Ministerial Statement: Afghanistan Australian Parliament House, ACT

23 August 2021

Prime Minister: Mr Speaker, for almost 20 years, tens of thousands of Australians have served in Afghanistan under the authority and direction of successive governments. It is right that here in our national Parliament we give an account of recent events, as well as begin a more considered reflection on almost 20 years in Afghanistan. Liberal democracies do not shy away from history. Debate, accountability and responsibility are fundamental to who we are.

Mr Speaker, the situation on the ground in Kabul and across Afghanistan is dangerous and changing rapidly. The National Security Committee of Cabinet has been meeting daily on Afghanistan, and Australia is working closely with our allies and partners. Our priority is the safe and orderly departure of Australian citizens, permanent residents and visa holders, including formerly locally engaged Afghan employees.

I can report that with the assistance of partners in the United Kingdom and the United States, we've been able to evacuate more than a thousand people in 12 flights from Kabul since last Wednesday. The first people evacuated from Afghanistan landed in Perth via Al Minhad Base early on Friday morning, and another flight landed earlier today in Melbourne. The evacuation flights will continue for as long as we can continue to operate and get people out.

Mr Speaker, this as an urgent and dangerous mission. The Member for Herbert said it best when addressing the soldiers departing on the first rescue mission last week from 3 Brigade. “You are going into the belly of the beast,” he said. “A place where the rule of law does not exist on an operation that is dangerous, serious, and it's in our national interests for you to succeed.”

As we speak, more than 700 Australians are playing their part in this mission, from the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Home Affairs, the Australian Border Force and the Australian Defence Force. Many of these people have been deployed directly into Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. We currently have two C-17A Globemasters, two C-130J Hercules and one KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft deployed to the Middle East, conducting and supporting evacuation operations.

These evacuations are both dangerous and complex. Landing slots in Kabul are limited and the on ground time is also limited. Access to the airport for those seeking to be evacuated is a major limiting factor, and the approaches are very dangerous. I thank our key international partners, the United States and the United Kingdom, who are helping to secure Hamid Karzai International Airport, and our close friends in the United Arab Emirates who have been generous hosts for Australia's evacuation efforts. We deeply appreciate their support, and I was pleased to pass on our thanks directly to His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince Zayed, for his support. And, I thank our state and territory leaders also for the reception arrangements they have so quickly and instinctively put in place, without having to be asked, to support the returning evacuees.

Mr Speaker, since April this year, we've been able to bring out more than 430 Afghan locally engaged employees and their families who have been resettled in Australia. This is not a simple process. It has taken many, many months, both in preparation for the uplift at that time and since, and this number continues to grow as each evacuation flight makes its way from Kabul back to AMAB.

As mentioned, more than a thousand people have already been evacuated on those flights since last Wednesday, as many as four going in each and every evening, including locally engaged Afghans and their families. They will add to the more than 8,500 Afghan nationals that have been resettled in Australia since 2013, including more than 1,900 Afghan locally engaged employees and their families. We're committed to doing the right thing by those who have stood with us, and that's what we've been doing for some period of time. And, we're doing absolutely everything we can do right now to help them.

I also want to address our humanitarian intake. Australia will welcome an initial additional humanitarian intake of some 3,000 Afghan nationals by next July, as part of our annual program. I expect that this increase, this will increase, I should say, in the years ahead, and I commit our Government to continue to increase our intake of Afghan nationals at elevated levels into the years ahead. At this stage, the 3,000 will come from our existing 13,750 person annual humanitarian program. But, I want to stress that that 3,000 is a floor, it's not a ceiling. If we need to increase the size of the overall program to accommodate additional persons, then we will.

We will be resettling people who have legitimate claims through our official humanitarian program. We will not be providing a pathway to anyone who seeks to come here by any other means or change the status of others who have come by other means.

Mr Speaker, next month it will be 20 years since the September 11 attacks. Al-Qaeda, using the safe haven provided by the Taliban, attacked our way of life. Those attacks on freedom were subsequently mimicked by other extremist groups, such as Jemaah Islamiyah, in the years that followed. In 2001, when the Taliban refused to hand over Al-Qaeda terrorists, Australia supported a US led operation to root out and eliminate the capacity to stage more attacks against the West from Afghanistan. That we have hampered, interrupted and curtailed on so many occasions mass casualty attacks since then should be in no doubt, and is a testament to all those who have served. That determination to keep the world safe from terror attacks has not changed and will not change.

Mr Speaker, together with our allies and partners, we also laboured long and hard to help the Afghan people secure a better future. To restore a broken state. We invested in schools and health care, in power generation and more. We educated, well, saw to the education of women and girls. Heartbreakingly, the fruits from those seeds of hope are now very uncertain. We must recognise with realism and humility the limits of our power and resources to secure the outcome so many Afghans, not least millions of women and children, yearn for. But, let no one say this noble endeavour was anything other than a sign of what marks Australian sacrifice for the good of others. The cause was and always will be a just one.

Mr Speaker, it's been said that memory is a place where our vanished days gather, and for all our veterans, police officers, diplomats, aid workers and others who have served in our name and in our cause, there is already a gathering of days. Today, we recall the cost of this, our longest war. As the Member for Canning might say, looking sacrifice right in the eyes. And, as former Prime Minister John Howard is remind us, there is no hierarchy of sacrifice. And, I would add to that, amongst those who fall in our name, in our uniform, under our flag, standing up for our values, we honour the sacrifice of the 41 Australians who have died in Afghanistan in the service of our country, and we acknowledge the terrible loss suffered by their families, who I know so many in this Chamber, as do I know personally, and would have spoken to in these last days especially.

We must acknowledge that for every name inscribed along the Hall of Memory at the Australian War Memorial, there are thousands more who also paid a terrible price for their service. Painful memories that cannot be shaken. I know many of you are asking a simple question, was it worth it? Yes, it was. We did the right thing. You did the right thing. As with any war, of course, there are errors and miscalculations, and history won't shy away from that, and neither will we, as a free people. Yet because of your skill, you who have served, your fearlessness and your courage, Australia is safer today because of your efforts and your sacrifice. Australia is better because of you. None of us can give a full answer to the questions you're asking yourselves and of each other, and none of us can predict what will lie ahead. But, be assured of this - you are not alone. Be assured of this - Australia is proud of your service. I am proud of your service. Your families and all those who so dearly love you are so proud of you. And we are proud of your families, who have also carried the burden of your service, as only you can know, and we are deeply thankful to them.

We are proud too of our defence personnel and officials, working day and night right now to evacuate Australians in Kabul and the many Afghans who have worked with us. And, in keeping with the good and decent country you sought to serve, Australia will resettle thousands upon thousands, as we have already done, of Afghans who courageously stood with us.

So, to the living, I say this. We will remember and honour your service. And to our fallen, we say, lest we forget.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44101

Interview with David Speers, Insiders

22 August 2021

David Speers: Prime Minister Scott Morrison, welcome to the program.

Prime Minister: Morning, David.

Speers: So, what's the advice now for Australians who are stuck in Kabul, as well as those others you're trying to evacuate? Should they head to the airport or not?

Prime Minister: Yes, and that's the constant communication we've had - wherever we can have that communication - with people who are still there, in Kabul in particular. And, last night we ran four flights into Kabul and over 300 were able to be evacuated out of Kabul. We will continue to run those flights, working together with our partners and our allies. We are uplifting not just Australians and Afghan visa holders for Australia, but those from the United Kingdom, the United States and New Zealand and and those, the offer to work together with others, such as Japan, is all there. And, so, as best as we can communicate in what is a very chaotic environment, with comms under constant pressure and a very chaotic scene outside the airport, then we continue to make that communication and get as many people through as we possibly can in the time we have available, as safely as we can.

Speers: So, you managed to get four flights out overnight. Do you know how many Australians and indeed Afghans you'd like to evacuate, remain on the ground?

Prime Minister: Well, it is a very fluid situation, David. And the registrations that we have are often not first hand, and they need to be confirmed. So, what we're simply doing right now is getting as many people out safely with the proper checks, with the proper checks being done both on the on the airfield itself, and as well as back in AMAB in the Emirates, to ensure that we're we're doing the right thing in terms of Australia's national security interests, but also the right thing by humanitarian interests in supporting as as many of the efforts as we can, not just for Australian citizens. We are certainly getting Australians out and Afghan visa holders on their way to Australia, but we also doing the same for other countries, just as they have done for us.

Speers: To be clear, you're saying the advice is still try and get to the airport, because Americans are being told, it's too dangerous, stay where you are?

Prime Minister: Well, this, I can't speak for the advice of others, but given the situation - which I’ve got to stress is terribly dangerous outside the airport - and there are enormous frustrations, all countries are experiencing that in trying to bring people through and get them through the gate, where we then support them and process them there within the airport compound, and then board them onto the flights. But, what is pleasing is I was concerned earlier in the week about how weather may have restricted those flights, but we've been able to get eight flights in and out now. Other countries are doing the same and we're all working together. Our Charge d'Affaires on the ground there - Richard Rodgers - is doing an extraordinary job in leading that effort on the ground, with many now there supporting that effort from the ADF, Home Affairs, and so on. And, they are great heroes of Australia at the moment. They are saving lives every single day.

Speers: Can you give any guarantee you will be able to get all Australians out who want to get out? That, Joe Biden's given that sort of guarantee for American citizens.

Prime Minister: We will be doing everything we can in the time we have to get as many people out as safely as possible.

Speers: That's not a guarantee you'll even be able to get Australian citizens out.

Prime Minister: Well, David, I can't guarantee the situation in Afghanistan. Australia is not in that situation. The United States are in a very different situation to Australia. We have to work in the environment as we, as we know it, and we have to do the best we possibly can …

Speers: [Interrupting] Well, this comes to …

Prime Minister: ... That is why, David, for, that is why David, for many months now, for many, many months, we were able to get 430 Afghan nationals out of the country before the, this most recent situation arose. Now, that doesn't happen overnight. As you know, it takes many, many months to process people, to have the security and health checks that we've brought out - over 14,500 Afghan nationals have been resettled in Australia by our Government. And, we’ve continued ...

Speers: But, the criticism is it's taken too long, all that processing, and now you're scrambling, understandably, to to get them out, and obviously hurrying things up. Why couldn't this have happened earlier?

Prime Minister: Well, there’s, well, it was happening earlier, David. As I said, we've got 1,800 Afghan locally engaged employees and their families out over the term of our Government, and 430 since April alone, particularly as we became aware of what was occurring. And, we obviously, on military advice, on Defence Force advice, moved in May to close down our embassy there. And, so, we have been getting them out, and faster than many other countries, I hasten to add. Over the last, over a four, five-year period, we were able to get out over 5,000 people. The United Kingdom was about 3,500. Our overall effort over these many years is around 14,500, as I said, and that compares to about 18,000 for the entire of the United States ...

Speers: But, there still might be some, Prime Minister, who, there still might be some who you can’t get out?

Prime Minister: Well, it's Afghanistan, David, it's a war zone. It's a failed state, and it has been, and we've been seeking for the last 20 years, for the last 20 years, to try ...

Speers: [Interrupting] Well, let me ask you this. When you shut, when you shut the embassy and pulled out the troops, shut the embassy in May, did you expect Kabul would fall this quickly?

Prime Minister: Well, we were relying on the same advice that many others were. But, I must admit, we …

Speers: [Interrupting] What was that?

Prime Minister: … we treated that advice very cautiously about how much time was there, and that's why we did ...

Speers: [Interrupting] So, did you expect it to fall, or not, this quickly?

Prime Minister: … at the end of May. Well, eventually, of course, when the United States were ultimately going to leave, and let's be clear - that process started some time ago ...

Speers: [Interrupting] Sure. But, you didn't expect it to fall this quickly, is the question?

Prime Minister: No, I, well, that was the advice to us from our partners and allies that that was not the pace at which it would occur …

Speers: [Interrupting] Bit of bad advice.

Prime Minister: Well, David, I mean, people can be very wise in hindsight, with these situations …

Speers: [Interrupting] With respect, 20 years of war, and we've been there fighting the Taliban, training and mentoring the Afghan National Army, and then what? It's a surprise that suddenly the Taliban can take over so quickly?

Prime Minister: Well, I wouldn't say it was a surprise, David, and that's why we were taking the actions that we were taking as far back as before April, to ensure that we were massively accelerating how we were getting people processed to get them out of the country. And, that's exactly what we're doing, including our own people who were there. So, when this hit, we weren't sort of trying to get Australian diplomats out of there. We weren't trying to get them and their families and their locally engaged employees out ...

Speers: [Interrupting] Well, you are now trying to get Australians out.

Prime Minister: … already acting on all of those things for some time.

Speers: You are now trying to get Australians out. It's a very difficult and dangerous situation.

Prime Minister: Well, of course we are, these are people … Yeah, but, David, what I'm stressing is as, in terms of our diplomatic mission and those who are involved there, I mean, over the last couple of days, many countries have been getting their diplomatic staff out. That was not a challenge we had, and we could focus on getting Afghan nationals out, and many Australians who hadn't even registered as even being in the country a month ago, let alone a week ago ...

Speers: [Interrupting] Well, the US did begin evacuation operation more than a month ago called Operation Allies Refuge. Australia chose not to, back then.

Prime Minister: David, we've been getting people out for years, for years. Now, let me stress this about getting people out of Afghanistan. Over many years, as the situation has ebbed and flowed, there are people who have worked with us and people we’ve been bringing out may have worked with us five, six years ago. And, what they've been doing in that intervening period is an unknown. And, so, we also have to be exercising the appropriate caution, and that's what we have been doing. But, Australia has had one of the most successful evacuation and repatriation program - not repatriation, but resettlement programs out of Afghanistan, for both Afghan nationals and those who’ve worked with us, of any country. Only Canada, on a per capita basis, would be higher than Australia. So, we've been getting that job done. But, David, let's not kid ourselves. It's a war zone. It's a failed state. The Taliban have been an evil influence in that country for a very long time ...

