Media Releases
Special Envoy for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
6 September 2021
I am pleased to announce that Mr Ted O’Brien MP, Member for Fairfax, has accepted the role of Special Envoy for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, commencing immediately.
Hosting the Games is a remarkable opportunity for both Queensland and Australia to lock in economic and social benefits for years to come.
Mr O’Brien played an integral role in securing the rights for Brisbane to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games as my personal representative for Brisbane’s candidature. This role will see Mr O’Brien engaging with businesses and the community to ensure the Commonwealth retains an ongoing dialogue with, and understanding of, the key interests of the Queensland community.
He will report directly to me and also work closely with the Minister for Sport, Richard Colbeck, and the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Paul Fletcher, to help deliver on the Commonwealth’s partnership with the Queensland Government and other Games partners to make Brisbane 2032 a world-class Games with a lasting legacy.
I congratulate Mr O’Brien and look forward to continuing to work with him.
Four Million Pfizer Doses Arrive to Super-Charge Vaccine Roll Out
3 September 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Health and Aged Care
Four million extra Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer) vaccine doses will begin arriving in Australia in days following a historic partnership between the Australian and United Kingdom governments.
The doses will be batch tested and immediately distributed across the country on an equal population basis.
The dose sharing partnership benefits both countries and will see Australia receive four million Pfizer doses from UK supplies in September, with Australia sending four million Pfizer doses to the UK from Australian supplies in late 2021.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said no stone was left unturned in the global search to find additional vaccines and urged Australians to step up and get vaccinated.
“This deal is a game-changer for our vaccine roll out,” the Prime Minster said.
“Millions of Australians will now be able to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated sooner as we follow our National Plan to safely reopen.
“With this significant supply boost, I want to work with our GP network and state run vaccine hubs to slash vaccine wait times and get Australians vaccinated sooner.
“Australia has no greater friend than the UK and I would like to thank the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson for his deep commitment to Australia and his personal and direct engagement on this partnership agreement. I would particularly like to thank Pfizer for their support in executing this agreement.”
This deal comes on top of the agreements with Poland and Singapore with Australia now receiving nine million Pfizer doses in September. One million Moderna doses are also expected this month.
With the nation only two million doses away from achieving the 70 per cent first dose vaccination coverage, Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt encouraged all Australians to get vaccinated.
“We are getting vaccinated in record numbers, seven million people rolled up their sleeves throughout the month of August,” Minister Hunt said.
“Every vaccination can protect somebody's life, and bring us closer to the freedoms we enjoy.
“This dose sharing agreement is mutually beneficial in that it allows UK doses that otherwise might have expired to be brought forward for use now in Australia. Equally, the UK will be able to access an equivalent number of doses later in the year at a time that will assist with their booster or other related programs.
“Along with the Singapore agreement this dose sharing agreement with the UK approximately doubles Australia’s access to Pfizer in September. It means that the balance and burden of the vaccination program will have shifted from October and November to August and September.
“I particularly want to thank my UK counterpart Health Secretary Sajid Javid who has been deeply engaged throughout the process and without whom it would not have been possible. I also want to thank our Chief Negotiator Lisa Schofield and Professor Brendan Murphy from the Department of Health,” Minister Hunt said.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne said Australia's network of diplomats are focussed on supporting Australians at home and abroad.
“The UK and Australia have always been there for each other and cooperation during the pandemic is no exception,” Minister Payne said.
“I want to thank my UK counterpart, Foreign Secretary Raab. As partners and longstanding friends, the UK and Australia face challenges together and are stronger as a result.”
Pfizer is now available for Australians aged 16-39 with bookings for 12–15 year olds open from 13 September, in line with the COVID-19 vaccination plan and expert medical advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will provide regulatory approval for these Pfizer doses from the UK through the same TGA batch release processes as with all other COVID-19 vaccines to ensure their quality and safety.
Doses from the UK will be distributed around Australia on an equal population share basis, with 60 per cent being distributed through the primary care network and 40 per cent through the state based vaccination clinics.
There are no purchase costs associated with these deals.
The doses from the UK will ensure Australia continues to ramp up the vaccine rollout program, with more than seven million doses delivered over the past month. More than 20 million doses have now been delivered across the country, with more than 1.9 million doses delivered over the past week.
United Kingdom Singapore Total
New South Wales 1,222,108 159,236 1,381,344
Victoria 999,756 131,149 1,130,905
Queensland 775,908 99,745 875,653
Western Australia 399,132 51,294 450,426
South Australia 329,233 34,934 364,167
Tasmania 119,721 10,675 130,396
Australian Capital Territory 86,797 8,344 95,141
Northern Territory 67,345 4,622 71,967
Per capita distribution
National Cabinet Statement
3 September 2021
The National Cabinet met today to discuss Australia’s COVID-19 response, recent outbreaks of COVID-19 and the Australian COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy.
National Cabinet continues to work together to address issues and find solutions for the health and economic consequences of COVID-19.
Since the beginning of the pandemic there have been 58,210 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 1,032 people have died. More than 32.2 million tests have been undertaken. Testing has increased nationally over recent days with 1,516,287 tests reported in the past 7 days.
Globally there have been over 218.9 million cases and sadly over 4.5 million deaths, with 641,267 new cases and 9,844 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 20.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Australia, including 301,399 doses in the previous 24 hours.
In the previous 7 days, more than 1.9 million vaccines have been administered in Australia. More than 61.3 per cent of the Australian population aged 16 years and over have now had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including over 80.3 per cent of over 50 year olds and more than 88.4 per cent of over 70 year olds.
More than 37.1 per cent of Australians aged 16 years and over are now fully vaccinated including more than 54.9 per cent of over 50 year olds and more than 65.5 per cent of Australians over 70 years of age.
Today, 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 NSW, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. National Cabinet further noted the outbreak in New Zealand.
Leaders noted the health system capacity in place to support the current outbreaks, with further work underway to understand the surge capacity available should it be required in the transition to Phase B and Phase C under the National Plan. The Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Health Professor Brendan Murphy will come back to National Cabinet at the next meeting with an update on health system capacity needs inclusive of health workforce options to meet anticipated increased demand.
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. Leaders welcomed the announcement of the 4 million additional Pfizer doses to be supplied in September, through a sharing arrangement with the United Kingdom.
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. Professor Jodie McVernon from the Doherty Institute updated National Cabinet on draft modelling scenarios, with further work underway to assess the public health and social measures as well as the test, tracing, isolation and quarantine measures for low, medium and high outbreak scenarios.
