporates feedback from consultations with the opposition, minor parties, independents and staff, including proposing options for Parliament to mandate training for parliamentarians.

We have already taken steps to make the workplace safer and to help prevent, identify and respond to serious incidents in the workplace. For example, earlier this year we established a dedicated 24/7 support line, 1800 274 778, for staff who have experienced serious incidents in the workplace.

An independent complaints mechanism for serious incidents in the Parliamentary workplace will be established. This mechanism will be overseen by the Parliamentary Service Commissioner and will apply to incidents from the commencement of the current term of Parliament.

The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet will work with the Parliamentary Service Commissioner to stand-up this mechanism within the next six weeks. The Government will work with the Speaker, the President and other parliamentary parties to operationalise the independent complaints mechanism.

In addition, we have been piloting a face-to-face training program for parliamentarians and their staff. This training will be rolled-out widely from September of this year. It will be mandatory for all Coalition Ministers and staff, and it is expected that all other parliamentarians and their staff will undertake this training when it is available to them.

Parliamentarians are answerable to their constituents and therefore the Government agrees with Ms Foster's recommendation that a public register would instil confidence that Parliamentarians were undertaking the necessary actions. The Government will work with the opposition, minor parties and independents to develop a public register of Parliamentarians who have undertaken the training.

Ms Foster's recommendations provide for implementation of important reforms ahead of the receipt of Sex Discrimination Commissioner Jenkins' independent review into Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces later this year.

The Government thanks Ms Foster for her report and now looks forward to working together with Members and Senators from across the political spectrum to make the changes we need to ensure parliamentary workplaces are safe, supportive and respectful.

Full details will be available at: https://pmc.gov.au/resource-centre/pmc/review-parliamentary-workplace-responding-serious-incidents

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44089

Interview with Peter van Onselen, The Sunday Project

25 July 2021

PETER VAN ONSELEN: Prime Minister, thanks very much for joining me. I want to ask you about this tragedy in Sydney. The woman in her 30s who we learnt today has died of COVID, no pre-existing conditions. She, because of her age, wasn't eligible for Pfizer. She was advised at the time not to take AstraZeneca. Is this something that a faster rollout could have avoided?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, first of all, it's terrible news, and I feel awfully for her family and for all of those who knew her. This is a terrible disease. It's taken millions of lives all around the world, and the world has sought to suppress as many of these deaths as possible. And, here, of course, in Australia, some 30,000 people we believe we've been able to save the lives of in the way it's been managed till now. There's not a country other than Israel, arguably Malta, in the world that is at a level of vaccination at the moment that certainly could be preventing things like the lockdowns. But, the AstraZeneca vaccine, as we know, as ATAGI has said today, over the last couple of days, it is a vaccine that is approved in Australia. It is one that has certainly saved the lives of many, many people, thousands of people in the United Kingdom. And, we've had frustrations there, there's no doubt about that. But, sadly, this is a terrible epidemic and it's an epidemic that takes a terrible toll on people's lives, on their health, and, of course, on their livelihoods. And, we've done all we can to try and prevent as much losses as has been possible.

VAN ONSELEN: It feels like the federation, PM, is crumbling. You've got state premiers bickering, refusing to help each other, a Prime Minister who doesn't have the power, we've learnt, to prevent or to weigh in even, almost, on lockdowns, states closing their borders. There are limits to the vaccine at the moment. We hope that's going to ramp up. What do you say to Australians that feel like we don't have one leader at the moment? We've just got a bunch of premiers looking after their own states. 

PRIME MINISTER: Well, no, I don't think that's how it is. I mean, I can understand how it can appear that way. I mean, at no other time have premiers, chief ministers and I, in a federation, worked together as often as we have. And, that means we've been able to make many decisions. I just talked about, you know, being able to save those lives. A key reason for that was the way we have been able to work together. And, when you get people together that often there'll be things they disagree on. But, I can assure you, even as recently as our most recent meeting, it wasn't about not supporting, it was about how can we best support, what support is being offered, and that's income support, it's economic support. And, as I've already mentioned, there's 90,000 extra Pfizer doses going into New South Wales from next week. That was scheduled increase from earlier this month, there’s another 200,000 that’s gone in on top of that ...