Speers: [Interrupting] Well, just on that. So, for 20, for 20 years, we've been told we need to be there in Afghanistan to protect our national security, as much as anything. Now, the Taliban is back. If they’re as evil as you say - I don't think anyone seriously believes they've cut ties with Al-Qaeda or are suddenly going to give women equal rights - so, was the withdrawal of troops a mistake?

Prime Minister: Well, let's talk about the history, given that's the nature of the question. I mean, we originally went out there because Osama bin Laden wouldn't be handed over by the Taliban and all those who were conspiring with him. And, as a result, the United States, supported by Australia and many other forces, went in there and took action to disrupt and dismantle Al-Qaeda's base of operations in Afghanistan, and that was achieved. Once that had occurred, the nature of the mission then was, a vacuum had been created, and Australia, working with others, sought to make a failed state a functional state. And, for 20 years, Australians, Americans, the Brits and others were there trying to make that a success, over 20 years. At the same time, other countries in the region were supporting the Taliban, giving them safe harbour, allowing them to regroup and ultimately to counterattack against coalition forces in Afghanistan ...

Speers: [Interrupting] Who was doing that?

Prime Minister: … You want to know why the things are occurring in Afghanistan, it's because of the Taliban and those who have supported them.

Speers: Yeah, but the question still remains then, if that was the case, was the withdrawal a mistake?

Prime Minister: Well, David, after 20 years, the United States made a judgement, after 20 years of trying to make a failed state a functional state ...

Speers: [Interrupting] What was your judgement? Did you disagree with that judgement? Did you at any point raise a concern with President Trump or President Biden?

Prime Minister: We've had numerous discussions about these issues over the years, not just myself, but my predecessors as well. Ultimately ...

Speers: [Interrupting] So, did you disagree with the American decision?

Prime Minister: David, I'm not going to go into those discussions. What I am going to say …

Speers: [Interrupting] Don’t, don’t the Australians who served there, the Afghans as well, deserve to know. This is an important question, a critical question. Did you, as Australian Prime Minister, disagree with the American withdrawal?

Prime Minister: David, at the point of the withdrawal, let me take it back a step. Australia's presence in Afghanistan is entirely conditional on the United States presence in Afghanistan ...

Speers: [Interrupting] Yes, I understand that. 

Prime Minister: … That’s just a realistic fact, which Australian troops … 

Speers: [Interrupting] You have a unique position…

Prime Minister: [continues] ...if you’d let me finish. If you’d let me finish ... Yeah, of course, David, and over a long period of time all prime ministers have had that discussion, going as far back as John Howard, about the operations that we've had there, as have our military planners and our military officials in terms of the success of our operations in Afghanistan. At the end of the day, ultimately, a decision was taken, going back as far as the Obama Administration, followed up by the Trump Administration in February of last year when they were talking to the Taliban. And, that has been followed through by the Biden Administration. And, as a result, Australia has to take its decisions based on the environment which were there. But, let me say this. For 20 years, we have all worked hard to try, in the best of our efforts and endeavours, to make a failed state a functional state, and as the Taliban ...

Speers: [Interrupting] I understand that, Prime Minister … I’m sorry to keep asking this question.

Prime Minister: And, David, if you’d let me finish. Please, David, no, I’m sorry, David, if you’d let me finish.

Speers: … Whether you agreed or disagreed with …

Prime Minister: I'm sorry, David. I'm going to insist on finishing my answer. At the end of the day, what we've achieved in Afghanistan was trying to give that country a go at being a success. Now, sadly, at the end of the day, as the Taliban forces rolled in, it was very clear that that state was not able to defend itself. And, the question there goes, how long do the coalition forces remain in a place where you've sought to make it a success over 20 years? How many American, Australian and other lives are going to be committed to that end? Australia, the United States, so many of us - we have many interests around the world, and we have to keep Australians safe as well, and that's what we've been working to do. But, I'd say this to all the veterans. As John Howard has said, there is no hierarchy of sacrifice for our Australian soldiers. Wherever they have fallen, they have fallen under our flag in our name, defending our values. And, in every single case, they have died in a good cause, and that is Australia's cause and the values we stand for.

Speers: Let's turn to the pandemic, Prime Minister. Australia recorded its highest number of cases yesterday. Is there any chance of getting back to zero COVID in your view?

Prime Minister: I think that's highly unlikely, but that's really not the point. The point is that we need to suppress the virus as best as we can in Phase A of the national plan. The national plan then transfers our focus from case numbers to issues of hospitalisation, serious illness, ICU and things of that nature. And that is where the national plan takes us to, and at 70 per cent vaccination rates and 80 per cent vaccination rates then Australia is able to move out of what is really an unsustainable situation. 

You can't live with lockdowns forever, and at some point you need to make that gear change. And, that is done at 70 per cent because that's where, we're advised from the medical science, that you can make that gear change. Once you do that, then you can move into focusing on the public health issues of hospitalisation and serious illness. Case numbers are not the whole story, as I've sought to make that point today. But, right now, of course, we need to make the lockdowns effective. We need to suppress the virus as best we can. And, we need for people to isolate, stay at home, get tested and, of course, go and get vaccinated ...

Speers: [Interrupting] So, we're not at that point, we're not at that point yet, though, where we can ignore case numbers, and the plan you talk about - the Doherty Institute modelling, moving to Phase B and Phase C - look, it's based on one outbreak involving 30 cases. There is concern that at the numbers we're now seeing - more than 800 in New South Wales yesterday, more than 60 in Victoria - can we move beyond lockdowns with that level of COVID in the community?

Prime Minister: Yeah, no, I've seen that point being made, and the advice we have from the Doherty Institute is the starting point does not ultimately alter the conclusions of the modelling. And, so, of course, you know, we continue to always update these things, so we're best informed about how to manage the public health response. And, of course, we'll do that. But, the 70 per cent marks and the 80 per cent marks are the way that we can move forward, because what all this said, together with the Treasury advice, you know, over 18 months ago I said our job was to save lives and to save livelihoods. We’ve saved 30,000 lives and we've got a million people back into work. 

But, on top of that, as we go forward, once you get over 70 per cent and particularly over 80 per cent, lockdowns do more harm than good. Lockdowns are not a sustainable way to deal with the virus, and that's why we have to get to those 70 and 80 per cent marks so we can start living with the virus, which means for those who were vaccinated in Phase B, there will be exemptions available, and we're looking to confirm what those exemptions are now and the digital technology that can support that.

Speers: Ok. But, on the advice, on the advice you've just referred to there, Professor Jodie McVernon from the Doherty Institute was on Sky News this morning. She said her modelling doesn't specifically address the prospect of ending lockdowns with such a high caseload in the community. She's indicating more work’s needed on this. You're saying you have advice …

Prime Minister: Well, sure.

Speers: … that it’s okay to to move into Phase B and C.

Prime Minister: Well, what we've been advised by Professor McVernon is that the starting point doesn't ultimately change the ultimate conclusion point of where case numbers arrive. See, once you go into the next phase, of course case numbers will rise. You have an unvaccinated population - whether you start at at 30 cases or 100 cases or more than that - you still have an unvaccinated population, and in Phase B the protections we have to put in place are for the unvaccinated population because they're the ones most at risk ...

Speers: [Interrupting] So, just …

Prime Minister: … So, that’s why in Phase B there would be exemptions that would apply to vaccinated people.

Speers: There are millions, as you know, struggling with the lockdowns. Just to be really clear for them this morning, will lockdowns end once 70 per cent of the adult population is vaccinated, or is it 80 per cent, or is it something higher than that?

Prime Minister: Well, as the plan says, the plan says in Phase B they are highly unlikely and targeted, highly unlikely and targeted ...

Speers: [Interrupting] Does that mean they end, in Sydney and Melbourne?

Prime Minister: No, well, no, it says it's highly unlikely and targeted. That's what I just said. And, so, you might have parts of the, parts of the country - let’s say western New South Wales, where vaccination rates amongst Indigenous populations are a lot lower. You could have a similar situation in remote parts of the Northern Territory or Queensland. 

Speers: [Interrupting] Some 8 per cent…

Prime Minister: And, I know what the numbers are, David. So, what's important is that in those vulnerable populations, in unvaccinated populations, you need to continue to take strong precautions. I should also stress that once you get to 70 per cent, as the modelling shows, you still have to do tests, you still have to do isolation, you still have to do quarantine. But, in Phase B we hope for that quarantine to be done at home for returning Australians who were vaccinated. So, it is a progressive move from Phase B to Phase C. Now, at 80 per cent - and this is really important - at 80 per cent, we know from the work that you can start treating COVID like other infectious diseases with those other basic precautions in place. That's what living with the virus looks like. That’s what ...

Speers: [Interrupting] It is still, that 80 per cent, that 80 per cent mark is still at least another two months, probably more, away. That that does feel like still a long road for many who are in lockdown at the moment. If we had more Pfizer available months earlier, we may not be in this situation. So, do you concede you should have done more to get that supply earlier?

Prime Minister: Well, I disagree with your assessment, and the international experience doesn't bear it out, because whether it was the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Singapore and so many other countries that had higher vaccination rates than us when the Delta variant was introduced, they've all been overwhelmed by that. I mean, I think we need to appreciate ...

Speers: [Interrupting] Well, the UK’s, the UK’s not in lockdown, they had Pfizer a lot earlier …

Prime Minister: I’ll tell you what the problem is …

Speers: [Interrupting] They’re vaccinated over there, they’re not in lockdown.

Prime Minister: Yeah, but they were, they were, David ...

Speers: [Interrupting] My point is, now they’re not. So, we still have another couple of months of lockdowns to go. If we’d got, got going earlier with Pfizer, we wouldn’t be here.

Prime Minister: Well, David, there's many wise in hindsight, and I've been very clear about the challenges we had earlier in the program, the three million doses that weren't there when we first started the program ...

Speers: [Interrupting] And, that’s what I'm asking. Can you just be straight with people and say you should have got them earlier?

Prime Minister: David, I'm trying to be but you keep interrupting me. I'm trying to answer your questions, so I'm just trying to answer it. So, if you'd let me do that, I'd be very grateful. What I'm saying is we had those early challenges in the program. We've overcome those challenges. We are now vaccinating at the rate of over 300,000 a day and we are seeing those vaccination rates rise every day, and we're making great progress. So, we've got a clear plan to get to living with the virus. We're making great progress now against that plan. We've overcome the difficulties of the vaccination program. Putting in General Frewen at the beginning of June have really helped turn that around, and that means Australians have the hope - that plan, that progress and the hope that comes from that says as we continue to go each day through this year, we're getting closer to where we want to be. But, I’ll tell you what the real problem is. The real problem is the Delta variant and COVID-19. That’s what we’re battling.

Speers: No, look, indeed. A lot of concern about kids as well. They're not part of the plan to reopen. We are seeing about a third of the cases in Sydney are kids under 19. A quarter of the cases in Victoria are kids under ten. There doesn't seem to be as much serious illness amongst kids, though, it must be said. Nonetheless, parents are worried. So …

Prime Minister: [Interrupting] That's true. Oh, sure.

Speers: You'd like to get them vaccinated by the end of the year. Does that mean they they can still go to school if they're not vaccinated?

Prime Minister: Well, we'll wait for the health advice on that, on the last part of your question, and act in accordance with that. But, yes, the advice we have is very clear that those younger children who are impacted by the virus, infected, I mean, that's a terrible distress to any parent. As a parent, I understand that, every parent understands that. Every Australian understands that. And, the TGA has approved for age above twelve for the vaccination to be given. We've got some interim advice from ATAGI, which enables that to go forward, and next Friday we’ll be looking to finalise our plans when it comes to the vaccination of children. We discussed it last Friday to ensure that we want to do it as early as possible, and certainly by the end of the terms and before we get into the holiday period at the end of the year, and we would hope a lot sooner than that. 

But, we're working together between General Frewen, together with the state based authorities that are delivering the vaccine as well, to ensure that we can get that program in place with those children. It's a very high priority for us. But, as Professor McVernon herself has said to us, the best way to ensure our children are safe is for you to get vaccinated, for parents to get vaccinated, for those who are in the most transmissible cohorts, which are those younger groups, which we're extending and getting the vaccine into those groups - the more than million doses we got out of Poland, I'm working on some others as well, David - to get those doses in to ensure that we reduce the transmissibility of the virus. That protects our kids. In many cases, getting parents vaccinated is an even greater protection.

Speers: Alright. Prime Minister, appreciate your time this morning. Thank you.

Prime Minister: Thanks a lot, David.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43537

Time to Shift Focus from Case Numbers to Hospitalisations

22 August 2021

A focus on case numbers was very important when we knew nothing about this virus and whether our hospital system would be able to cope.

A lot has changed since then. Increasingly we need to look beyond just the case numbers to know what our future holds. How we can keep safe and how we get our lives back in a COVID world.

Case numbers are important, but they are not the whole story.

Our hospital and public health systems are prepared, they have held up to the challenge and continue to do so. And where they have to be reinforced we know how to do that.

Our ICUs have the know how, we have vaccines and the new drugs like sotrovimab that has been approved by the TGA for use that can better treat those who are infected. This all means we can battle Delta and seriously reduce how much harm it does to our health, our way of life and our economy.

So while right now our national strategy is necessarily about suppressing the virus and vaccinating as many people as possible, a one-eyed focus on just case numbers overlooks the fact that less people are getting seriously ill, let alone dying.

Shifting our focus from just case numbers, to actually looking at how many people are becoming seriously ill and requiring hospitalisation will be increasingly what matters. After all, this is how we manage all other infectious diseases.

The data shows that after an AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccination, you’re 86 to 87 per cent less likely to end up in hospital or an ICU, and while figures aren’t confirmed about how much vaccination reduces transmission, the evidence from the recent outbreak in Sydney is really strong.

A key next step in our plan will also be getting children aged over 12 vaccinated.

Just as we’ve seen overseas in places like the UK, even when their case numbers tick up, their hospitalisations and deaths are not increasing at the same rate and remaining flatter and at rates like you see with the flu.

It’s always darkest before the dawn, and these hard lockdowns are imposing a heavy toll. They are sadly necessary for now, and we will keep providing health and income support to get people through, but they won’t be necessary for too much longer.