National Cabinet received an update from Ms Jane Halton AO PSM on the Quarantine review, including the need for risk based approaches to quarantine and South Australian home quarantine trial. Both pieces of work will assist National Cabinet’s consideration of modifications to Australia’s quarantine systems at Phase B and C of the National Plan.
National Cabinet received a briefing from Lieutenant General John Frewen, DSC, AM, Coordinator General of the National COVID Vaccine Taskforce (Operation COVID Shield) on the plans to accelerate the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, building on existing plans, the learnings and momentum gained from the response to recent outbreaks in Western New South Wales. These plans have been developed in partnership with the Indigenous health sector and state and territories.
The plan focuses on targeted support for communities, increasing primary care and state and territory clinic throughput by bolstering points of presence and supplementing the vaccine workforce, along with communication materials to dispel misinformation and reduce hesitancy.
Operation COVID Shield will take a targeted geographic approach to bolster vaccine administration efforts region by region and community by community, with localised planning based on the most efficient use of available resources and vaccine supply, informed by intelligence and input gathered from local organisations and leaders.
National Cabinet further agreed the taskforce would undertake additional planning to increase vaccination rates amongst disadvantaged communities and other hard to reach communities, and report back to the next meeting of National Cabinet.
National Cabinet agreed to meet next on Friday, 17 September 2021.
Government to Reward Paralympic Medallists
2 September 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Sport
Our Government will ensure Australia’s Paralympic athletes receive payments for winning medals at the Tokyo Games in line with the payments to our Tokyo Olympic medallists.
The decision ensures Paralympics Australia can recognise our champion Paralympic athletes in line with payments made by the Australian Olympic Committee to medal-winning athletes in Tokyo.
Australia’s para-athletes have represented our nation with great distinction and pride in Tokyo, delivering performances that have buoyed millions during what is a difficult time for the nation.
Australia is eighth on the overall medal tally with 60 medals and four days of competition still to come.
Like their Olympic counterparts, Paralympians often have to make major sacrifices in their lives foregoing family and work to train and compete nationally and internationally.
The Morrison Government is committed to working with Paralympics Australia and other national sporting bodies to grow corporate sponsorship for para-sports.
This additional commercial revenue could ensure Paralympics Australia can sustainably make medal bonus payments to athletes at future Paralympics.
The Morrison Government is proud to support our athletes in achieving their Paralympic dreams and was already delivering record levels of Government support for our Paralympic high-performance athletes.
The Government is the major funding source for para-sports and in the five years leading up to the Tokyo Paralympics, the Government has provided $88.8 million for para-athlete high performance programs.
Commonwealth Government Paralympic high performance funding has in fact increased by 40 per cent since 2012.
The Government has also provided significant funding for para-sport infrastructure and in the 2021/22 Budget we provided Paralympics Australia with $3.5 million to cover extra Paralympic travel costs associated with the Tokyo Games caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic.
70 Years of ANZUS and Our Alliance with the United States
1 September 2021
Today marks the 70th anniversary of signing of the ANZUS Treaty – which for seven decades has been the foundation of our unbreakable Alliance with the United States of America.
Our Alliance was forged on the battlefield, reinforced in peacetime and renewed by successive generations. For more than a century, we have fought side-by-side in every major conflict and faced the world’s most pressing challenges together.
We saw the strength of our Alliance in the tragic recent events in Kabul, where the bravery and sacrifice of US military personnel allowed Australian forces to evacuate our people to safety.
President Lyndon Johnson once said that Australia and America would stand together ‘in sunshine and in sorrow’. For the past 70 years, we have sacrificed, lost and triumphed together.
ANZUS now sits at the heart of an enduring partnership that spans deep ties between our peoples and wide-ranging cooperation between our countries, including in security and defence, diplomacy, trade and investment, science and technology, environment and energy, research and education.
Today, we remain steadfast in our common outlook and shared values. Our countries remain committed to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and helping our region to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our Alliance supports the Indo-Pacific and makes an essential contribution to regional stability and prosperity.
Australia will continue to ensure the strength and vitality of our Alliance through practical, tangible contributions and cooperation.
As we commemorate the last 70 years, we look to the future with optimism and confidence for what we can achieve, together, in the decades to come.
500,000 Pfizer-BioNTech Doses Boosts September Vaccine Rollout
31 August 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Health and Aged Care
Australia’s vaccine rollout will be boosted by 500,000 extra Pfizer-BioNTech doses to be distributed next week for immediate use, following a dose swap deal secured between Australia and Singapore.
Australia will gain access to 500,000 Singaporean doses now to boost the vaccine programme in September, while in December, Australia will supply 500,000 Pfizer doses to Singapore.
Prime Minster Scott Morrison said the vaccines would be provided to all states and territories for distribution by primary care and state and territory vaccination sites on an equal population basis, following batch testing by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
“This deal gives us the further supplies we need as we bring new groups into the programme for Pfizer, including 12 to 15 year olds from September 13, and the 16 to 39 year old age group that has already commenced,” the Prime Minister said.
“I said we would leave no stone unturned in bolstering our vaccination programme. This deal comes on top of the Polish agreement that has already boosted our national vaccination rates to exceed those achieved in the United States and United Kingdom at the peak of their programmes.
“I would like to convey my special appreciation to Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, for our direct engagement over this arrangement, and his Government for their support, highlighting how two governments can work together and manage vaccine stocks before they expire.
“I also extend my thanks to Minister Hunt, Minster Payne, Australia's High Commissioner to Singapore Will Hodgman and his team, and our Health Secretary Professor Murphy for bringing this arrangement together.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne said Australia was working with other countries to manage the global challenge of COVID-19.
“This demonstrates how our diplomatic capability can deliver in ways that protect Australians and strengthen Australia’s security and prosperity,” Minister Payne said.
“Just as Australia and Singapore are working together, Australia is cooperating with partners in the region to save lives, advance economic recovery, and build health systems to protect against future pandemics.”
Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said the Australian Government is working every day to bring forward vaccine supplies to ensure every Australian will have access to the COVID vaccine this year.
“With increasing supply we encourage all Australians to come forward and be vaccinated at more than 9,300 locations around the country,” Minister Hunt said.
“I particularly want to thank our health officials, both in Singapore and Australia, and our High Commission in Singapore for their work.”
There is no purchase cost associated with the deal to source the vaccine doses, which were manufactured in Belgium.
More than 19.3 million doses have now been delivered across the country, with more than 1.9 million doses delivered over the past week.