VAN ONSELEN: But, can you unite the states, do you think? They’re all looking after themselves. The New South Wales Premier is pleading for more vaccinations and other state premiers are saying, “Sorry, we're not able, we're not willing to help.”

PRIME MINISTER: No, I don't think that's how it played out at all. I mean, that request wasn't even made at the meeting on Friday. It's important that we keep the pace of the national vaccination program and not to disrupt that program. We’re getting the extra doses into New South Wales. But, the key thing we need to do in New South Wales right now is make sure the lockdown works effectively. It's supported by those additional vaccines, and in particular the AstraZeneca vaccines that we're pumping in and making available. The GPs have been doing that and we look forward to more AstraZenecas being supported in the New South Wales vaccination program. And, so, those vaccines are there in both of those programs. But, the vaccine, the lockdown program has to work effectively, as it has in other states and territories. Once you're in a lockdown like this, once you’re in it, then the only way through is to make sure that that lockdown is effective. It’s supported by vaccines ...

VAN ONSELEN: Well, can I ask you, can I ask you about that. A colleague of yours told me that they don't actually think that New South Wales, or Sydney in particular, can get out of the lockdown until enough people are vaccinated, because that's just the nature of the Delta strain. You can't suppress it. Is there any possibility of that? You have to get enough people vaccinated before you can even get out?

PRIME MINISTER: No, the, the lockdown, as we've already seen in Victoria and in South Australia, can be very effective, and it sometimes can take some time. But, suppression is the only way you can stop the virus moving around. It doesn’t move by itself, it moves with people ...

VAN ONSELEN: But, they got to it a lot earlier than New South Wales, Prime Minister. They, they could do that because they got there earlier.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, of course they did. They, they went into a lockdown far sooner, but lockdown in preventing the movement of people and people staying at home and people getting tested. It's a much more virulent strain. We all understand that. And, the testing and tracing defences that we've had in the past are not as effective now against this Delta strain, and that's why the lockdown has become a more necessary tool. It’s supported by vaccines, don't get me wrong, of course it is. And, that's why the additional vaccines have already gone in, as well as the, I welcome the ATAGI updated advice, which means AstraZeneca hopefully will be used more, more often than it has been in New South Wales and that will lift those vaccination rates. Vaccination protects you against future lockdowns, but once you're in one, the only way through is to make sure it's effective and that it works, and you prevent and stop the virus from moving around. And, that comes from people staying at home and following those instructions.

VAN ONSELEN: I want to ask you about why we're not seeing more vaccines come in from other states as a reallocation. This population distribution, it just doesn't make sense. I mean, there's been a lot of military comparisons during this pandemic. The bullets and the guns go where the battle is. We need the vaccines in south west Sydney. Your Premier there is pleading for more. Why don't we just take them off states that have got their borders shut and don't have COVID?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, a) I'd say the battle is everywhere. And, and no state or territory is immune from this Delta strain of the virus, and we could have exactly the same situation presenting in Perth by the end of, by the end of tomorrow, or we could have it in Brisbane or Far North Queensland. And, the vaccination program needs to work right across the whole country. Now, it would be wrong to say that additional vaccines haven't been pumped into New South Wales. Immediately on the day I was asked for more, we provided 150,000 of both the Pfizer and the AstraZeneca vaccines. Unfortunately, none of the AstraZeneca vaccines were used, and the 150,000 were provided. Another 50,000 is now being provided and it's, and it's escalated by 90,000 a week and then 110,000 a week from the first month of August, from the first week in August. So, there's more vaccines going in. But, you know, what you have to also take into account to, to cancel the appointments for three weeks of people who have got their vaccinations scheduled will only slow the vaccination program down more right across the country. We can do both and need to do both and are doing both.