Under our national plan when we start hitting the 70 per cent and 80 per cent vaccination targets, we can start claiming back what COVID has been taking away from us. And when we do so, we must not be intimidated by the case numbers that will inevitably increase. We will be able to better handle them then, because of all the improvements we have made to protect people from serious illness and fatality.

This doesn’t mean people won’t get sick, but with achieving our vaccination targets, a strong public health system, retaining common sense public hygiene measures and more effective treatments for COVID-19 we can get on with our new normal, and treat COVID like other infectious diseases.

That is what our national plan is all about. That’s what all the Premiers and Chief Ministers signed up to.

It’s our path back. It’s our deal with Australians, that by everyone doing what we need to do - push through the lockdowns, stay home, get tested, get vaccinated - we can break out of the current cycle we are in and move forward.

That is the light at the end of the tunnel on our journey. We’ve had three days in a row now delivering more than 300,000 jabs a day and with more than 1.73 million vaccinations delivered in just the last week, even if we do see more case numbers we’re going to see fewer hospitalisations and deaths meaning we can live our lives again.

This is what living with COVID is all about. The case numbers will likely rise when we soon begin to open up. That is inevitable.

But our focus needs to be on the rate of people being hospitalised. That’s the measure that should now start to guide our response.

Rising cases need not impact our plan to reopen, and reopen as soon we can. I know it seems pretty dark now, but it’s always darkest before the dawn, and dawn’s coming. So please hang in there.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44100

National Cabinet Statement

20 August 2021

The National Cabinet met today for the 52nd time 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 42,228 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 974 people have died. More than 28.9 million tests have been undertaken. Testing has increased nationally over recent days with 1,410,219 tests reported in the past 7 days.

Globally there have been over 209.9 million cases and sadly over 4.4 million deaths, with 665,241 new cases and 9,554 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 16.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Australia, including 303,304 in the previous 24 hours.

In the previous 7 days, more than 1.7 million vaccines have been administered in Australia. More than 51 per cent of the Australian population aged 16 years and over have now had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including over 74.1 per cent of over 50 year olds and more than 84.5 per cent of over 70 year olds. 

More than 28.8 per cent of Australians aged 16 years and over are now fully vaccinated including more than 42.2 per cent of over 50 year olds and more than 55.8 per cent of Australians over 70 years of age.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly provided an update on current outbreaks of COVID-19. The Chief Medical Officer has announced a number of hotspots across Australia including Greater Sydney and rural NSW, Greater Melbourne and the Australian Capital Territory.

Leaders noted the health system capacity in place is able to support the current outbreaks.

Lieutenant General John Frewen, Coordinator-General of Operation COVID Shield, provided an update on the vaccine roll out. 

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 noted the work underway through the COVID-19 Risk Analysis and Response Taskforce report and the Doherty modelling for the National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID Response. 

National Cabinet further noted work of the Data and Digital Ministers Meeting around incorporating the proof of vaccination status into existing state and territory check-in apps to assist with contact tracing, noting that it will be optional for individuals to include their vaccination status. 

National Cabinet agreed to meet next on Friday, 27 August 2021.

Afghanistan – Evacuees

National Cabinet noted the efforts underway to evacuate Australian citizens and permanent residents and their families, and humanitarian visa holders, including Afghan locally engaged employees, from Afghanistan given the rapidly changing situation.

The situation on the ground in Afghanistan necessitates urgent action and that securing the safe and orderly departure of Australians and humanitarian visa holders was a high priority.

The Prime Minister noted that jurisdictions were working very closely together to support the evacuation efforts and thanked them for providing 935 quarantine places, above caps, to returned travellers from Afghanistan.

The Commonwealth will provide resettlement services for humanitarian visa holders in each Australian jurisdiction, which will include specialist physical and mental health services for vulnerable travellers requiring extra support.

National Freight Movement Protocol and Code

National Cabinet noted that Transport Ministers have agreed to an updated Freight Movement Protocol and Code that delivers a streamlined and more consistent approach to COVID-19 testing in line with recent advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44099

Interview with Deborah Knight, A Current Affair

19 August 2021

DEBORAH KNIGHT: Well, Prime Minister, welcome. It’s a big milestone - half of all eligible Australians with a first vaccine dose, more than 16 million jabs all up. It’s good to have some good news to deliver with COVID, that’s for sure. But you must regret saying back in March that it’s not a race, because it’s the race of our lives, isn’t it?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's not how you start the race, it’s how you finish it. And we're finishing very, very well. I mean we, as you just said, over 300,000 doses in one day. That's three times the size of the MCG in just one day. And you're right, there are more people now eligible for the vaccine who’ve had their first dose than haven't had their first dose. You know, it's over 200 doses a minute now. And this is a vaccination program that is really hitting its marks. And I want to thank everybody for coming out there and getting those vaccines. Thank the Polish Government, of course, for the extra doses I was able to secure and bring in that are out there in all parts of south western Sydney right now, making a big difference to those 20 to 39-year-olds who are very important in containing that outbreak in Sydney and stopping that spread.

KNIGHT: And with the vaccinations also being made available for all 16 to 39-year-olds from August 30, that’s 8.6 million Australians. Do we have enough of the Pfizer to go around?

PRIME MINISTER: Well it's not just Pfizer. There’s, there’s the AstraZeneca vaccine, there's the Pfizer vaccine, and starting next month, there's also the Moderna vaccine, and the Moderna vaccine, which is like the Pfizer vaccine, that starts next month. There's a million doses at least there next month. And that'll be done all through the pharmacies. We now have over, we have around 2,500 pharmacies now that are part of this vaccination program. Thousands and thousands of GPs. The vast majority of the vaccines that are being administered in Australia are being done by our GPs and our pharmacies. Sure, there's plenty being done at those big state hubs, but actually in New South Wales, for every three doses, two of them are being delivered by the GPs and the pharmacists. So they're doing a great job as well.

KNIGHT: Yeah, it’s good to see them rolling it out. Are you concerned, though, because of the, I guess, the the confusion around AstraZeneca, that by opening up Pfizer to younger Australians we might see some people cancel their AstraZeneca bookings, particularly in those COVID hotspot suburbs where, as we know, it’s so crucial to get jabs in arms urgently, today?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, the most important vaccine you can get is the vaccine you can get today, and those vaccines are available today. There is a, we've already put in over 500,000 additional Pfizer vaccines actually into those hotspot areas, as you know, through those additional doses we got out of Europe. And that's what you can see in those big state hubs and, where people are turning up to, particularly today over the days ahead. But right across all those vaccines, they’re all effective. They all do the job that they need to do, and that is stop you getting it as much as possible, stop you transmitting it, stop you from getting a very serious illness and indeed stopping you from being hospitalised. And the worst extreme, a fatality. So all of those vaccines do the job. So my encouragement is to everybody, get the vaccine available today. Of course, there are more vaccines coming down the line, but, you know, there’ll obviously be waits for those as well, but the vaccine you can get today is the vaccine you should get.

KNIGHT: And what about younger children, because we are seeing a lot of kids in child care and of primary school age contracting Delta. In fact, almost 750 kids under the age of nine contracted it in New South Wales in the last two weeks alone. When can we protect children of all ages?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, there are no vaccines that are available that are authorised for use for children under the age of 12. We do have the Pfizer vaccine, which is approved for children ages between 12 and 15. Right now, that's been authorised to be used for those who, that have other type of health conditions, as well as those Indigenous children and those in remote communities. I’m waiting ...

KNIGHT: When will it be opened up to everyone?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, we’re waiting on that next set of advice from our immunisation experts who advise us. Australia has one of the most high, highest immunisation rates in the world amongst children. And the reason for that is we've got a very reliable and trusted system for approving those vaccines. So once the medical advice enables us to go to that next level, then we'll do that. But the other advice, Deb, I want to stress is this. The advice we got from the Doherty Institute, the Institute, one of the best in the world that can advise on these issues, says that the best way for your child to avoid getting the virus is to ensure that you are vaccinated. And that's why it's so important that we're vaccinating those in those younger age groups now, the parents age groups, and to ensure that they're vaccinated because they are most likely to contract that virus from an adult in a household. And that's why continuing the focus on vaccinating those populations is so important to protect both children, as well as the rest of the population.

KNIGHT: So, we’ve got vaccination rates rising, which is wonderful news, but so too are infections, and we’ve had the worst day so far of case numbers in New South Wales - 681. Infections have doubled in Victoria and Canberra is also teetering with their numbers. Do we need to start accepting that higher case numbers are the normal, and even daily death rates?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, you only need to look overseas, I mean, you've got tens of thousands of new cases every day over in the United Kingdom and over 100 fatalities a day, and we're seeing a thousand deaths a day over in the United States ...

KNIGHT: So, is that our new normal?

PRIME MINISTER: So the Delta, no I'm saying the Delta variant of the COVID virus is a highly infectious one. And that has completely changed the game, particularly in these last few months. In places, I mean, previously, New South Wales is a good example where previously before the Delta strain, we were able to contain it and not have lockdowns, the Delta strain overwhelms that. And it's not just in Australia. It's happening in Singapore. It's happening in Europe. It's happening in the UK, United States. And that's not a criticism of any of those countries - countries with higher vaccination rates, lower vaccination rates, it's having its way. Our goal is to get to the point where we can live with this COVID-19, just like we do with the flu. Now, of course, with the flu each year, people do get ill and we know that. But when you get to 80 per cent vaccination, the advice we have received is that's when you start seeing the COVID-19, with some basic protections in the community, operating a lot like the flu, and the national plan that we've agreed is about making that transformation, Deb. So going from not the number of cases is what matters, but how many how many serious cases there’ve been and how many hospitalisations. And that's what you need to focus on going forward. And that's what the national plan provides for. But to achieve that, we've a) got to get to 70 per cent and then b) we’ve got to get to 80 per cent and we're in that space, then that's when, particularly if you're vaccinated, there will be opportunity to go and have those household gatherings, the barbecues, going out for coffees, doing all those things. That's what we're working towards. That's why we're working so hard.

KNIGHT: And even with that 80 per cent target, though, we’ve had all state and territory leaders agree at National Cabinet to reach that target. But you’ve got WA and the ACT among states who are going it alone with their own vaccine targets, and even with the border shutdown message. Can you guarantee that freedom will come when we get that 80 per cent level?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, all the states and territories have agreed to those 70 and 80 per cent targets, and there's a good reason for that, because when you reach those levels, with some basic protections in the community, then you can manage COVID-19 in the community, focusing on, as I said, serious illness hospitalisations, things like that. Now that commitment is made by all the states and territories. And when, you know, in your own state, if there's seven, eight out of 10 people who’ve been vaccinated who are less of a risk to themselves of contracting the virus, of transmitting it, getting a serious illness, all of these things, they've done the right thing, they've adhered by the lockdowns, they've done all the hard work, well, when they get to that level, it's a very reasonable expectation that their leaders will follow through on the commitments they’ve made.

KNIGHT: But you’ve got Mark McGowan in WA, the Premier, saying that he will potentially keep the borders shut. Does he need to pull his head in?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, let's just see what happens, okay. I mean, we're not at those marks yet, and Western Australia has has some work to do to get up to the levels of the other states, and we'll support them to do that …

KNIGHT: They’re dragging the rest of the country, aren’t they?

PRIME MINISTER: … And we'll all work together, we'll work together to get the whole country vaccinated, just not parts of it. And that's why when we got those extra doses from overseas, of course I sent 530,000 to deal with the really acute problem that we had in Sydney. And that's what I spoke to the Polish Prime Minister about, Prime Minister Morawiecki, and that's great. But the balance of them, the other half a million, well, that was spread across all the states because I need to get the whole country vaccinated, not just parts of it.

KNIGHT: And do you think that we could have more deals like the deal that you secured with Poland in the wind? What else have you been cooking up?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I've been working on a lot of things, as you could imagine, leaving no stone unturned there, but when I'm in a position to announce anything further then I will, but we'll, we're working at it every single day. But let's also know that in September, we've already got those Moderna doses coming. In October, we've also got far more Pfizer and the other doses available. It really ramps up now over the next few months. But we're already achieving rates, as I said, three times the number of people you could put in the MCG vaccinated in one day. That's what we've achieved today. Now, that's an extraordinary outcome. We're already achieving higher rates than we expected to achieve now. And that's because of the great response we've had from Australians. They're doing the right thing. The overwhelming majority, if they're in Sydney, they're pushing through on this lockdown and these high vaccination rates, I hope it's just saying to people, look, let's keep going. We're getting there, each day we're getting closer.

KNIGHT: So do you still think families will be able to get together around the Christmas table, or with the case numbers the way they are, is it more realistic that we perhaps can have a family Easter egg hunt?

PRIME MINISTER: No, look, I'm very much looking forward to that and making sure we have everybody around that table too, by doing it in the safest way possible, and I I suspect and I hope that we can achieve it a lot more before then. But that, you know, just requires us all to keep doing what we have been doing, you know, stay home if you're in a lockdown area. I mean, vaccines really make a big difference. There's no question about that. But if you're in a lockdown, the lockdown also has to work. So we need to suppress and vaccinate right now. We get to the next stage, then those who have been vaccinated, well, of course, it only makes sense - they're less of a risk to themselves and others - and so they should be exempt from certain things that may continue to apply, because they've been vaccinated. They've taken the step to protect themselves and their community. And then we get to the next level where we can start really saying goodbye to those lockdowns, because at that level, at 80 per cent vaccination, the research shows very clearly that you can do a lot of things that you can't do now and you can do it safely and you can manage COVID in the community without having to have these terrible lockdowns, which cost so much. But we've been pleased to stand by people through these lockdowns as well. I mean, over $3 billion has already been paid to around 1.5 million Australians - these $750, $450 and $200 payments. It's helping people get through. The business support that is coming through the states, which we're meeting half the cost for, helping businesses get through. Once these lockdowns lift, our economy will come back and those jobs, they’ll be there.

KNIGHT: Let’s hope we get there sooner rather than later. Prime Minister, thanks for joining us.

PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much, Deb. Good to talk to you.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43535

First Evacuees from Afghanistan to Quarantine in Western Australia

19 August 2021

The first evacuees from Australia’s latest operation in Afghanistan are set to arrive in Perth to commence their quarantine.