Per capita distribution:
New South Wales 159,236
Victoria 131,149
Queensland 99,745
Western Australia 51,294
South Australia 34,934
Tasmania 10,675
Australian Capital Territory 8,344
Northern Territory 4,622
To find your nearest vaccination site please visit https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/covid-19-vaccine-eligibility-checker.
Interview with Liam Bartlett, 6PR
31 August 2021
LIAM BARTLETT: Prime Minister, good morning. How are you?
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks, Liam. It's great to be with you, and g’day to everybody in the West.
BARTLETT: Look, thanks very much for your time this morning. Most West Australians have woken up to a front page of the Premier saying that if we open the state up at 70 per cent, we've got hundreds of lives and we're going to shut the mining industry down. It's Armageddon. What do you think?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, look, I understand that people want to be cautious, and I understand that Western Australia has done, you know, very well in keeping COVID out, and that's to everybody's credit there. There's no doubt about that. But, equally, once you get your vaccination rates up at double what they are now in Western Australia - and we're currently sitting at fully vaccinated of around 31 per cent, still not half of Western Australia is vaccinated with their first dose - but when you get more than double where you are now, the level of protection, it's like living in another world. And, at some point you've got to step off the shore. Now, you've got to do it safely. I totally understand the caution in Western Australia, and I know the situation in Western Australia is different to my home state in New South Wales, where they've got over a thousand cases a day, and people don't, you know, are obviously nervous about that. But, that's why the national plan we've developed is a very safe one. At 70 per cent, then, you know, I think what in Western Australia what you'll see is people keeping going on and doing what they're doing right now. But, what we have to be concerned about in Western Australia also, because there aren't very many restrictions in place, if Delta were to come to Western Australia - which it eventually will, and I think the Premier understands that - then it would move quite rapidly through the population. So, the task is to prepare. The task is to ensure that whether it's our hospital system, how we do testing and tracing, the sort of common sense restrictions that will need to be in place to live with the virus - they’re the things we have to prepare for, and that's what the national plan is all about. As for the mining industry, I know talking to business leaders in Western Australia more broadly, directly, and they've said it themselves, I mean, Western Australia has always had workforce shortage issues. Now, that goes back to pre-pandemic. And, and as a result, the longer you keep Western Australia shut up, the longer those businesses and those industries are going to struggle to get the workers they need to go ahead. So, Western Australia's done well to now, don't get me wrong, but to go well in the future, you've got to move forward.
BARTLETT: Well, that's the point, isn't it. I mean, do you think these comments are alarmist? I mean, do you think they help with our vaccination rollout, as slow as it is? You know, if you had a chance to talk to Mark McGowan directly today, if you were speaking to him face to face, what would you say?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's the same thing I've been saying all along, and directly, and we've had many conversations about this, and that is to lift the vaccination rate there needs to be an understanding that if you're vaccinated, there will be things you'll be able to do that you wouldn't otherwise be able to do. That's the best incentive for vaccination. That's what's driving up the vaccination rates in other parts of the country. One of the reasons that vaccination rates are much lower in Western Australia, it's partly a product of the success of there not being, having been any COVID, and people think that borders protect people from the, from COVID. Well, no, I'm sorry, the Delta variant is stronger than borders, and the best protection is getting vaccinated. And, and that means that people will be able to go to Bali again. They'll be able to go and travel again. Families will be able to be reunited. Businesses will be able to get the workers they need. The economy will be able to move forward. Now, that doesn't, of course that means there'll be COVID cases. I mean, if you’re going to live with the virus, well the virus eventually turns up. But, the truth is, you do that in a way where you're seeking to control it, not it have it control you, and locking your state down and causing the terrible harm that we're seeing in the eastern states now.
BARTLETT: Well, there appears to be very different - and I'm sure you'd agree with this - there's very different interpretations over what's been agreed to at National Cabinet for the national plan. Do you expect everyone, including Mark McGowan, to toe the line on this, Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, everyone's starting in a different place. I think that's important to acknowledge. I mean, in New South Wales and Victoria and the ACT, we're in lockdown. And, so, obviously the restrictions easing in those states are going to be very different to what's happening in Western Australia or Tasmania, where there aren't COVID cases and people can, at the moment, pretty much do whatever they want to do. But, when COVID is present in a community, there will need to be sensible restrictions, people will need to be vaccinated. And, so, it eventually becomes a choice between whether, you know, how long Western Australia can just sort of make its own way and stay closed off to the rest of the country, and, I stress, the rest of the world. And, Western Australia has always been an outward looking state. Its economic success has been founded on being outward looking and for that to continue in the future, you’ve eventually got to get yourself on that point. Now, I expect it to go slower in the West, because that's what the vaccination rates are doing. But, my point, particularly whether it's in Perth or it's in the remote regions of Western Australia, please get vaccinated, because Delta will come at some point. And, at that time, only the vaccine will provide you that protection. Borders and other things won't.
BARTLETT: Prime Minister, do you feel any electoral pressure in making comments that may be construed as anti-McGowan? Because, as you know, many people here in WA think that he's kept them safe and done a fantastic job.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I wouldn’t say they are. It's not, it's actually not about me or Mark at all. We actually get on very well and we work together very constructively. And, so, that's not the point. The point is just how you manage COVID-19. And, we’ve worked together closely on so many parts of the response, and Western Australia has done very well. And, I want Western Australia to do well in the future, and that means we are going to have to go, going to have to go through a gear change, because you've got to be able to live with the virus at some point. And, what the medical science shows, that when you get, you've got to be careful at 70 per cent - and what I hear is the Premier wanting to be careful at 70 per cent - that's not at odds with what we're saying. And, at 80 per cent, then you can live with the virus with sensible precautions. That means you can open up. It means you can engage with the rest of the world. It means Australians can connect with their family in the eastern states again. They can connect with the rest of the world. They can go and find those markets and run their businesses and get the workers they need. And, that's the next step. And, I get it that it's a bit of a scary step, but we can't live in fear of this thing. We've got to live with it.
BARTLETT: But, he appears to be suggesting that this state, WA, will be a few months behind your national schedule, and a few months if we get our fair share of vaccines from the Commonwealth. Is there a problem there?
PRIME MINISTER: No, there's not. There's absolutely not. I mean, Western Australia's received their per capita share of the distribution of vaccines to the letter, and any additional vaccines that we're able to secure, they will get their per capita share. And, you know, that has meant that in Western Australia, there's been some 746,000, and that's just the Pfizer. There's been over 300,000 AstraZeneca that has been able to be delivered into Western Australia. And, and the vaccination rate, yes, it is lagging in Western Australia. I put that fundamentally down to the fact that there may be more, not the same sense of urgency in WA as there is in other states, because they're not locked down.