VAN ONSELEN: But, but it, it might do that, it might, it might, it might slow it down elsewhere. But, it’s an emergency in south west Sydney, in particular. The Premier wants it. It feels like it's nothing but state parochialism that's preventing it. And, I don't understand when you've got the power on the vaccines, why you don't just override these premiers and take them off them and put them in there?

PRIME MINISTER: Because I think that would undermine the national vaccine program, Peter, that's what I'm telling you. You may not appreciate that point, but we have put additional vaccines into New South Wales and particularly through the GP network. I mean, 70,000 of those additional Pfizer vaccines going in every single week are going through the GP network, which is the best place to get people vaccinated because they're closer to where the people are, particularly in south west Sydney. One of the things we set up recently, working with Dr Jamal Rifi down there in south west Sydney, is setting up the Chester Hill GP vaccine clinic. Now, that's going to be an important tool for addressing the situation there in south western Sydney. So, it would be wrong to, it would be wrong to, it would be wrong to suggest, Peter …

VAN ONSELEN: But, right now we’ve got, right now we’ve got people dying in New South Wales and the outbreak there is only going to get worse, according to the Premier. Surely it's the time to prioritise it. If we were a unitary system without states, not a federation - New Zealand, for example, the UK - if they had an outbreak in one of their major cities, they would redirect vaccines to that outbreak from cities that are sealed off and safe. We're not doing it because of the states, surely?

PRIME MINISTER: No, that's not true, Peter. We're not doing it, as you suggest. That's not correct. We are doing it. We are putting more vaccines into south western Sydney, putting both more Pfizer and more AstraZeneca there. So, I mean, the point you're making doesn't hold up because we're putting more in. But, at the same time, we're doing it in a way that doesn't disrupt the broader national vaccination program, and they’re decisions we're taking. This isn't about state parochialism. It's got nothing to do with it. It's got everything to do with applying the vaccines across the country, and as well as in south western Sydney. But, also, you can't make this error either. And, that is, the way the virus stops moving is by stopping people moving, and that's why the lockdown is the principle tool by which we’ll be able to rest this and get it back to a situation which is far more manageable, and hopefully down where we would like to get it to. Vaccines can help that and are, and more doses are being provided. As I've said, 90,000 extra every single week, and that goes up to 110,000 extra every single week, and 200,000 doses on top of that. So, I'd say that has been quite a swift response, on top of the income support to support the lockdown, which is seeing almost 400,000 people already supported, and around a, $220 million going out the door every single week to support people get through this lockdown.

VAN ONSELEN: Are you worried that if you take vaccines off other states, citizens in those states would basically just be up in arms about it?

PRIME MINISTER: No, I'm not. That's not the point. The point is managing a national vaccination program to ensure the whole country continues to get vaccinated to protect their health and their, and their livelihoods, right around the country, and at the same time respond to the situation we have in New South Wales. That's what our focus is. It's been made on the best possible advice and focusing on what the, on what the tasks are.

VAN ONSELEN: Let me ask you about children - TGA approval now for over 12s to be able to get Pfizer. Previously, you've said that schools are safe. That was obviously a different strain to the Delta strain. How concerning is it for our kids now that the Delta strain looks like it is starting to get towards and attack the younger?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, it is different, you're right to say it, between what was happening earlier on, and that's why we're watching this very carefully. The TGA has just approved Pfizer for those age groups and next month, early next month, I hope, we'll get further advice from ATAGI about where we need to focus our attention in vaccinating that, those children, and in what groups and in what priority. There's been mixed experience with this overseas, with different results. And, when it comes to our children, I can assure you I'm going to be very cautious about the decisions we take here, but very, very mindful of the urgency, at the same time, of getting it to where we need to get it to. I mean, I have no doubt, speaking as a parent, I'm sure you'd be the same, Peter, we would forego our own vaccinations to ensure our children were safe. And, so, I can assure you, we’ll be, we’ll be acting with those sorts of priorities. And, last Friday we worked with the states and territories to start putting in place the capability to deliver those sort of, those vaccines through a school-based system. And, so, it's another example of how we are working together. We are getting it done, and we wouldn't have saved more than 30,000 lives and got a million people back into work were it not for the way that everyone has worked together. From time to one, like in any family, there's going to be disagreements. But, I tell you why it, if it wasn't working, Peter, we wouldn't be meeting every week. People would be refusing to meet. But, we are meeting every single week and working through all of these issues, and getting solutions.