My government is working closely with the Western Australian Government to ensure the evacuees receive the medical and mental health support they need when they arrive.

We will work together to support our people with whatever they need.

This has been a difficult and distressing ordeal for many of the evacuees and we will help them through completing the mandatory 14 day quarantine.

I thank the Premier for agreeing to take the evacuees above WA's weekly quarantine arrivals cap.

In times like this, all levels of government need to step up to do their bit.

The Commonwealth is in discussions with state governments about future arrangements to accommodate further evacuees above weekly arrivals caps.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44098

Interview with Ben Fordham, 2GB

16 August 2021

BEN FORDHAM: Good morning to you, PM.

PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Ben.

FORDHAM: How good’s Poland?

PRIME MINISTER: How good is Poland? That's, that's a very good way to put it. They've worked with us very cooperatively. I spoke to Prime Minister Morawiecki a few weeks ago when we first became aware that this, there might be a bit of an opening there. And, we've been working with them on other issues earlier in the year and last year. So, there was already a relationship, which was good. And, and look, it’s, when we needed it, and particularly when Sydney needed it. We need those extra doses for those 20 to 39 year olds in those affected local government areas of western Sydney, south western Sydney. So, they arrived last night, and all of those are now here, the ones going to Sydney. I was tracking that flight pretty carefully, I've got to tell you …

FORDHAM: I bet you were.

PRIME MINISTER: … since take off, the other night. I text the Premier as soon as I knew that it had left, because we've had a few problems in the past. And, so, this time it got out, and and here we are.

FORDHAM: I know it's obviously been a difficult vaccine rollout. You've acknowledged some of the mistakes along the way. And, there's also a bit of a gamble in which ones are going to work.

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah.

FORDHAM: Some of them had problems along the way. But, it is disappointing, isn't it, that the US was a bit useless when we were saying to them, look, you've got 26 million spare doses of vaccines that are about to expire, like Moderna and Pfizer, can we have some, and they brushed us?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, no, I really wouldn't put it that way, Ben. And, let's not forget, 700 people died in the US yesterday because of COVID. They're dealing with a veracious next Delta wave of the virus. And, they're also dealing with demands from many, many developing countries, both in their own region as well as in ours - in southeast Asia and Indonesia. And, they’ve, the vaccine bank pretty much for most of the world with the vaccines that, you know, are highly effective - Moderna and Pfizer. So, you know, they have many calls on them. So, I just focused on where we can get the outcome, and and that proved to be out of Poland. Now, we have many more coming in the months ahead. So, it was, it was more of a timing issue on this one, and and Poland was able to move immediately and we've been able to take that through. So, they're coming out of the, their, the Pfizer plant, which is actually in Belgium. And, and so these are in addition to the 40 million we'd already transacted with Pfizer and Pfizer had to sign off as well, so we worked with them. So, it’s things like ensuring the cold chain storage had been maintained, and, as of course, you'd expect it to be. And, so, those doses are there, they’re TGA approved, they're going through the state distribution system, the state hubs. That’s, we thought that was, working with General Frewen and the state authorities in New South Wales, that's the best way to get them into that 20 to 39 population.

FORDHAM: I'm guessing you're going to be angry to hear this. Obviously, we need as many jabs in arms as we can possibly get, and we're getting reports from GPs and also from vaccine clinics. GPs are saying we've now got anti-vaxxers who are booking GP appointments and they sit there in the room and read off a prepared list of questions just to waste the time of the GP, because their theory is, while you've got an anti-vaxxer in there who's never going to get the jab in the arm, there’s someone else in there who's missing out. We've also got people booking appointments at vaccine clinics and then cancelling, and the people at the vaccine clinics suspect that they're dealing with anti-vaxxers here who have no wish to get vaccinated. And, there's always a danger that at the end of the day, some of those vaccines go down the sink. Can you believe the extent that some people are going to to try and sabotage the vaccine rollout?

PRIME MINISTER: Yeah I, look, I find that very disappointing. And, I find it most disappointing because I think it is disrespecting their fellow Australians. I mean, in our country, you know, we have free speech. We respect other people's opinions. But, the other thing we respect is that we don't do harm to others. You know, I mean, you and I can have our opinions and occasionally you and I will, sometimes more often than not, Ben, we might disagree. But, you know, we'll be respectful to one another, but we'll, we’ll, you know, appreciate each other and the contribution we can both make. We wouldn't seek to do something other than that. And, that's what really disappoints me about this. It is disrespecting their fellow Australians, and it's quite selfish. It's really selfish and it's self-defeating too. What I'm pleased about is more and more Australians are just ignoring all that. They're seeing it for what it is. It's, it's the views, very extreme views, and it's undermining where Australia wants to go. I mean, that does nothing for hope. The idea that you can just let this thing rip is absurd, just as absurd as the idea you can get to COVID zero. They're both extreme positions. They're both absurd. And, so, we'll just stay in the sensible centre ground here, which is where you get people vaccinated. You put in place the lockdowns that are necessary to deal with the Delta strain. The Delta strain is the game changer. That's what has really changed everything in the last few months, and it's not just in Australia. It's all around the world. So, we’ll continue to confront that by suppressing the virus and vaccinating the population.

FORDHAM: PM, what can you say to all of the people who are in lockdown at the moment, because we know that this virus is dangerous, but we also know that lockdowns are dangerous as well. They’re, they're not good for our health, they're not good for our mental health. There are so many families struggling out there at the moment. What can you say to them about the pain they're experiencing at the moment and the hope that the future hopefully will bring not too far down the track?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, the hope is I think the important point, Ben, and already in New South Wales one in two people who are eligible for the vaccine have been vaccinated. A quarter of the population around the country has been fully vaccinated. We're now vaccinating across the country at one and a half million a week, and we're hitting the same per capita levels of vaccine performance that the UK was at their best during the course of their program. So, as you said, you know, we had early setbacks in the program, but we've totally turned that around, and the changes we put back in place late May, early June with General Frewen has really got that on track. And, and so that's really hitting its mark. So, that vaccination program is rolling out. The second point I'd make to them is please stay home, because frankly, there's no alternative ...

FORDHAM: But, when we say please stay home, I've raised the point this morning, I mean, we're able to leave our homes. Everyone knows that. We need to leave our homes to go and buy things, to get some fresh air, to get some exercise. Shouldn't the point be, and the main message be, don't have other people in your home, don't go into the homes of others? Because when we say stay home, stay home, stay home, people think, well, hang on, I'm allowed to leave my home, and that's completely unrealistic.

PRIME MINISTER: No, no, it isn't unrealistic. I saw Melbourne do this for four and a half months, and that's how they got on top of it …

FORDHAM: What, not leave their homes?

PRIME MINISTER: No, unless you have to, go for a walk, take the dog for a walk. But, don’t be out for hours and hours. Only go out if you actually have to, because the virus doesn't move on its own.

FORDHAM: No, no, I get that, but isn't it, isn’t it more targeted messaging to say to people, look, we know the virus spreads inside people's homes. Don't have people into your home, don't go into the homes of others, as opposed to saying stay home, when you know people have got to go outside to get some fresh air. They’re got to go and stretch the legs.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I’m not saying they shouldn’t. I think they should. But, what I'm saying is, and that is an essential thing for people do, both for their peace of mind and and all of those things. What I'm simply saying is, is when you don't have to, stay home. Let's keep it simple. It's really simple. If you don't have to go out, don’t. That’s, that's the, and I wish it was a different way through, Ben. I really do. But, the Delta strain has changed all of that. And, I hear what others say, oh, you know, the lockdowns, we should never have them, and all the rest of it. I've seen what's happening in countries where they’ve followed that approach - in the southern United States and other places. It's a horror show and there's no alternative.

FORDHAM: Alright.

PRIME MINISTER: I wish it were different, but this is what we have to do to push through. And, months ahead from now, once we get to those higher vaccination rates, we will look back at this time, and for, if we've really tried to make this lockdown work in New South Wales and protected the most vulnerable in our community - in Indigenous populations, in particular, and the elderly - then we'll be thankful we did. This is the challenge, Ben, of our generation. Previous generations have gone through, they've gone through depressions, they've gone through wars, and what our challenge is, as our generation, is stay at home. 

FORDHAM: Alright. Let me ask you about another horror show, Afghanistan. We followed the US into the war there after September 11 for obvious reasons. Forty-one of our diggers were killed, another 249 wounded. Now, within three months of the Coalition withdrawing, the Taliban has taken back control of almost the entire country. Everything but Kabul has fallen, and now they're moving into that part of Afghanistan as well. I mean, what was the point?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's a very distressing situation. The point was to deny Osama bin Laden and to hunt him down, and to deny Al-Qaeda a base of operations in Afghanistan. They were the, they were the reasons we went there ...

FORDHAM: But, we got bin Laden 10 years ago.

PRIME MINISTER: And, but the fight for freedom is always worth fighting, Ben. And, this is a very difficult part of the world. It has been, it has been a vexed part of the world for centuries. And, you know, that's that's the history of this, of this terribly tragic place.

FORDHAM: So, what happens with the fight for freedom going forward, when the Taliban's in control, and, as you know, under their rule, there is no freedom, particularly for women?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, well, I'm very, very conscious of that. And, that's why, you know, we've already got out since April 430 of those Afghans, Afghans and their families who were helping Australia. They were already out; 1,800 of them we've been able to get out over the, over the last few years. And, we're still working on those who remain right now, and those operations are obviously sensitive. I’m about to go into another meeting just now on that topic, and we'll continue to work that, Ben. But, the world is a complex place and there are many challenges all around the world. Australia, on its own, obviously, can't address situations in other parts of the world. The decisions that have been taken as part of the Coalition forces that were there, well, you know, they they have their natural ends, and we moved out and we closed our embassy back in May. Well, I was criticised for that at the time, by the way, but that got Australians out safely in an orderly way. And, and we're still working on that program right now, and it's it's important that we continue to hold the Taliban to account on these things.

FORDHAM: Yeah.

PRIME MINISTER: I mean, they're no friends of Australia, and we know what they're about. 

FORDHAM: I know that you say there are sensitivities around what's going to happen next. But, we just, we just honestly hope that anyone who helped us in our moment of need that they get our help, too.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, Ben, that's exactly what we've been doing, and and we've honoured that, and we, and we will continue to honour that. 

FORDHAM: We appreciate your time. You go and make those phone calls and we'll talk to you soon. 

PRIME MINISTER: Thanks a lot, Ben. Thanks for your time.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43531

Interview with Peter Stefanovic, Sky News

16 August 2021

Peter Stefanovic: Prime Minister, thanks for your time this morning, appreciate it. So, when it comes to the Pfizer vaccine, Poland answered the call. Are you disappointed that the US wasn't there for us in our hour of need?

Prime Minister: What we have to recognise is that, a) I'm very pleased that we were able to secure those just over a million doses, they arrived, the first shipment of those, last night, and that means they'll be getting out there into the New South Wales systems, targeting particularly those 20 to 39 year olds in those most hotspot areas of Sydney. And, we believe that will have a slowing impact on the transmission of the virus in Sydney. That will support the lockdown. It doesn't replace the lockdown. I want to stress again that for the lockdown to work, the lockdown has to work. And, we all need to stay at home in Sydney and follow those, follow those restrictions, because that's the way this will work. The vaccines will certainly help that that task. And, of course, the balance of those vaccines will go to all the other states and territories because I don't take anything for granted in any of those other states and territories. Here in the ACT we have a lockdown. Victoria, there's a lockdown. And, I don't take anything for granted in the other states and territories. In the United States, they're facing their own Delta wave. I mean, Delta is wreaking havoc all around the world and they have very pressing and urgent needs there. And, we've, of course, been talking to them and many others. But, the point is, is that Delta is causing a strain, not just over in Europe and other places, but particularly in the United States, where the situation is seeing hundreds of people dying every day.

Stefanovic: Mark McGowan told Andrew Clennell yesterday that he wants to pursue zero COVID, even after 70 per cent vaccination targets are reached. That's not the National Cabinet agreement, is it?

Prime Minister: No it’s, no it's not, and the National Cabinet agreement was made on three occasions. First of all, that when you move to Phase B, you move from moving, managing cases to ensure that you're managing hospitalisation, serious illness and things of that nature. And, that was done in our first discussion on the national plan, and it was then agreed in principle with the targets that were set by the Doherty  Institute, which made it very clear that once you get to 70 per cent and 80 per cent, at that level, particularly at 80 per cent, then you are managing the virus just like you would the flu. And, so, that's what the national plan was about. It gives people that hope and the path forward. It is the path out and that is the national plan, and and that was the plan that was agreed to.

Stefanovic: So, are you disappointed by Mark McGowan's comments then?

Prime Minister: Well, let's just see what happens. But, the national plan is very clear. I'm sure premiers and chief ministers want to see people, Australia come out of this. That is the way forward that we agreed, based on the best scientific and economic advice and modelling I think that is available to any country in the world. And, it's, so it's a clear plan based on very good scientific, medical and health and economic advice ...

Stefanovic: Ok, well …

Prime Minister: That's the way through this. I mean, I want to encourage all Australians to get vaccinated, whether they're here in the hotspots of ACT and in New South Wales, or in Western Australia where they haven't had the cases, but they're just as exposed to those cases. They're just as at risk, as any other part of the world is. And, that's why it's important that Western Australia, like all the other states and territories, continue to push forward on the vaccination program.

Stefanovic: Gladys Berejiklian wants to live with the virus. Mark McGowan wants to keep it out. And, in fact, he's even threatening to keep the borders closed after 80 per cent vaccination targets are reached. Is the federation hanging by a thread at the moment?

Prime Minister: We've been keeping the federation together now for over 100 years, and we've seen many challenges before. In fact, it was one of the big challenges of the Spanish flu pandemic 100 years ago. And, the fact that we've been able to keep the states and territories talking to each other, working together. I mean, the commitments that are made in the national plan, they’re not commitments just made to each other, they’re commitments made to our own people. Australians are working hard, making sacrifices, getting vaccinated, being subjected to lockdowns. Now, they're all doing this for a reason - to get on the path out, and the path out is set out in that national plan. And, that's a, that's a compact with our own people, whether in our own state or nationally.