BARTLETT: Alright.
PRIME MINISTER: And, that's understandable. I get it. But, it's important that we lift those rates. And, I know the Premier’s trying to lift those rates. I know he is. We've talked about it and we both want to see those lift, and there will be more Pfizer doses coming into Western Australia, and AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca has not had the uptake in Western Australia that it has in other states, and where it's been very strong in New South Wales and Victoria, and that is, that is fundamentally the reason why their vaccination rates have increased much higher than other places.
BARTLETT: It's unfortunate this has degenerated into a ‘he said, you said’ situation. But, Prime Minister, one last question on this, because from tomorrow, WA’s health system, which is in a fair bit of strife anyway without a COVID case in hospital, has postponed hundreds of elective surgeries. Now, the Premier seems to think it's actually your fault that our hospitals can't conduct this surgery because of your NDIS and aged care.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I don't buy that, because since we came to Government we've increased funding to WA hospitals by 72.8 per cent. The WA State Government, over the same time, has increased it by just 18.4 per cent. So, we've increased funding to state hospitals in Western Australia four times the rate of the Western Australian State Government, and that doesn't include the extra billions that I was able to deliver as Prime Minister and Treasurer in additional GST revenue to ensure that WA got its fair share of GST. Now, that was there to fund hospitals. Western Australian Government has been very clear about their surplus, and I congratulate them on the surplus. But, that surplus was also the product of that GST revenue that I delivered as part of WA getting its fair share. So, you can't sort of have it both ways. You can't say, “I've got a surplus, but I'm not spending enough money on state hospitals.” We're spending on state hospitals in Western Australia. And, so, that is a matter, that is an issue I wish the State Government well with, and I encourage them along those lines. Hospitals are a state responsibility and they're getting significant funding from the Federal Government.
BARTLETT: Prime Minister, we'll leave it there. Thanks very much for your time this morning.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks, Liam. All the best.
Interview with Mike O'Loughlin, Tasmania Talks
31 August 2021
Mike O'Loughlin: Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Prime Minister, good morning and welcome to Tasmania Talks.
Prime Minister: Well, thanks very much, Mike. And can I start by saying thank you to Tasmanians? Tasmania is the vaccination capital of the country. You have the highest two dose rate of vaccination of any state or territory in the Commonwealth. 42.06 per cent is the most recent numbers I have from this morning and just pushing 60 per cent on first dose vaccinations. So that is, that is just a tremendous outcome for Tasmanians. Thank you for leading the way.
O'Loughlin: Well, you're in Canberra at the moment. What's the situation there? Are you in lockdown?
Prime Minister: Yes. And have been in the ACT for some time. And in my home state of New South Wales, where my family is, they've been on lockdown, but since coming back from the G7, I've basically being either quarantined or lockdown since. That's about 11 weeks.
O'Loughlin: Well, we were doing quite well with the pandemic until Delta hit, really.
Prime Minister: True.
O'Loughlin: I mean, and you've said the science of the Delta strain is the game changer and we really can't ignore it. Do you think more could have been done to prevent this outbreak?
Prime Minister: Look, the Delta variant finds its way. And we've seen that all over the world. We've seen it in countries with higher rates of vaccination, lower rates of vaccination. It's taking a heavy toll throughout Europe, the United States in particular. And the Delta variant is highly infectious. And that's why vaccination is just so important. I mean, what it means is the AstraZeneca vaccine, it's an 86 per cent reduction in the chance of hospitalisation, of ICU admission and a 90 per cent reduction in the chance of fatality. So, and that's the same for Pfizer. So the vaccines which Tasmanians are taking to so strongly and what's really impressive about that, Mike, is that Tasmania has a very low rate of COVID. So it's you know, so in other states, we've got a challenge where there's low rates of COVID, there's low rates of vaccination take up because people think, you know, that it can't come to them. Well, Tasmania has a low rate of COVID, but has also got a very high rate of vaccination. And I think that shows that Tasmanians are preparing themselves. They know that they're going to have to move forward. Tasmanians understand that their success in the future is with living with this virus. And to do that, you know, we've got to get vaccinated. And that's why I'm so thankful for what Tasmanians are doing.
O'Loughlin: What needs to happen in order for us to to reopen? I know one quote from you is don't don't let negativity overwhelm your optimism and warned that ideas of letting the virus rip were fanciful, foolish and dangerous. Well, as you can see, Tassie hasn't done that. We've looked after it. The government's done extremely good job here. But what needs to happen?
Prime Minister: Well, we need to get those vaccination rates up to 70 per cent and 80 per cent. Now, once I think we hit 70 per cent, I don't think you'll see too much different in Tasmania because you already don't have many restrictions that are in place. And we need to be cautious at that level. And we're keen to see things start opening up at that point and for there to be more movement, because Tasmania will be, you know, heavily protected with those high levels of vaccinations, and particularly in Tasmania, where you've got a more elderly population than the rest of the country. I mean, the vaccination rates for those who are in older age groups is even higher. And we're seeing the benefit of that, even with the difficult situation in New South Wales now, where the hospitalisation, ICU, all of these sorts of things, dramatically reduced from what we saw in the Victorian wave last year. And in the worst case scenario of fatalities, we're seeing almost a 90 per cent fall. Same rates of COVID, but a 90 per cent fall in the worst case scenario. So what that says is and that's a vaccination rate, which is at half the level of what we're saying, you need to get to at least to start being able to move forward.
So all that we're seeing with the vaccination is holding true. And that's why the national plan is a safe plan. I really appreciate Peter Gutwein's support for that national plan and his role in National Cabinet. I know he's a bit crook at the moment. I've been in touch with him over the last 24 hours on a few occasions. And so our thoughts and prayers are with you Pete and the whole family and wish you a speedy recovery and, you know, so you can get back to the helm.
O'Loughlin: Prime Minister, if I may, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr talking vaccinations. He said, quote, let's stop talking about 70 because it's not safe at 70, but 80 is the more realistic step. So 70 will be a gentle step forward. 80 would be a more significant one, unquote. And if we break that down …
Prime Minister: Well that's the national plan.
O'Loughlin: But that's if it's 80, does that mean, I mean, we need to look at the kids as well, don't we? I mean, are we including those in the percentages?