VAN ONSELEN: Prime Minister, just finally, and we're almost out of time, but I want to ask you about the training for parliamentarians around sexual harassment and bullying. It's optional. Will you undertake it? And, do you think it should be compulsory? Because it strikes me that the kind of person that might opt out is perhaps the kind of person that most needs it.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, of course I'll be doing it, and so will my ministry. And, that's already been my, my direction and, and I have no doubt that that will be followed through on. For the rest of the Parliament, as you know, the Parliament and Members of Parliament are subject only to Parliament. I'm not in a position to give them those, those directions or to, or to enforce them.

VAN ONSELEN: Do you think it should be compulsory, though?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I don’t, if there’s a mechanism where that can take place, then I'd certainly welcome it, but I would be certainly setting my own example by doing it. This is why we put this independent complaints process in place, and it's supported by these types of measures. I said we would do exactly that, and we've already got the 24-hour counselling that is available to staff and others who work here in Canberra, that was put in place months ago. This was the next step that I’d initiated to ensure we had a fully independent complaints process that could handle these matters. That is now coming into force. And, in addition to that, this other training, which I think is absolutely necessary. As, as Members of Parliament, whether you’re the Prime Minister, or you’re a, you’re a Member just for your electorate, then you're an employer and you have responsibilities and you need to uphold them.

VAN ONSELEN: Prime Minister, we appreciate your time. Thanks for joining us.

PRIME MINISTER: Thanks a lot, Peter.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43496

Australia Secures Additional Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine for 2022 and 2023

25 July 2021

Prime Minister, Minister for Health and Aged Care

The Morrison Government has secured an additional 85 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, providing access to additional booster vaccinations that will protect Australians in the future.

Through continued engagement with Pfizer-BioNTech, the Government has secured 60 million doses in 2022, and 25 million doses in 2023. Delivery will begin in the first quarter of 2022 and enable booster coverage throughout the year.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the new supply schedule that the Government had successfully negotiated with Pfizer-BioNTech would provide every Australian with a booster vaccine if required.

“We have secured an additional 85 million doses of Pfizer, which brings Australia’s total Pfizer doses to 125 million,” the Prime Minister said.

“This is a significant shot in the arm for Australia’s vaccine supply. Every Australian will have access to a booster shot if it is needed.

“This will ensure individuals, families and communities have certainty about their continued protection against the evolving threat of COVID-19 over the next two years. We have turned the corner in Australia’s vaccine programme and this is another milestone on our pathway back to a normal life.”

Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said this reaffirmed the nation’s vaccine supply and provided additional capability to manage booster timing requirements if recommended by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.

"These additional doses further expands and strengthens Australia’s vaccine capacity,” Minister Hunt said.

“More than 280 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have now been secured to support the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out.”

“We’ve taken this step on advice from the expert Science and Industry Technical Advisory Group.”

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43947

Appeals Court Recognises FAST Government

23 July 2021

The Australian Government acknowledges the decision of Samoa’s Court of Appeal on 23 July 2021, which recognised the validity of Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) Party’s swearing in on 24 May 2021 and declared the party Samoa’s new Government.

Australia congratulates incoming Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa and looks forward to working closely with her government to strengthen our longstanding partnership.

We commend the institutions of the Samoan Government and the Samoan people for their patience and for allowing the democratic, constitutional and legal processes to take their proper course.

Following this final decision of the Court of Appeal it is important that all parties in Samoa respect the rule of law and the democratic process and comply with the directions of the Court. We look forward to all Samoa’s elected members participating actively in the new Parliament.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44088