Stefanovic: Just finally, on to Afghanistan. Boris Johnson says no one should bilaterally recognise the Taliban. Do you agree?

Prime Minister: No, we have no plans along those lines, that's for sure. And, we're dealing with what is a a very dangerous and a very distressing situation in Afghanistan. Already, since April, we've been able to extract some 430 Afghan locally engaged employees and their families. We already shut down our mission back in May and to ensure that all Australian diplomatic personnel were able to be safely exited from that region. We still are working to transfer people. I can't go into the operational details of that. We're doing that with our partners. But, the situation has been declining rapidly over the last few days. We'll be meeting again this morning and getting an update on on our operations. I spoke last night to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, and we're working closely with them. The Foreign Minister is speaking to Secretary Blinken this morning, also. So, there'll be further updates there. But, it is a very distressing and concerning situation, and we've been moving swiftly, and in partnership with our allies and partners, as quickly as possible.

Stefanovic: The war in Afghanistan, Prime Minister, was it all a waste in the end?

Prime Minister: It's never, it's always Australia's cause to fight for freedom, and whatever the result, whatever the outcomes of that, Australians have always stood up for that. And, I think that's very important. That is always important. That's what we've always done. And, that's why Australia is respected in the way we are. Anyone who’s fallen ...

Stefanovic: It didn't achieve anything though, did it?

Prime Minister: in Australia's uniform. Everyone who has fallen in an Australian uniform, for our values and under flag, has died in the great cause of freedom, and they are great heroes.

Stefanovic: All right, Scott Morrison, appreciate your time. Thanks for joining us.

Prime Minister: Thanks, Peter.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43530

Interview with Lisa Millar, ABC News Breakfast

16 August 2021

Lisa Millar: Good morning, Prime Minister. Thanks for coming on News Breakfast. It's been a while.

Prime Minister: Good to see you.

Millar: Terrible news, dramatic few hours in Afghanistan. Are we going to be able to evacuate the remaining nationals, and also those Afghans who've been assisting Australian Defence Forces?

Prime Minister: Well, since April 430 locally engaged employees - Afghans and their families - we've been able to already bring to Australia and resettle, anticipating this deteriorating situation. As you know, we closed our embassy in May and moved the Australian personnel at that time. We're continuing with our operations, in conjunction with our partners, in what is a very dangerous part of the world and a deteriorating situation. We've been working through that over recent days. This morning, the Foreign Minister will be speaking to Secretary Blinken in the United States. I had a discussion with the Prime Minister Ardern last night, and our National Security Cabinet meeting will convene again early, in a little while from now and, and review the various operations, but I obviously can't go into detail on that for the safety of those who are involved.

Millar: Can you tell us how many?

Prime Minister: No, I don't think I, that, as I just said, I'm not going to go into those operations. It's for the protection of those we're engaged in seeking to provide for their safety.

Millar: How can you tell the families of the 41 soldiers, this morning we've been speaking to an ex-SAS soldier who said he hoped that there was a man in a suit or a woman turning up at homes around Australia to explain what all this is about. How do you tell them that it was worth it?

Prime Minister: Freedom’s always worth it, fighting for it, whatever the outcome. But, importantly, the reason we went there was to track down Osama bin Laden and to ensure that we denied Al-Qaeda a base of operations out of Afghanistan. And, there has been so much blood and treasure lost in this, in this very difficult campaign over 20 years. And, our thanks, are always to Australians who serve. They don't get to decide the mission. They don’t get to decide the place. Those decisions are taken at another level, and they go and serve, and they faithfully serve, and they do it with great courage and great commitment to their country and the values that Australia represents, which is freedom.

Millar: Were their deaths in vain, though, when you see already people discussing whether this is now going to leave open Afghanistan becoming a breeding ground for terrorism again?

Prime Minister: No Australian who’s ever fallen in our uniform has ever died in vain, ever.

Millar: Are you concerned that Afghanistan could become a breeding ground for terrorism again?

Prime Minister: We will continue to work with all of our partners to protect Australia from terrorism, and we've got a very good track record on that front. But, we are never complacent about it, and we will continue to put our greatest efforts into keeping Australians safe. 

Millar: How do you feel about the women and children and girls, in particular, whose lives are now going to be controlled, once again, by a brutal Taliban regime?

Prime Minister: Devastated, absolutely devastated about it. It's a terrible, it's a terrible situation.

Millar: Has this been a catastrophe? Has it been, I mean, it just seems that this is not how the allies and the US anticipated things would go, that you have been basically caught, caught out here?

Prime Minister: It's a very challenging situation in Afghanistan. Always has. You look at the history, that is the story of Afghanistan. It is a, it is a tragic place, it is a tragic country that has borne such terrible hardships and catastrophes over a very long period of time. And, sadly, that story continues.

Millar: Prime Minister, can I move on to the COVID situation.

Prime Minister: Sure.

Millar: The New South Wales Premier has said it's going to be near impossible to eradicate cases in New South Wales. Does that mean the end for zero COVID in Australia?

Prime Minister: Well, it has never been the job to get to zero COVID. Seeking to minimise and community cases, cases transmitted in the community, is course has been a goal. But, the idea you can have zero COVID in any country is, has never been Australia's plan. We've been, embarked on a suppression strategy, and right now we're in Phase A of that national plan of hope. That's the plan of hope that Australians are looking to to achieve those 70 per cent targets. We've got one in four Australians fully vaccinated. This week, one in two Australians will hit that mark who have had their first dose. We've got the million doses of hope coming, have already arrived, the first shipment from Poland, and that's going straight into those most important areas in south western Sydney for 20 to 39 year olds, to support the lockdown that is in place in New South Wales. But, those doses will also go right across the country, because I'm not complacent about any other part of the country. As you say, Victoria, extending lockdowns. We are in here in one in the ACT. The Delta strain is incredibly difficult. It's causing a further wave of COVID all around the world. Australia is no different, and we're battling it just like everybody else.

Millar: You might say that zero COVID hasn't been the policy, but quite frankly, that's not how the states have approached it, when they've shut down cities and millions of people over one or two cases. And, we've now got Mark McGowan in WA saying that even if you get to 70 or 80 per cent vaccination, that he's still going to to hold the right to shut the border and keep people out. That doesn't sound like what was agreed at National Cabinet.

Prime Minister: Well, that, as you've characterised it, that isn't what was agreed at National Cabinet. What happens in Phase B, when you hit 70 per cent, which is based on the best medical and economic advice available to all leaders in Australia. The Doherty Institute, working together with all the state and Commonwealth Treasury's, made it very clear that once you hit those levels, it is neither in our health or economic interests to be going down that path …

Millar: Well, what do you do with [inaudible] who said that he’s going to do it?

Prime Minister: In quite extreme … Well, we've all made commitments to the people, through this plan of hope that is our pathway back …

Millar: Well, he said this just yesterday morning.

Prime Minister: Sorry, I’ll let you finish. Sorry, was there another question?

Millar: Well, it's just that, well, the WA Premier said this just yesterday morning, Prime Minister.

Prime Minister: No, I understand what was said, and what, my point is this - is that on three occasions we agreed this plan. On the first occasion, that in Phase B of that plan we have moved from managing cases to managing serious illness and hospitalisation. That's when you hit 70 per cent. That's when people who were vaccinated would be exempted from various restrictions. That's when you start allowing more students and others coming into the country to support our economy. And, in that plan, that's when you're managing hospitalisations and you start saying goodbye to lockdowns in Phase B, and in Phase C you can really say goodbye to them. And, but right now, we're in the first phase and that's, so it’s suppress and vaccinate. And, the vaccination program now is hitting rates of vaccination - one and a half million a week, one and a half million a week. That's what gets the job done. And, I want to continue to encourage Australians to go and get vaccinated. And, that plan of hope is an important motivator, I think, for Australians, and that's why it's important that all of us continue to encourage Australians, that's a, it's a deal we've got with the Australian people - that they get to these marks, then they can expect things to move forward ...

Millar: But, if we …

Prime Minister: That's the deal that all premiers and chief ministers have signed up to and making that commitment to their own citizens. And, and we've got to hold to that.

Millar: Prime Minister, if we've still got hundreds of cases a day in New South Wales but we get to that 70 per cent, 80 per cent mark, do we open up?

Prime Minister: Well, what is clear from the the advice we've received from Doherty is once you, once you're achieving those levels of vaccination, then the many other measures that you've got available to you, that's when you're testing and tracing, isolating and quarantining is far more effective, because you've been able to reduce the transmission capability that exists in the community. See, vaccination changes that that calculus very significantly. When you've got vaccination rates less than that, which we've seen in other countries that have tried to open up too early, you know, go to their freedom days, things like this, and then they've had to change it. We, the plan that we've set out has been carefully worked out based on that advice to ensure that when you move, you can move. Now, we are looking carefully at what the impact of a higher number of cases are when you get to that phase. And, that's why I've been so strong on the point, particularly in New South Wales, that we need to make sure this lockdown works. Now, the additional doses of hope that we've got out of Europe, and I want to thank Prime Minister Morawiecki for his great support of Australia in answering our call. He was very aware, as I discussed with him, the situation, particularly in Sydney, and this is really going to help the situation in Sydney. But, on its own, it has to be backed in by the strong lockdown working in Sydney. And, that's why I appeal to all my fellow Sydneysiders, please stay at home. We do this together and we get through it together, and the stronger we go into Phase B with fewer cases, the stronger the country will be.

Millar: Prime Minister, thanks very much.

Prime Minister: Thank you very much for your time.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-439529

Interview with David Koch, Sunrise

16 August 2021

David Koch: Scott Morrison joins me now from Canberra. Prime Minister, these extra doses have come from an unlikely source, from Poland. What did it take to get the deal over the line? 

Prime Minister: Well, there are a million doses of hope going straight into south western Sydney. They arrived overnight. I can tell you I was tracking that flight fairly carefully over the last 24 hours or more. And the balance will be going across the country because we can't be complacent in the rest of the country as well. The very urgent need in New South Wales. And that was the key issue that I raised with the Prime Minister when we spoke about two weeks ago. And we've been now working that through with our health officials, ensuring the cold state storage had been maintained. These are coming from the factory in Belgium, Pfizer's factory in Belgium. And we're very appreciative of the Polish government. I was able to strike up a bit of rapport with him over our recent OECD campaign, actually. And so working that through with our partners and our allies. You know, we have many friends, Australia. The whole world is dealing with this Delta wave and the many countries struggling with that. We've got our own challenges here. But there was an opportunity and we seized it. 

Koch: How come Poland sent the doses to us rather than the sort of hundreds of other countries doing it tough? Did we, did we pay big bucks for it?

Prime Minister: We had a normal transaction on this, and these also have to be signed off by Pfizer as well, so I was also working that through with Albert Bourla and it was just important to line it up and to move quickly, which is what we did. Our DFAT officials did a tremendous job in identifying this opportunity. And we were very quickly on the phone. But because we had an existing relationship that obviously helped. And there's a great affection for Australia. And everyone knows Sydney is our biggest city. And I was able to say that Sydney was in lockdown, we got great support. I mean, it doesn't matter where you go in the world. People know people who live in Australia. That's the thing about Australia being a great immigration country. People have family all over the world and they know about Australia and they're very, very kind and supportive of Australia. 

Koch: Well, it's certainly going to a hot spot in western and south western Sydney. Much needed there. A number of times you referred to New South Wales as the gold standard in fighting this COVID virus. Is it still the gold standard or is it now a failure?

Prime Minister: Well, one thing changed everything, and it's called the Delta strain. And Australia, in New South Wales in particular, has had the best contract tracing system in the world. But that's how strong Delta is. It overcomes that. And that's what we've seen occur. And we know that in other states and territories are also fighting lockdowns. I'm here in the ACT, in the middle of a lockdown. And there's one in Victoria which has been extended. The Delta strain changes everything. And I think Australians understand that. New South Wales did incredibly well over a long period of time, not having to lockdown in the past, having been able to overcome earlier ways and prevent them.

Koch: But should they have this time? Harder and sooner and followed a lot of the Labor states who go quickly and hard? 

Prime Minister: Oh, I think the lessons of this are obvious and the Premier has already made that point. And I don't think there's a lot to be gained from going over that ground. I mean, what needs to be done now is focusing on what we need to do now. And that is, you know, getting those doses here, which we've done, people staying at home. I again say to our fellow Sydneysiders, just please stay at home. If you don't need to go out, don't. Stay at home. That's how we beat this thing. 

Koch: Yeah. Just finally, Afghanistan, news overnight that Kabul has fallen to the Taliban. The Afghanistan President has fled the country. You were going to send a mercy flight this week to pick up the friends of Australia, the interpreters, the contractors who helped our troops there. Are you still going to be able to send it? 

Prime Minister: Well, first of all, I can't really talk about operations, but what I can tell you is since April of this year, we've obviously been anticipating this situation. We shut down our mission in May of this year. We've already got out since April, 430 locally engaged Afghan employees, people working with us and their families. We've been moving on that programme with great speed over these many months. And we're continuing to work with our partners and our allies about the desperate situation that's there. 

I'm also working with the New Zealand Government. I spoke to Prime Minister Ardern last night. The Foreign Minister, Marise Payne, is speaking  to Secretary Blinken this morning. We are convening again, we did on the weekend, about the work we're putting in and the operations we're putting in. But let me remind everyone that the reason we went there was to trash Osama bin Laden, the reason we went there was to stop Al-Qaeda and to prevent them mounting operations from there. And so many Australians, 41 Australians have lost their lives in that cause and ultimately that's the cause of freedom. And for that, we are forever thankful. 

Koch: So have you got all of them out that need to get out, these friends of Australia? Because if you don't, you're signing their death warrant, you're leaving them for dead, aren't you? 

Prime Minister: Well, no. We will be moving everything we can to ensure we can finish the job that we started. Since 2013, we've got 1,800 people out of Afghanistan who have been working with us. As I said, 430 of those just since April. So we have been working steadily and swiftly and carefully to ensure that we’re able to achieve that. And we will continue to press forward in that very important task.