Prime Minister: Well, we are from 16 and above. And the scientific advice is that whether you include them or not in the actual formal 70 or 80 per cent, doesn't make any difference. But we are vaccinating children 12 to 15. That starts on the 13th of September and we'll be public reporting the number of children aged 12 to 15 who are vaccinated, but the science is very clear because children, including those under 12 who aren't vaccinated, they are protected by 70, 80 per cent vaccination rates across the adult population. It's like any immunisation, those who are unvaccinated, who can't be vaccinated, including those who for medical reasons can't be, they are protected by others getting vaccinated who can. And so, you know, yes, we need to vaccinate children 12 to 15. Yes, we are going to do that. Yes that is that is part of the plan. And we do need to move forward with a soft start at 70 per cent. That's how it was designed by the way, that's not a change. 70 per cent was a soft opening. And the states that are in lockdowns and things like that will see the most change because they've got the most restrictions.
O'Loughlin: Is that part of the Doherty modelling?
Prime Minister: Yes.
O'Loughlin: Which was done before New South Wales was recording more than 1,000 cases per day.
Prime Minister: Yeah, that's right. And then the 70 and 80 per cent holds in these and in this analysis and we're constantly doing sensitivity analysis on these number of cases. And we, the plan hasn't changed that 70 per cent and 80 per cent. We've just got to be careful at 70 per cent and we've always thought that. It isn't open slather. There's no Freedom Day in Australia, there's no magic in the calendar. There is science in the work that has been done which says we can safely begin our reopening and reconnecting with the world and each other when we hit 70 per cent and at 80 per cent, we know based on the science that you can start managing this with sensible precautions continuing. And it doesn't mean citywide lockdowns and all those sorts of things which will do more harm than good in those circumstances. They're already doing tremendous harm. And so we need to get in a situation where we no longer need to be in that position. And at 80 per cent we can start living with the virus like we live with the flu.
O'Loughlin: And you've also, you admitted taking responsibility for the early setbacks in the vaccination programme, Prime Minister, but what would you have to say to anyone in Tasmania still unsure. And we have callers to Tasmania Talks unsure whether to get the vaccine or even if they're against it altogether.
Prime Minister: Well, the most obvious point is, is that the Delta variant will come to Tasmania as it will come to every part of this country, as is coming to every part of the world. And your best protection against that is not a border that costs jobs and affects people's mental health and keeps Australians apart from one another. It's with the vaccine. And that vaccine, as I said, you know, reduces your risk of hospitalisation, ICU and even fatality by up to 90 per cent. And so if you've had the vaccine, you are at less risk to yourself, to your family, to your community. And it's enabling Tasmania to reconnect. Now, Tasmania is a great state and been doing a great job. But I think everyone in Tasmania understands that their future isn't just staying disconnected from the rest of the country and the rest of the world. It's a tourism economy. It's an agricultural economy, the workers that Tasmanians need. All of this can't be supported just by staying remote forever. There is a time for that and there's caution that's necessary. But this is a safe plan. And moving forward as safely is the way. It's not safe, it's not safe to keep living separate forever.
O'Loughlin: Well, if I can, Prime Minister, you've got close to 15 million Australians under virtual house arrest. And Tasmania does need borders to open and it does need tourism and hospitality in particular to get going. But obviously, people need to be vaxxed. But I know that for a fact that you might need to threaten Queensland and Western Australia with funding cuts if they don't stick to the National Cabinet plan for reopening. And they've pretty well stated that.
Prime Minister: Look, let's just see what happens there. I mean, what we'll see once we get to 70 and 80 per cent, I think people understandably find it a bit difficult to imagine the world at 70 and 80 per cent vaccination. I mean, at the moment we're about 35 per cent vaccination. So we'll have twice as much protection at that time and at 80 per cent even more. That is a big change. That is a massive game changer. And that means, you know, I think there will be greater confidence once people actually see what it is like in those circumstances. As I said, just reflect on that difference between the New South Wales outbreak this year to what happened in the Victorian outbreak last year where there were no vaccines and, you know, the death rate fell by just shy of 90 per cent. So that is a significant fall and that's only less than 35 per cent vaccination double dose. And as I said at the start of the interview today, Tasmania is already at 42. The ‘Vax Cap’. There you go. I mean, it's fantastic. And we keep going with that. That tells me that Tasmanians want to live with the virus, not in fear of it. That's what that's telling me. And I'm very grateful for that positive, strong attitude coming out of Tassie.
O'Loughlin: Well, Premier Peter Gutwein, Prime Minister, has made it clear he will continue to follow state health advice to keep Tasmanians safe rather than the national plan, saying, quote, I will never cede away the state's responsibility to act should we need to act, unquote. Your thoughts?
Prime Minister: Here's a good example. And Peter and I've been working closely on this all the way through this pandemic. And remember, the outbreak there was in north western Tasmania over a year ago. Peter got on the phone. He said, we got a problem, we got the ADF in and we sealed the place off. We got through it. And that was before there was vaccines. Now, in parts of the country, there is a risk and mainly in parts of the country where there are low vaccination rates in the future, where it's possible we may have to do similar things. We understand that. That's part of the national plan, that in specific communities, in particular parts of the country, that may be more vulnerable. I'm thinking particularly of remote Indigenous communities, rural communities, things like that. If the vaccination rates are low, then sure, there will be health advice. And I have no doubt the premiers will rightly take that advice for those more specific communities. What changes, though, is that sort of, the sort of widespread, economy destroying, mental health destroying lockdowns, I mean, it's hard. It's terrible. Now, Tasmania has largely been able to not have to go through that. But I can tell you, having lived in two places that are subject to those and in Victoria, where they've had more than most cities around the world, that is not a way to live and it's not sustainable. We don't want it in Tasmania or anywhere else. But the way to avoid that is doing exactly what Tasmanians are doing and that's getting vaccinated.
O'Loughlin: There are significant concerns we wouldn't be able to handle an outbreak here in Tasmania considering our health system is already in crisis. We spoke to the AMA Tasmania spokesperson, Dr Annette Barrett, yesterday. She's concerned our already stretched and exhausted health system will not be able to cope.