Koch: OK, to get the rest out. Prime Minister, know, you've got to go. Thanks for joining us.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43528

Interview with Allison Langdon, Today Show

16 August 2021

ALLISON LANGDON: The Prime Minister in Canberra, good morning to you, Prime Minister.

PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Ally.

LANGDON: Are you dirty with the US?

PRIME MINISTER: Very pleased that we've been able to get those million doses of hope in particularly 530,000 of them going straight into south western Sydney, where they'll be doing a very important job of those 20-39 year olds. This is an important part of supporting the lockdown that's in Sydney. These two go together, suppressing the virus through the lockdown, reducing the transmission in those key age groups. It was an area that we'd hoped to be able to take action on. And the ability to be able to get this arrangement in place with Poland has been very important.

In the United States, their situation is very different. They have hundreds and hundreds of people dying every day. They're facing their Delta wave just like so many other countries in the world. Of course, we have been having discussions with many countries around the world. But in this Delta strain around the world, what is more remarkable, I think, is the fact that we've been able to secure the million that we have.

LANGDON: But I mean, they've got 200 million doses of Pfizer that they're going to be sending around the world from August. And none of them are coming our way. You must be dirty.

PRIME MINISTER: We work closely with all our partners and we all have the priorities that we need to work with, we're putting doses into the South Pacific, into South East Asia, we're supporting places like Timor Leste. There are many calls on these doses and the fact that Australia has been able to just keep focused, as we have, on securing what we need to do. And that's what the arrangement with the Polish governments. And I think, again, Prime Minister Morawiecki, for his great support, we were able to strike up a rapport in recent months, going back a bit further than that, particularly, we're working together on some issues with the OECD. So Australia's been reaching out not just in our own region, but we've been making friends all around the world and talking to them about a lot of different issues. And so when this opportunity came up, we move very, very quickly, got on the phone, worked it also through with Pfizer. And there's 530,000 doses going into south western Sydney today. We've got one in four Australians now, double dose vaccinated. One and two will be first dose vaccinated this week. One and a half million doses a week now being done. That gets us on that path. At this rate we will achieve what we need to achieve. And that path of hope that we have with the national plan can be realised.

LANGDON: I mean, I think it's great that we've got these million doses from Poland and we thank them for sending them. But you just look at our relationship with the United States. We have done everything we possibly can to support them over the years through multiple wars. And in our moment of need, they said no, I mean that- how do you see that as anything other than a snub from Joe Biden?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, you're making assumptions about the discussions that we're having and the issues that are being raised. And …

LANGDON: So you didn't ask him and he didn't say no?

PRIME MINISTER: No, no, I didn't say that either, Ally. I'm just simply saying that we work with a lot of people around the world and we focus on where the opportunities are. All I'm focused on is getting those extra doses in. And that's what we've done. We have an excellent relationship with the United States. You focus on what's in front of you and what you need to do, and that's what Sydney needed. That's what the country needs. And those, it's not just the five hundred and thirty thousand that are going into Sydney. The balance will be going around the rest of the country. We've got lockdowns in Victoria, we've got lockdown's here in the ACT. And I'm not going to be complacent also about, you know, this could happen again in Queensland and Western Australia and no part of this country is immune from the Delta strain. So we need to address the urgent need in Sydney. But we also need to keep the national vaccination plan, which is really hitting those marks I mentioned before. So we'll focus on what we need to do here. Other countries will focus on what they need to do and and and we'll just keep working together to get this job done here in Australia.

LANGDON: So do we have any future doses coming from the US?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, when and if I'm ever in a position to announce further, but what we have coming from September and October, particularly in October, is that's when our doses really ramp up in that fourth quarter. As I said we've already got the additional, the new Moderna doses coming in September. The critical need we've had is particularly been in this month. And that's why and especially with the lockdown in Sydney enduring, then getting them this month has been very important. That's why I'm very pleased we were able to secure those additional doses out of Poland.

LANGDON: So what is the plan where more people have had the jab? Will you need to be vaccinated to go to say a concert, to a museum, to a bar or a restaurant?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, what exemptions are given to vaccinated people, that's what we're working through right now with the states and territories. They're the ones who put those rules in place. And I'm trying to get some consistency in how they do that across the country, because it's quite straightforward. If you're vaccinated, well, you're less at risk of contracting the virus yourself. You're less at risk of transmitting it to someone else. You're less at risk of getting a serious illness and being hospitalised and you're less at risk of dying. So obviously, if you're vaccinated, you present less of a public health risk to others in the community. And if you're not vaccinated, you're more exposed, you're more vulnerable. And so it's only common sense that in that situation, you would have arrangements that protected those who are vulnerable. And that means exemptions could still well apply there. But if you are vaccinated, well, there would be no need for those exemptions to apply in the same way. So it's a practical health issue. That's what it's about.

LANGDON: Do you agree that COVID zero is no longer possible for New South Wales?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, COVID zero was never the goal of anybody anywhere. The idea that you can eliminate this thing is just, it's just not realistic. And it's never been Australia's goal. It's never been our goal. And I think it is very difficult now to get it.

LANGDON: It's WA's goal.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's not the country's goal and it's not the goal of the national plan and never has been. The suppression strategy has always been Australia's policy. But let me make the point about New South Wales. The case numbers where they are, we have to get them as low as we possibly can. The idea of getting to zero cases in community transmission is obviously a Herculean challenge. But we have to continue to focus on getting them down because the stronger we go into the next phase at 70 per cent, the more we will be able to ease things up. The higher the case numbers are, the more limitations that puts on us. So that's why I say to everybody who is in lockdown, whether in New South Wales, Victoria or here in Canberra in the ACT, is let's make it work, stay at home, stay positive. A million doses of hope there to encourage people. A plan of hope through the national plan that when we get to 70 and 80 per cent, we'll be able to move the country forward. That's what we need to focus on. Let's just keep focusing forward. We've had plenty of setbacks along the way. But we're getting over the top of them.

LANGDON: I think COVID zero is the plan for WA. I think it's also the plan for Victoria and Queensland. Does that mean they're not part of Australia?

PRIME MINISTER: No, that's not my understanding, and it's for those premiers, I mean, who have committed to the national plan for which COVID zero is not the national plan. All of them have signed up to the national plan. Not just once but three times …

LANGDON: Yesterday, I apologise for interrupting, but you had Mark McGowan say yesterday that even when we reach 80 percent vaccination, he's not going to open up if there is COVID in the community.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, this is- when we get to 80 per cent, this is what the Doherty medical advice, scientific advice, best in the world and the economic advice says: once you get to those levels of vaccination, it is against the country's interests to actually do that. It cost the economy more and it doesn't get the health effects because once you get to 80 per cent, you can treat it like the flu. The rate of hospitalisation, serious illness and disease is equivalent to the flu. Now, we don't go and shut down the whole country because of the flu every year. And so that is what the medical advice says. And that's been made very transparent and clear to everybody who sits around the table. And so really, that national plan that everybody has signed up to, it's actually a commitment they've made to the Australian people and people in their own states about the pathway out. And that pathway out is important because that's encouraging people to get vaccinated. And so to run down the plan is to actually undermine the vaccination programme.

LANGDON: Look, I mean, Prime Minister, I feel for you in the job you've got at the moment trying to bring a country together. You've got New South Wales, Melbourne in lockdown, all of this. We've got huge, huge payment support payments going out. I mean, I don't even want to think about where this ends in the kind of debt we're facing. There's a lot on your plate, which is what you're trying to juggle at the same time. We do have to go. I just want to ask you, I mean, just looking at those pictures of the Taliban now in Kabul overnight, I think everyone's been surprised by how quickly the country has fallen to them. How do you feel seeing and looking at those pictures and what does that mean? What our efforts were all for?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's a very distressing situation. But let me reassure people that we have been moving on this for some time. Since April, we've been able to get 430, bit more than that, of those locally engaged Afghan employees, people working with us and their families out of Afghanistan and here and into Australia. And they're already here. We've resettled about 1,800 over the course of these past many years while we've been in government and bringing people to Australia who've helped us, which we shut down our embassy in May in anticipation of these types of events. We are still working on to ensure that we can safely remove people from that situation with our partners and our allies. I can't go too much into the operational details of this, but let me say this about our presence there. We went there to stop Osama bin Laden and to stop Al-Qaeda having a base of operations in Afghanistan. And that's what was achieved. We were there in the cause of freedom. And every Australian who fell in that cause. An Australian who, of course, falls in that cause is a national hero. And for that, we are forever thankful and they've died in a great cause.

LANGDON: All right, Prime Minister, we always appreciate your time. Thanks for joining us this morning.

PRIME MINISTER: Thanks a lot, Ally. Appreciate your time.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43527

Statement on Afghanistan

16 August 2021

Prime Minister, Minister for Defence, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Women

The situation on the ground in Kabul, as in the rest of Afghanistan, is evolving rapidly.

As in any crisis situation, the Australian Government’s priority is to ensure the safety of its citizens. We have over 130 Australians in Afghanistan, working in the UN, NGOs, and elsewhere, and we are working to bring them and their families home.

We are also assisting those who have been granted humanitarian visas, and others who are in the process of applying for protection.

We are closely connected to the US, UK, Canada, and other allies and partners.

As a partner committed for many years to helping Afghanistan build its future, we are deeply concerned at the potential for further loss of life and suffering.

The Taliban must cease all violence against civilians, and adhere to international humanitarian law and the human rights all Afghans are entitled to expect, in particular women and girls. The Taliban will be held fully accountable for any killing or other mistreatment of Afghan military and other security forces who have surrendered or been captured. Afghan Government officials and elected political leaders are fully entitled to be treated with safety, respect and dignity.

The Taliban’s leadership is responsible and accountable for the conduct of its forces.

Those preparing to leave the country must be able to do so without threat or hinderance. We will continue to work with key partners in the days ahead to enable this safe passage.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44097

One Million Doses of Pfizer Vaccine from Europe Boosting Australian Supplies

15 August 2021

Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Women, Minister for Health and Aged Care

One million additional Pfizer doses will begin arriving in Australia from tonight after a significant agreement was reached with the Republic of Poland.

The additional doses are on top of the 40 million Pfizer doses that Australia has already secured for 2021, and will provide a boost to the vaccine roll-out across the country.

The one million doses will be targeted to Australians aged 20 to 39 years of age, who were identified in the Doherty Modelling as the peak transmitters of COVID-19.

530,010 doses will be prioritised for express delivery to the 12 Greater Sydney Local Government Areas where the COVID-19 outbreak continues to grow, following advice from the Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly.

This will give everyone aged 20 to 39 years in the 12 LGAs the opportunity to be vaccinated.

The remaining 470,340 Pfizer doses will be distributed on a per capita basis to other states and territories, to fast-track the vaccination of 20 to 39 year olds and other high risk groups.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the new Pfizer doses would start being administered in State Clinics across Greater Sydney this week.

“There are a million doses of hope on their way,” the Prime Minister said.

“Within days of landing in Australia, these extra Pfizer doses will be available to go into the arms of young Australians in our hardest hit COVID hot-spots.

“These young Australians are often the backbone of our essential workforce and these doses will not only protect them, but their loved ones, their state and our nation.

“We can get on top of this by working together to suppress and vaccinate.

“I want to personally thank Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and his government for their generous support of Australia’s COVID-19 response, during this challenging time.

“We continue to leave no stone unturned in the supply and administration of vaccines to protect Australian lives and livelihoods.”

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Marise Payne, said Australia’s network of diplomats was working hard to identify opportunities to secure additional vaccine supplies.

“This is a demonstration of the value of Australia’s close engagement with other governments and a strong example of countries cooperating and supporting one another as we face the pandemic together,” Minister Payne said.

“This deal also illustrates that our diplomatic capability is delivering in ways that protect and support Australians at home and abroad throughout this pandemic.”

Australia purchased surplus vaccines, which were produced at Pfizer’s Belgium facility, on a not-for-profit basis from the Republic of Poland. These are the same highly safe and effective Pfizer vaccines that are currently being administered in Australia.

These additional one million come on top of the three million doses of Pfizer brought forward from the fourth quarter to now, which has increased the weekly arrivals of Pfizer from 600,000 to one million per week.

Minister for Health and Aged Care said the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has provided regulatory approval for the supply of these Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses manufactured at Pfizer’s facilities in Belgium.

“In order to ensure their quality and safety, the vaccines will undergo the same TGA batch release processes as all other COVID-19 vaccines,” Minister Hunt said.

“The TGA’s processes are I believe the best in the world and we have ensured that they are thorough.

“Our first foremost priority is the safety of all Australians and to ensure these, and all vaccines meet the stringent safety quality regulations set by our world leading TGA.”

Australia’s vaccination program has been based on the medical advice from the Science and Industry Technical Advisory Group (SITAG), Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

The 12 LGAs are: Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield and Penrith.

The per capita allocation to the remaining states and territories is: Victoria 175,500, Queensland 136,890, South Australia 47,970, Western Australia 70,200, Tasmania 17,550, Northern Territory 8,190, and the ACT 14,040.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43525

National Cabinet Statement

13 August 2021

The National Cabinet met today for the 51st time 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 38,165 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 948 people have died. More than 27.5 million tests have been undertaken. Testing has increased nationally over recent days with 1,409,573 million tests reported in the past 7 days.

Globally there have been over 205.3 million cases and sadly over 4.3 million deaths, with 684,895 new cases and 10,185 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. Australia hit another milestone of one in four eligible Australians fully vaccinated. To date 14,747,221 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Australia, including a record 270,898 in the last 24 hours. One in four Australians are now fully vaccinated. The primary care network of general practice (GPs) and pharmacy has ramped up significantly over coming weeks.

In the previous 7 days, more than 1.47 million vaccines have been administered in Australia. More than 46.6 per cent of the Australian population aged 16 years and over have now had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including over 70.9 per cent of over 50 year olds and more than 82.5 per cent of over 70 year olds.

More than 25 per cent of Australians aged 16 years and over are now fully vaccinated including more than 36.1 per cent of over 50 year olds and more than 50.9 per cent of Australians over 70 years of age.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly provided an update on current outbreaks of COVID-19. The Chief Medical Officer has announced a number of hotspots across Australia in Greater Sydney, the Hunter, Greater Melbourne and the Australian Capital Territory.

National Cabinet noted the business support packages agreed between the Commonwealth and the Victorian and ACT Governments due to their lockdowns, and with the Queensland and Tasmanian Governments due to the impact of lockdowns along the eastern seaboard.

Lieutenant General John Frewen, Coordinator-General of Operation COVID Shield, provided an update on the vaccine roll out.

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 discussed how state and territory safety regulators could amend their ‘statements of regulatory intent’ to ensure that businesses who made vaccinations voluntary would not be breaching workplace health and safety laws.

National Cabinet agreed to meet next on Friday, 20 August 2021.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-06/national-cabinet-51_13-august-2021.pdf

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44095

Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Approved for Use in Australia

9 August 2021

Prime Minister, Minister for Health and Aged Care

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has today provided provisional approval of the Moderna vaccine for use in Australian adults.

The provisional approval of Moderna’s vaccine means it has met all the TGA’s strict standards of safety, quality and efficacy for use in people aged 18 years and over to prevent symptomatic and severe COVID-19.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the TGA approval would provide another shot in the arm for Australia’s vaccination rollout.

“Our world-class regulator, the TGA, has given the green light to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, finding it safe, effective and the best way to stop severe illness and hospitalisation,” the Prime Minister said.

“Every vaccination saves lives and gets us one step closer to reaching 70 per cent of Australians, aged over 16, vaccinated before the end of the year.

“Our National Plan is working with the vaccination rollout ramping up, with more than 1.3 million vaccines administered in just one week. Now we have Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca available as well as more doctors, more nurses and more pharmacists to help get jabs in arms.”

The TGA approval notes the Moderna vaccine will require two doses to be administered 28 days apart.

The Australian Government has already secured 25 million Moderna doses, with the first million expected to arrive in September. Planning is underway for these vaccines to rollout through approved pharmacies and other providers.

A total of 10 million doses will be dispatched to Australia in 2021, and a further 15 million booster doses in the first half of 2022.

Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said: “Today’s approval is a further important step forward for Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout.”

“We expect the Moderna vaccine to be available as an option for eligible Australians from September 2021, after final advice from ATAGI is received,” Minister Hunt said.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) COVID-19 Working Group will factor the provisional approval and supplies of the Moderna vaccine into their future advice regarding the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

The Moderna vaccine is an mRNA vaccine, the same vaccine type as the Pfizer vaccine, which is already in use in Australia.

The Moderna vaccine has been found to have strong efficacy in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and severe COVID-19 in clinical trials. It is being widely used in the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union, the United States and Singapore, where it has either regulatory approval or emergency authorisation.

The provisional approval and inclusion of the vaccine in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) was able to be expedited with the TGA accepting rolling data submissions for review, collaboration with international regulators, and proactive work with the sponsor, Moderna.

Data to support the use of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine in younger Australians, aged 12 to 17 years, is being reviewed by the TGA and further decisions may be made in the coming weeks.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43520

Support for South Australian Small Businesses Impacted by Covid-19

9 August 2021

Prime Minister, Treasurer, Premier of South Australia

A new jointly-funded package from the Commonwealth and South Australian Governments will give local small and medium businesses impacted by ongoing density and other trading restrictions further financial support as they continue to recover from the recent lockdown.

The new South Australian COVID-19 Additional Business Support Grant - will deliver about an extra $40 million in support to an estimated 19,000 local businesses in eligible industries – such as hospitality, performing art venues, artists and performers, tourism, gyms, and transport.

The package will be split on a 50/50 basis between the Commonwealth and the South Australian Governments, with the state government to administer the program.

The new package includes:

• $3,000 cash grants for employing businesses and $1,000 for non-employing businesses (e.g. sole traders) in eligible industry sectors that have experienced a decline in turnover of 30 per cent or more over a two-week period as a result of the COVID-19 trading restrictions introduced from 28 July 2021.

• An additional CBD grant of $1,000 will be available for eligible businesses (both employing and non-employing) with a commercial premise in the Adelaide CBD (postcode 5000), in recognition of the increased impact on city businesses as a result of people working from home.

In addition, a new Major Events Support Grant of up to $25,000 for eligible events that were either cancelled, or suffered a significant financial loss, as a result of having to be cancelled or postponed due to the COVID-19 lock down in July or further restrictions to 4 August will be funded by the South Australian Government.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Commonwealth and South Australian governments would continue to do what is necessary to support South Australian businesses deal with the evolving challenges of COVID-19.

“We are stepping up to provide more support to South Australian businesses that have been impacted by on-going COVID-19 restrictions that are keeping the state safe,” the Prime Minister said.  

“Already we have provided more than $40 million to South Australian workers through the COVID-19 Disaster Payment and now we are ramping up our business payments.

“We need to protect jobs and support South Australian businesses to get through this difficult time so they can help drive our economic recovery as we plan our way out of this pandemic.

“Our support has never been set and forget and we will continue to work with the Marshall Government to ensure our funding reaches those small and medium businesses that need it.”

Premier of South Australia Steven Marshall said the additional supports were part of a robust and agile plan to keep our community safe and our economy strong amidst the COVID-19 threat.

“South Australia has recently been recognised as the most liveable state in the nation and our COVID recovery plan is focussed on standing shoulder-to-shoulder with small businesses as we navigate our way out of the global pandemic,” Premier Marshall said. 

“South Australians have done an incredible job of working together and now is the time to continue to pull together to support our hardworking small businesses who are the backbone of the state’s economy.”

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

“The Morrison Government recognises that despite the lockdown having ended, ongoing health restrictions continue to have a significant impact on businesses right across the state,” the Treasurer said.

“We will continue to work with the Marshall Government to ensure the South Australian economy bounces back from its most recent lockdown.

“Since the start of the pandemic the Morrison Government has delivered more than $9.4 billion to South Australian families and businesses to support them in their time of need.”

South Australian Treasurer Rob Lucas said the Marshall Liberal Government was doing everything in its power to save as many businesses and local jobs as possible.

“We recognise the significant impact the ongoing restrictions are having on businesses throughout the state, but particularly those in the Adelaide CBD and in certain industry sectors such as hospitality, tourism and events,” said Treasurer Lucas.

“This new support package will provide extra cash grants for those businesses that continue to do it tough, to help them cover operating costs such as rent, wages and utilities and help them continue to trade through this period. Our support package is modelled on the Victorian Government model targeted at eligible businesses in identified ANZSIC industry classes.

“The new jointly funded support is in addition to the $100 million Business Support Package, announced during the state’s recent 7-day lockdown.

“Already more than $26 million in cash grants has been paid to 9036 businesses through this package – from bakeries, butchers and hairdressers to beauty salons, gyms and automotive repairers - as we work to get the money out the door and into the pockets of hardworking businesses as quickly as possible.”

Under the combined packages, an eligible CBD business that employs staff, including a pub, café or restaurant, would receive $7,000 in cash grants ($3,000 + $3,000 + $1,000 CBD grant) to support their ongoing COVID recovery.

Applications will open 13 August and will close on 17 October 2021.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43519

Pacific Islands Forum

6 August 2021

Today, I met with leaders from across the Pacific for the 51st Pacific Islands virtual Forum.

Leaders agreed to a number of important steps to secure the future of our region.

COVID-19 continues to pose a real challenge and Australia will work alongside our Pacific family to maintain a resilient, sustainable and secure region.

I was pleased to announce that Australia will work with our Pacific family on vaccine certification, to ensure our region can safely reopen to international travel as soon as possible.

Between now and March 2022, Australia will also double the number of Pacific workers in Australia under the Pacific Labour Scheme and the Seasonal Worker Programme, bringing in an extra 12,500 workers.

This will provide increased economic opportunities to the Pacific and benefit Australian businesses who have a huge appreciation for Pacific workers.

Australia also joined the Declaration on Preserving Maritime Zones Against Climate Change-related Sea-Level Rise.

The Declaration is ground-breaking. It will protect the security of all Forum members and I congratulate our Pacific family on this milestone.

Discussions today built on conversations in February this year. Leaders had a productive discussion on membership and maintaining Forum unity, identifying paths for the Forum’s next 50 years.

For 50 years, the Pacific Islands Forum has helped to keep our Pacific family peaceful and secure. The Forum remains the pre-eminent place for regional dialogue. 

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44094

National Cabinet Statement

6 August 2021

The National Cabinet met today for the 50th time 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 35,688 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 932 people have died. More than 26.1 million tests have been undertaken. Testing has increased nationally over recent days with 1,289,345 million tests reported in the past 7 days.

Globally there have been over 200.8 million cases and sadly over 4.2 million deaths, with 580,293 new cases and 9,681 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge in many countries around the world.

Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues to expand. To date 13.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Australia, including a record 240,039 in the previous 24 hours.

In the previous 7 days, more than 1.2 million vaccines have been administered in Australia. More than 43 per cent of the Australian population aged 16 years and over have now had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including over 67.7 per cent of over 50 year olds and more than 80.5 per cent of over 70 year olds.

More than 21.3 per cent of Australians aged 16 years and over are now fully vaccinated including more than 30.2 per cent of over 50 year olds and more than 45.8 per cent of Australians over 70 years of age.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly provided an update on current outbreaks of COVID-19. The Chief Medical Officer has announced a number of hotspots across Australia in Greater Sydney, the Hunter, South East Queensland and Greater Melbourne.

National Cabinet noted the support package agreed between the Commonwealth and the Victorian Government to progress COVID-19 Disaster Payments and business payments during the current outbreak.

Lieutenant General John Frewen, Coordinator-General of Operation COVID Shield, provided an update on the vaccine rollout.

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 noted the bring forward of additional Pfizer vaccines in hotspot areas in respect of the current NSW and Queensland Hotspot areas. A separate request has today been received by Operation COVID Shield from Victoria.

National Cabinet agreed to meet next on Friday, 13 August 2021.

National Plan to Transition Australia’s COVID-19 Response

National Cabinet fully agreed to the four-step National Plan PDF 192KB (attached) to transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response. 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 public health management of COVID-19 is consistent with other infectious diseases.

The National Plan will move between phases once Australia reaches key vaccination thresholds - moving to Phase B once 70 per cent of the Australian population 16 years of age and older is fully vaccinated and Phase C once 80 per cent fully vaccinated threshold is met.

Doherty Modelling

National Cabinet agreed to further analysis under the National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response, with the Doherty Institute to model optimisation of the public health measures and managing outbreak responses and scenarios to support vulnerable cohorts and areas with low vaccination uptake.

Rapid Antigen Test

National Cabinet noted that polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing will continue to be the priority testing method for Australia’s health response to COVID-19.

National Cabinet agreed to commence further work on the use of Rapid Antigen Tests, including their potential use under Phase B and Phase C of the National Plan to Transition Australia’s COVID-19 Response.

Through Phase A, Rapid Antigen Tests may continue to be used by industry and through targeted trials as per advice of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

Employee Vaccinations

National Cabinet received a briefing from the Solicitor General on the use of vaccinations in the workplace.

Australia’s policy remains that vaccines should be voluntary and free.

Businesses have a legal obligation to keep their workplaces safe and to eliminate or minimise so far as ‘reasonably practicable’ the risk of exposure to COVID-19.

In general, in the absence of a State or Territory public health order or a requirement in an employment contract or industrial instrument, an employer can only mandate that an employee be vaccinated through a lawful and reasonable direction.

Decisions to require COVID-19 vaccinations for employees will be a matter for individual business, taking into account their particular circumstances and their obligations under safety, anti-discrimination and privacy laws.

Businesses are encouraged to review guidance provided by the Fair Work Ombudsman and Safe Work Australia in considering what directions may be lawful and reasonable, and the approach to keeping workplaces safe through the use of vaccinations.

Women’s Safety and Economic Security

National Cabinet agreed on a Nationally Consistent Framework for Measuring Progress of Women’s Economic Security. The Reporting Framework will provide a roadmap for the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments to highlight their existing measures, identify gaps and plan future investments to improve women’s economic security.

All states and territories have now provided their responses to the Sex Discrimination Commissioner’s Respect@Work Report, along with a summary of their support for women’s economic security, and all governments continue their important work on developing the next National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-06/national-plan-060821_0.pdf

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-44093

Closing the Gap Implementation Plan - Australian Parliament House, ACT

5 August 2021

PRIME MINISTER: Mr Speaker,

Here, and in other locations around Australia, our Parliament draws together to remember, to reflect and remind ourselves of at least 65,000 years of stewardship by the original custodians of this land.

Indigenous Peoples who love this country - its lands and its waters - and have cared for it since time immemorial.

We pay our respects to the Ngunnawal people and our First Peoples across our great continent - and to their elders, past and present and emerging.

And here and elsewhere around the world, Indigenous Australians are serving in our Australian Defence Forces - protecting Australians, advancing our interests and a world that favours freedom.

And over in Tokyo, Patty Mills leads the Boomers today.

On this day, I also honour the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who serve in this Parliament, in both Chambers.

The Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians. Two historic figures of this place and of our nation, of whom we can be very proud.

I honour Senator Dodson, Senator McCarthy, Senator Lambie, and Senator Thorpe.

COVID restrictions mean we cannot be joined in the Chamber here today by Pat Turner and her colleagues across the Coalition of Peaks, but I want to pay personal tribute to them, and to Pat in particular, for the partnership being built together, for the trust being established, the respect being shared. It is already bearing fruit.

I’ve always said that Closing the Gap is, at its core, about children.

The ultimate test of our efforts is that every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boy or girl can grow up with the same opportunities and the same expectations as any other Australian child.

Or to put it a different way, that any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child can walk uninhibited in two worlds - to feel at home wherever they walk in our country.

Mr Speaker, this month marks fifty years since an Aboriginal Australian first spoke in this Parliament.

Neville Bonner was born on a small island at the mouth of the Tweed River.

His mother gave birth to him in a gunyah, under a palm tree - she wasn’t allowed in the local hospital.