Prime Minister: Well that's [inaudible] for living with any pandemic or any infectious disease outbreak at any time. And this is some important work and it hasn't had much publicity, I should note, that this is something that premiers and I have been working on for many months. And there's another piece of work going on right now under the direction of Professor Murphy. People may remember him. He was the Chief Medical Officer last year before Paul Kelly. He is leading work with all the states and territories to get a very thorough examination of hospital system preparedness. We won't be hitting that 70 per cent mark for still some time yet. But that gives us time to ensure that we are able to deal with this. The major challenge I should stress, Mike, is the workforce. So it's not so much beds and buildings, it's actually the workforce. And one of the things that happens in an outbreak under the current testing and tracing and isolating quarantine rules is that a health worker would get furloughed if they were a close or secondary contact or something like that, which means they're not going to work. They go home and that reduces the capacity of the health system. Now, when you've got, when they're all vaccinated, which they substantively are in our health system, there should be no need for that, which means we can keep strengthening the health system. And if we can move people around the country, if we can continue to get those student nurses in and others in, that's going to help the health system as well.
O'Loughlin: I've been told I've got only a couple more minutes. So figures, figures from a new YouGov poll have revealed more Australians are concerned about the pandemic's toll on jobs and mental health rather than actually catching COVID-19. Does this prove there might be more support for these areas?
Prime Minister: I have no doubt and I think, look, I know everyone wants to be safe, and that's number one. I mean, I've said from the outbreak of the pandemic that it's about saving lives and saving livelihoods. And we've had to balance those all the way through. And I've got to say, you know, on any objective assessment, Australia has done extraordinarily well and Tasmania in particular. I mean, we've saved over 30,000 lives compared to what is happening in countries just like ours. If we'd had the same death rates of countries overseas, in countries just like ours there would be another 30,000 people who would have died from COVID. We've had just over a thousand and it would have been many, many times, 30,000 times beyond that. So that's one point. And we've also got a million people back into work. And the way to ensure that we keep our economy resilient and it's still going to go through some, you know, this latest quarter is going to be tough. Even the one that we've just we went through at the end of June when, you know, you’re shut off from the rest of the world, your trade and your tourism, that puts a heavy blow on your economy. But what I do know is that our economy is resilient. We start opening up again. We start lifting the restrictions. We start opening up to the rest of the world. Our economy will roar back.
O'Loughlin: And you know that, I mean, Tasmania is not only going to become the battery of the nation, we are still a very strong beating heart, which to me says to I'd like to sort of put a point out there, if I may, next time you're on a national press conference, a lot of pollies tend to forget Tasmania is actually part of the nation and they don't mention us. I'd love to hear a little more mention about Tasmania for most of our fellow Tasmanians.
Prime Minister: I agree. This is why I keep talking about Tasmania is leading the country on vaccinations. I've made reference to that at my national press conferences many, many times and will continue to do that, whether it's in Question Time or other places. Tasmania is leading the country on double dose vaccinations and as I say, a state that has very low COVID, almost no COVID in Tasmania, that is an extraordinary achievement because you've got the problem of success in having little COVID, which is a hard thing to get over in a vaccination programme. And, but you're setting the benchmark rate on double dose vaccination. So, you know, so Gavin, Bridget and the whole team up there in northern Tassie, they're doing a great job working with our people on the ground there. The health professionals, the pharmacists, the GPs who are doing a great job. There's over 200 GPs and pharmacists who are engaged in the vaccination programme right across Tasmania doing a terrific job. And so Gav Pearce and Bridget Archer, I think they're doing a terrific job linking up with them, making sure that, you know, we're getting people connected to vaccines.
You made comment before and I might finish on this. Yeah, we had our challenges early on in the vaccination programme, and we were concerned that that might have set us back past, you know, the end of December. We've already brought that back to, we're very confident, we're more than confident, everyone who wants a vaccination certainly will have the opportunity, before the end of this year. And we're getting very close to ensure that we're meeting even our original benchmark, which means that everyone who might want to have that vaccination would be able to have one by the end of October. We're getting close to that, which means we've caught up the ground.
O'Loughlin: And Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of Australia, I know my time is up, but I'm very grateful for the time this morning. Thank you for our chat. Let's hope we can have a chat again in the near future.
Prime Minister: That's good and I hope everybody enjoyed the footy on the weekend.
O'Loughlin: Absolutely. Absolutely. Little wet on Sunday.
Prime Minister: It was a bit damp, but the Doggies got up. Good on you.
O'Loughlin: Good to talk to you. Scott Morrison, PM.
Interview with Neil Breen, 4BC
31 August 2021
NEIL BREEN: Good morning to you, Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: G'day Neil.
BREEN: At National Cabinet last Friday, Prime Minister, obviously the Doherty Institute presented its new modelling and we know it was sent to the premiers and their departments before the meeting. After the meeting, our Premier and our ministers like Grace Grace have said they haven't seen the new modelling and they're waiting to see it. They'll make their minds up on it when they see it. Why did they tell us that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I don't know. I mean, they've seen as much of it that I've seen and there was a sensitivity analysis of that was done, which we do many of these. And Professor McVernon attended the meeting and it was available to take questions from premiers and chief ministers and myself, you know, for quite a long period of time. And she presented her analysis to the group. And a further report will be coming forward as they are aware, but all premiers and chief ministers have seen everything that I've seen. And was able to confirm that we can move forward at 70 and 80 per cent. We have to be careful at 70 per cent and I think that's wise advice that we've received and that 80 per cent, the position is strong. And I think that's what's really important about the national plan, Neil, is that it's a safe plan ...
BREEN: Well, we'll always be careful, we just don't need to be this careful when we get to 80 per cent.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, at 80 per cent, I mean, the advice remains that we're largely dealing, with sensible precautions remaining. It's not like it's open slather and you can do whatever you want. I mean, you still got to be careful. The Delta variant is still there. And unlike many other countries, we're not saying, oh, at 80 per cent, it's all you know, it's all off, it's completely no restrictions. That's not what the model proposes. That's not the National Plan. It just means that at those points in particular, you know, widespread lockdowns, things like that do more harm than good. And you shouldn't do them and you should be reconnecting with the rest of the country and the rest of the world. But I appreciate I mean, people would be concerned, I have no doubt, in Queensland where you haven't had those numbers of cases that have occurred in New South Wales and Victoria. People would be looking south and going we don't want that. I understand that. But that's, we're dealing with a situation now where you've got probably about 35 per cent at the end of August of our population, which is double dose. At double that rate, then the level of protection that's there in the community is significantly strengthened. And I think it's best demonstrated by when you compare what happened in the Victorian second wave last year when there was no vaccine, and to the New South Wales wave that we're experiencing right now, which has reached the same number of cases.