Neville’s schooling was patchy.

His mother died when he was 11.

And for much of his childhood, most schools wouldn’t take him - and he hit the road with a swag at 15.  

As a young man, Neville tried to enlist to serve.

He was rejected - again, because of the colour of his skin.

From his earliest years, Australian society told Neville Bonner he could not walk freely in two worlds.

Daily injustices - fuelled by institutionalised discrimination - followed him through his life.

But like Ken, like so many others, Neville found a strength to rise above it.

To claim for himself the truths of a free nation.

In remembering Neville Bonner, we need to remember the full story.

The derogatory names he was called because his politics didn’t fit the zeitgeist. Warren Mundine, Jacinta Price can testify to that.

And the colleagues, who treated him as an equal in the Chamber, but never saw fit to invite him for dinner or a drink.

Old Parliament House has in its collection Neville’s diary and pillow.

In the diary, Neville reflected on the isolation of Canberra.

And the pillow was there for the late night sittings - he knew there was nowhere else for him to be than in his office.

As Ken says: ‘What a picture of loneliness.’

Progress and cold-heartedness side-by-side.

What a missed opportunity - to listen and to learn.

That failure to listen and to learn has been part of our journey for too long.

Thirteen years ago the Parliament rightly apologised to the Stolen Generations. So many of us stood here.

It was a moment of great reckoning, it was a moment of grace.

But in the years that followed, the Closing the Gap process, born of the best intentions, remained hard of hearing.

We still thought we knew better.

It was why our Government brought together a new 10-year National Partnership Agreement, signed by all Australian governments, the Coalition of Peaks and the Australian Local Government Association.
And from that Partnership, the National Agreement on Closing the Gap was born.
Today, we make the promises of that Agreement real with the presentation, as tabled, of the first Commonwealth Implementation Plan.

In financial commitments, partnership, shared accountability and scope, this is the most significant and comprehensive response to the Closing the Gap that our Government has ever provided.

Mr Speaker, our Senior Australian of the Year, Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Bauman speaks of the concept of dadirri.

A word spoken by Aboriginal people in the Daly River region of the Northern Territory.

What dadirri refers to is ‘a deep inner spring inside us’.

It’s ‘the pursuit of inner deep listening’.

Miriam-Rose says: ‘We call on it, and it calls on us.’

With the Implementation Plan I table today, we are making good on our commitment to do things differently.

A path that requires deep listening - dadirri.

That requires learning.

Accountability.

Transparency.

And a genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and organisations - a partnership generations overdue, built on mutual respect, dignity, and above all, trust.

I’m under no illusion that this will happen overnight.

As Pat Turner says: ‘The path being forged is rocky.’

But with the Coalition of Peaks, the states and territories and local governments, we’re working together to smooth that path.

Mr Speaker, the true value of the National Agreement is who it empowers and what it inspires.

In a significant departure from what we’ve done before, each of the states and territories, and the Coalition of Peaks, will be responsible for their own actions, and their own Plans.

Another departure is that all of us will be independently and collectively accountable.

I will table an annual Commonwealth progress report, around this same time every year.

Each of us, the states and territories, will separately deliver theirs.

And all of us will reprioritise our investments to do things that we know will work.

To help us understand what the evidence says - and our progress - the Productivity Commission will release an annual report on the outcomes and Priority Reforms.

The first of those reports was released last week.

On life expectancy, we’re doing better. But we’re not where we want to be.

On getting kids into preschool, we’re tracking well.

On incarceration rates, we’re not achieving what we need to.

On youth detention we are making progress, but the data tells us we still have a long way to go.

As well as the annual reports, the Productivity Commission will also present an independent review once every three years.

After each report by the Productivity Commission, an independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led report will deepen the data, and give us a picture of the change happening on the ground.

Overall, it’ll be a far more rigorous assessment of the data - and the data will be updated in real time for all Australians to see.

Mr Speaker, we have many years of hard work ahead of us, as we have behind us.

The first Commonwealth Implementation Plan - with more than $1 billion worth of new, targeted measures - lays the foundation for this work.

The Plan is an overview of Commonwealth actions to Close the Gap.

It’s aligned to the four Priority Reforms and the 17 socio-economic outcomes set in the National Agreement, including new target areas such as justice and Indigenous languages.

Critically, the measures we’re funding reflect a sharpened set of priorities.

Again, we haven’t defined these priorities unilaterally.

Instead, they are priorities offered and agreed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples themselves.

The first of these new priorities is simply to collaborate better.

And to do that by building better structures for genuine partnership and joint decision-making.

That’s why we have our Joint Council - co-chaired by Ken and Pat - that includes ministers from each state and territory, 12 members of the Coalition of Peaks, and a representative from the Local Government Association.

Equal representation, right around the table.

The Joint Council builds on the partnerships that are happening at the jurisdictional and Commonwealth levels. The Joint Council is meeting tomorrow to commence its work bringing all of the implementation plans together to form a thorough, layered, national plan.

The second priority is to build up Indigenous organisations.

To empower community-controlled sectors to do what they already do best: deliver the services that support Closing the Gap.

The example I keep going back to is the outstanding job the National Aboriginal [Community] Controlled Health Organisation has done during this pandemic.

The contribution of Pat Turner, Dawn Casey, and NACCHO in keeping vulnerable Australians safe has been nothing short of extraordinary.

The fact that no Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person has died from COVID-19 in Australia, and there have been no cases in remote communities, is one of the most significant pandemic achievements Australia has had.

And Indigenous Australians have been six times less likely to contract COVID-19 than the wider population.

That shows what happens when we work in partnership.

But we must invest in the capabilities of such partnerships.

And that’s why this Implementation Plan includes $38.6 million for an Outcomes and Evidence Fund.

It will support genuine co-design between government and Aboriginal [Community] Controlled Organisations and other local providers to deliver the best possible services for families and children.

This goes to the heart of the third priority area, which is about transformation of government.

We seek to understand in detail how our systems can knowingly or otherwise perpetuate racism.

The new chapter of Closing the Gap simply won’t succeed without it.

The last priority reform area is about data.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations need to be able to collect, analyse, and use their own data to meet their own needs.

Mr Speaker, in this new plan, with $1 billion in new measures, one measure will mean more, I know, than any other.

And that relates to the Stolen Generations.

What happened is a shameful chapter in our national story.

We have already confronted it with the National Apology.

But our deeds must continue to match our words.

Earlier this year, I met with The Healing Foundation and listened to the stories - not simply stories of the past, but stories that continue to reverberate throughout the generations.

So, today I announce that the Commonwealth’s investing $378.6 million in a new scheme for the Stolen Generations - for survivors who were removed as children from their families in former Commonwealth territories: the Northern Territory, the Jervis Bay Territory, and here in the ACT, the Australian Capital Territory.

The scheme will involve a one-off payment in recognition of the harm caused by forced removal.

And it will give each survivor the opportunity to, should they wish, tell their story, and receive an individual apology.

This is a long-called-for step.

Recognising the bond between healing, dignity, and the health and wellbeing of members of the Stolen Generations, their families and their communities.
To say formally not just that we’re deeply sorry for what happened, but that we will take responsibility for it.

Mr Speaker, I turn now to the other aspects of the Commonwealth Implementation Plan.

Tangible actions that are directly linked to clear targets.

Targets that we’ll be held accountable for in the years ahead.

Measures that are both new - in the Priority Reforms, of justice, and languages - and measures that need continued investment to deliver a longer term impact.

I’ve spoken already about investing in the community-controlled sector.

The Commonwealth is providing an extra $254.4 million towards infrastructure to better support Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to do their work, their critical work, on their terms.

The Plan also has a new focus on justice.

Of course, the Commonwealth doesn’t manage those justice systems.

Where the Commonwealth can make a difference is in bringing people together.

That’s what our Justice Policy Partnership hopes to do - and it will be on the agenda at tomorrow’s Joint Council meeting.

The Commonwealth is also in a position to provide additional funding for some of the services it supports.

So, in this first Plan, $9.3 million is there for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service to better manage complex cases and coronial inquiries.

And $8.2 million for family dispute resolution programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

This all feeds into the new targets we’ve set: that by 2031, we will reduce the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults incarcerated by at least 15 per cent, and the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in detention by 30 per cent.

Up until now, we’ve put the economic and social determinants of health at the centre of our approach.

Today, we understand that cultural determinants of health are important too.

Because a person’s sense of community and culture is inherently bound to their physical and emotional wellbeing.

It’s bound to their dignity as a human.

Earlier I used the word, dadirri.

Dadirri is one of the thousands of Indigenous words and concepts that are a gift to all Australians.

Concepts that can never adequately be translated into English.

And tell us so much about the nuanced and powerful connections First Australians make between self, and community, and the land.

These words are part of the rich inheritance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

An inheritance that Closing the Gap will, from now on, specifically seek to protect.

At the latest count, there were 123 Aboriginal languages still being spoken. Of those, only 14 were considered strong.

Our target is a steady increase in the number and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages being spoken between now and 2031.

And we’re committing $22.8 million to support this effort.

Then, you have the areas of long-term impact.

The first is ensuring the best start in life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

The Commonwealth is investing more than $160 million in this effort.

This includes the Early Childhood Package announced yesterday - some $122.6 million to lift participation in quality and culturally-appropriate early childhood education and care.

Our investment also flows into school education - initiatives like building on country boarding schools, to which we’re contributing $75 million.

City-Country School Partnerships - an investment of $26 million.

And Scaling Up Success - an investment of $25 million to make sure primary school kids are taught using the best evidence-based programs.

And to keep women and children safe, the Plan is also investing in supporting Indigenous families with complex needs.

Again, I want to emphasise that this Commonwealth Implementation Plan, and the proposals in it, it just forms one part of a larger whole.

There are ten Implementation Plans like it - one for each jurisdiction, the Peaks and the Australian Local Government Association.

And all of them will be presented to the Joint Council meeting tomorrow.

And all of them will be tracked and further shaped as we learn more about what is working, and what needs to improve.

To go back to Pat’s words, the road ahead will be rocky.

I don’t doubt that.

We don’t expect to see clear improvements immediately. But I think the approach we’ve got now gives us the best chance.

Mr Speaker, on occasions like this, we quite rightly focus on the gaps that we need to fill.

And look to the places where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders do not have the same opportunities as other Australians.

And it’s right that we do so.

But let us not forget the richness and achievement that also inspires us.

Across this country, in most fields of endeavour, we are seeing confident, strong and empathetic Indigenous leadership emerge.

We see it expressed here in this Parliament - with voices adding to our national life in politics, the arts, and business, and sport.

May our country be a country of voices not silence - because liberal democracies are all about giving voice.

And in our country it is also dadirri.

The deep listening of soul.

A listening that is not rushed. Rather, it is careful, it is thoughtful, it is considered.

I can report to the House that the Minister for Indigenous Australians has received the Indigenous Voice Co-Design Process Final Report.

The report was submitted by Senior Adviser Group Co-Chairs, Professor Dr Marcia Langton AO and Professor Tom Calma AO, following 18 months of extensive co-design engagement.

And I want to thank them and the members of the co-design group for the care they have brought to this task.

And we will consider the details of the Final Report and respond in the future following consideration by the Cabinet.

The first step was to define the detail of an Indigenous Voice.

The Indigenous Voice will contribute to achieving the Closing the Gap outcomes by providing avenues at the national, local and regional levels for Indigenous voices to be heard, including to provide feedback to Government on Closing the Gap.

Once a model for the Indigenous Voice has been developed, all Governments will need to explore how they can work with the Voice to ensure that these views are considered.

Some might want this process to be faster. I want it to be right.

We have to learn from each other, and we will, as we walk and reason together, side by side as sons and daughters of this great continent.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43516

Stolen Generations Redress Scheme

5 August 2021

Prime Minister, Minister for Indigenous Australians

The Morrison Government is delivering $378.6 million for a financial and wellbeing redress scheme for living Stolen Generations members who were removed as children from their families in the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory prior to their respective self-government and the Jervis Bay Territory.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was committed to delivering practical action on a long-standing issue of national importance.

“Earlier this year I met with the Healing Foundation and survivors of the stolen generations and I committed then that I would look at this important issue,” the Prime Minister said.

“Today we are delivering on that commitment with practical action that will positively impact the health and wellbeing of Stolen Generations survivors, their families and communities.”

Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt said that supporting intergenerational healing was key to the Morrison Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap.

“Through the Commonwealth’s Closing the Gap Implementation Plan, the Morrison Government is committed to working in partnership and listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” Minister Wyatt said.

“This announcement reflects the Government’s commitment to recognise and acknowledge the wrongs of the past as part of the nation’s journey to reconciliation, and this scheme represents a major step forward towards healing.”

The scheme will provide eligible applicants:

• A one-off payment of $75,000 in recognition of the harm caused by forced removal.

• A one-off healing assistance payment of $7,000 in recognition that the action to facilitate healing will be specific to each individual.

• The opportunity, if they choose, for each survivor to confidentially tell their story about the impact of their removal to a senior official within government, have it acknowledged and receive a face-to-face or written apology for their removal and resulting trauma.

The scheme will be open for applications from 1 March 2022 and will run until June 2026. While states will manage arrangements in their jurisdictions, the Morrison Government is ensuring this scheme is available in the territories administered by the Commonwealth in the past.

The Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme is part of $1 billion in new investments committed by the Commonwealth to implement the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Additional information

To be eligible for the scheme, recipients would be:

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people,

• under the age of 18 years at the time they were removed from their family by government bodies (including the police), churches/missions and/or welfare bodies, and in circumstances where their Indigeneity was a factor in their removal, and

• removed whilst living in the Northern Territory or in the Australian Capital Territory prior to their respective self-government or the Jervis Bay Territory.

The National Indigenous Australians Agency is working to establish the scheme over the next seven months, with the scheme open for applications from 1 March 2022.

Families of a Stolen Generations member who passes between 5 August 2021 and 1 March 2022 will be able to submit an application on their behalf.

The scheme will receive applications until 28 February 2026, with the remaining four months of the scheme providing time to process final applications, complete the personal responses and conduct an evaluation.

https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43515