Now, the fatality rate in Victoria at that time was 4.3 per cent. In New South Wales, for the same number of cases, it's 0.45 per cent. That's almost a 90 per cent decline. And that's what vaccination rates at less than half what the 70 per cent figure is. So I understand that people would be nervous about it. But the point about the National Plan is it's a safe plan. It's not just about opening up for economic reasons. That's very important as all Queenslanders know, particularly those in the tourism, the travel sector, events, business, all those things. But it's also a very safe plan based on the best possible scientific advice, which has been fully briefed to the premiers and chief ministers and their directors general as it has to me and and the head of my Health Department and the head of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
BREEN: Prime Minister, our Premier, a week ago today, along with the Chief Health Officer and the Health Minister in Queensland, told us Queensland was full and we can't take any more in hotel quarantine and Queenslanders can't even come home who are in a state for the death of a loved one or whatever reason they're in a state for. Yet 100 NRL associated people arrived on a plane secretly yesterday. So did the women's cricket team and the Indian women's cricket team. And we found quarantine spaces for them. We've got people with cancer who are in a state who aren't allowed to come home. As the Prime Minister of this country, how does that make you feel?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I share people's frustration about that, no doubt about that. But what's the answer? I'll tell you what the answer is. We need to move to home quarantine. Home quarantine needs to be places for all Australians, all Queenslanders on that basis. And right now in South Australia, they're running the trial for home quarantine. And that's exactly what can begin to be introduced once we hit 70 per cent. Now, that means Queenslanders returning home from elsewhere in the country, Queenslanders going to other states and returning to Queensland if that is necessary.
But at 70 per cent, 80 per cent moving around the country, then it would be hard to understand why that would be needed, particularly Queenslanders who travel overseas. Once you get especially 80 per cent, you should be able to return home and quarantine at home. The answer for quarantine going forward is actually home quarantine for Australians. And to the extent we need to continue to have quarantine going forward, then what we need is for that to be for international travellers, for the workers that are necessary to come in to Queensland and for backpackers to come back and all of these sorts of things who are vaccinated. That's what, if there is a need for quarantine once you passed 80 per cent of those who were vaccinated, then that's what that should be for. I want to see home quarantine become the norm.
BREEN: It's been 15 days since Kabul fell to the Taliban, obviously, we're great partners with the United States. Have you spoken to US president Joe Biden yet?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I haven't as yet. I anticipate doing that not too far away.
BREEN: Is that disappointing that he hasn't contacted you? We are a pretty strong ally.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we are. And that's not affected by it. I mean, we've been in constant contact with those who have been running these operations and the Foreign Secretary and all, everyone who's been involved in these operations through the military. And we've had a seamless relationship. I mean, we still have our KC-30 there engaged in refuelling operations. We're still supporting the operation that is happening more broadly across the Middle East. We were able to get 4,100 people out of there. That's around about four times what our original estimate was. So, you know, I understand these comments, but the US President needed to do what he needed to do. I needed to do what I needed to do, and that was get 4,100 people out. And we had extraordinary cooperation from the United States. There were no issues there to raise because we were just getting the job done.
BREEN: Well, he contacted Spain and Italy and France and all these other mobs. And I don't know. He didn't give us Pfizer vaccine. I think we're on the nose with him.
PRIME MINISTER: No, not at all. I mean, I mean, I just don't agree with that. I've been dealing with the United States on many issues and we continue to do that. And, you know, I'm not precious about these things. I just focus on getting the job done.
BREEN: OK, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, thanks so much for your time on 4BC Breakfast.
Interview with Murray Jones, 4CA
31 August 2021
MURRAY JONES: Prime Minister Scott Morrison joins me this morning. A bit of a, an operator error. Did I, did I hang up on you, Prime Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: That's ok, Murray. I'm glad we've been able to connect up. And, can I say, can I start just by thanking the people of Cairns and North Queensland. Cairns’ first dose vaccination rate is 52.7 and two dose rate is 34.5. Now, that's higher than the Queensland average. So, up there in North Queensland, you guys are showing them what, how it's done down south.
JONES: Well, I guess it's biting, you know. You know, we're so reliant on so much tourism. Thankfully, you know, we're pretty lucky compared to a lot of the country. We're getting a lot of domestic tourism and that’s managing to keep things floating along. Look, can we, can we just, you know, sure, let's, you know, we can talk about the 70 to 80 per cent vaccination rates that we're talking about.
PRIME MINISTER: Yep.
JONES: But, look, let's focus specifically on the international travel. And, yesterday I had a really interesting discussion, actually, with John O'Sullivan, who I'm sure you will remember from Tourism Australia.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah.
JONES: You know, moving forward, bubbles are the way to go. You know, how far away, he's talking about maybe 2021, ah, sorry, the end of 2021, early into 2022. Do you think these bubbles are really going to be the likely thing that are going to start to reopen our economy, particularly to the high yield international tourism?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, yes, is the short answer to that question. And, what that, and once we get to 80 per cent vaccination rates, that is when you're able to have Australians who can leave the country and return, and that is all predicated on the Queensland Government having the home quarantine in place. Otherwise, you're just filling up your hotel quarantine. And, so, right now, South Australia is trialling the home quarantine, which would be able to be used in other states. And, I know other states already interested in taking up some of those trials as well. And, so, when you have that home quarantine, that means, you know, you can have people leave the country and return and so on. And, that's really important for, I know, so many Australians, and it's important for the travel industry as well, because, you know, planes going out means planes coming in. And, that's important in restoring our travel industry and our aviation industry. On top of that, but yes, as you know, with Singapore, I met with the Singaporean Prime Minister a few months ago, and that was exactly what was on our agenda. And, I think that's really important. I think we’ll be looking at the situation where we've got countries with high vaccination rates, like the United Kingdom, across Europe. And, by that time, you know, we'll see similar vaccination rates, I think, in places like Japan, and that will enable that business to start coming back, particularly when we get into next year. And, that's our hope, that's what we're working to. And, that's what the national plan’s about. The national plan is about ensuring that we live with the virus. And, when you're living with the virus, you're enabling people who are vaccinated to come into the country and to resume so many of those businesses that have been absolutely devastated by the international and, significantly, the state border restrictions, that have had that that diabolical effect.
JONES: Let's talk a little bit more about some of the variants. You know, as we well know, Delta has been a real curveball that's been thrown at Australia. With the international travel, which, you know, we dearly want, particularly in this part of the world, there is a risk, though, of further variants. I mean, that's another serious curveball that could be thrown at us and that could, you know, change all our plans moving forward.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's been the story of Delta, and that's why we've always been fairly nimble, as best as we can, with our response. But, that's why we've got, you know, 80 million or thereabouts booster doses for next year. They're already lined up beginning next year to ensure that we maintain our protection. Once we get to those high vaccination rates, we've got to maintain them with the booster shots. And, I think next year have, people having gone round the first round of one and two doses, then they book in their booster shots next year and, you know, they'll be available - you know, everything from GPs and pharmacies, in the same way you do your flu vaccinations. And, Trent Twomey, you know, a North Queenslander, who heads up the Pharmacy Guild.
JONES: Sure.
PRIME MINISTER: He’s been doing a great job there. You know, I was just on the phone with Trent last week, and all the pharmacists around the country, they're helping people, you know, roll up their sleeves and get the jabs up there, and that's a really important part of it. So, yeah, look, yes, new variants are always going to be a challenge. But, when I speak to the heads of, you know, Moderna and Pfizer and others, I mean, this is something that they're very focused on in ensuring that their booster doses are being developed with as much of that in mind as they possibly can.
JONES: Sure, yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: And, it's not just Australia who’s dealing with it, of course, I mean, it’s every country in the world that will be dealing with those variants. I mean, we saw those variants first emerging with, in India a while ago, and then we had that very difficult decision that we took to really slow down intake out of India. And, that did prevent that Delta getting in at that time. But, ultimately, Delta finds its, finds its way. And, so, that's why it's important, the national plan, we get on with it, because that's what sees life return as much to normal as it can, living with this virus. That's what returns the jobs. That's what unites the country, getting people back together again, enabling people to go. Jen and I actually had a trip planned to North Queensland. That's had to be put on hold indefinitely. I’m looking forward, but it's all paid for.
JONES: That’s good.
PRIME MINISTER: Like many Australians, we've had to delay our Queensland holiday, but I look forward to at some point, whenever that is, taking that up.
JONES: Now, look, one of the things I did discuss with John O'Sullivan yesterday, having recently been - and you, I'm sure you've been through Alice Springs as well - seeing about 140 international airliners there. And, look, you know, reflecting the comments of Alan Joyce in the last couple of days, you know, obviously a really, really tough time for Qantas - affordability with respect to international travel and, you know, the international airline industry - and I think what's happening there in Alice Springs is a good example of that - going through such a tough, tough time. What about the affordability, though, of international travel moving forward? That's, that's going to be a real issue for, I think, for a lot of potential travellers.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, let me start with where we’re at with our major airlines. I mean, we have invested heavily to keep our airlines operational and viable, and Qantas in particular, and Virgin has come through as well. Many countries around the world saw their national carriers fall over during the pandemic. So many, so many airlines have hit the wall, and both of ours have been able to come through, including Virgin going through administration and coming out, because we've had really good targeted support that has ensured that that sovereign capability in our airline industry can continue. So, we've got viable airlines, both for domestic purposes, with competition, and viable international airlines. And, all the airlines around the world will be keen to see their volumes pick up again, would be my, my, my, my read of the situation, and that I'm sure will lead to a bit of price leading at the lower end, I hope, to coax people back onto planes. Now, that could happen. But, ultimately, those, the airlines will make their choices about that. But, what is, before any of that can happen, we've got to implement the national plan. And, that's why it's so important. And, I know across Queensland, where cases, you know, particularly up north, there've been very few and far between.
JONES: Sure.
PRIME MINISTER: And, I know there will be people who will be concerned. They’ll go, “Well, hang on, we haven't had it up here. So, you know, why do we have to go and open up to other states and other countries and all the rest of it?” Well, if there's any place that understands the importance of being connected to the rest of the world and the rest of the country, it's North Queensland, and it’s in particular Cairns. And, so, for those jobs, for those livelihoods, for the future of North Queensland, the national plan is essential, and it’s safe.
JONES: And, certainly that high yield, that high yield that, you know, we really, and as you know from tourism, you know, sure we've got this domestic market, which has been a lifesaver. There's no doubt about that. That high yield, international. And, look, you know, I reflect your comments about the boosters, certainly that medical technology, hopefully, will keep us in front of the curve. I’ll let you hang up on me now, because I know you've got to go. But, I do apologise for the beginning there. But, I guess it was all, suddenly we had 10 seconds and I obviously pressed the wrong button.
PRIME MINISTER: Not a problem.
JONES: Prime Minister Scott Morrison, great to talk to you this morning. And, and some positive news, I certainly appreciate that. Have a great day.
PRIME MINISTER: You too. Thanks again, North Queensland.
Interview with David Penberthy and Will Goodings, FiveAA
31 August 2021
HOST: Prime Minister of Australia on FiveAA Breakfast, Scott Morrison.
PRIME MINISTER: G’day David.
HOST: Prime Minister, good morning. Thanks so much for your time.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, g’day mate.
HOST: Now, we want to kick off by talking about the Doherty Institute modelling. It's been described as our roadmap out of the COVID quagmire. What do you make of this discussion that with the, the very high case numbers that we're seeing in the eastern states, particularly in your hometown, that the modelling might need to be looked at again?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we've been doing constant sensitivity analysis on this, and the 70 and the 80 per cent figures haven't changed. We went through that last Friday. It just, it continues to show that when you hit that level of vaccination in your community, you are really getting a reduction in the risk right across the board, and know that when you hit those numbers, the rate of vaccination for the even more vulnerable in the community, particularly the elderly, is even higher than that. I mean, and we're already seeing that. I mean, to give you an example, with the aged care sector, what we're seeing right now in New South Wales is we're seeing a rate of fatality today that's less than half a per cent. And, at the peak of the Victorian second wave, where there wasn't vaccination in place, that was 4.3 per cent rate. There were over 800 deaths in total that we saw during that Victorian second wave. And, that figure is now or less around about 90 in New South Wales over the course of this year. So, the vaccination has a major impact. And, I know it's quite hard when you're sitting at a vaccination rate, and in South Australia at the moment we've got half of people with their first dose, a third of having two doses. You know, you double that second dose rate on where it is now, and that's a level of protection that is really giving us the ability to safely transition to this next phase. And, I know in states like South Australia where you haven't got those big case numbers, you know, where they've done a terrific, terrific job in states where there hasn't been COVID. But, the Delta variant is not something that will stay away forever. And, so, that's why you lift your vaccination rates. That's happening in South Australia - 100,000 in this past week, which was, you know, a great outcome in South Australia. Keep doing that. You get yourself in a position of resilience. Sure, there's still risks, but the risks of shutting everything down - not just on the economy, but on people's mental health and all of these things - the advice is still very clear, does more harm than good.
HOST: So, if the Doherty modelling then does hold, come sometime around the end of the year when we hit 80 per cent in various places around the country, what's your message to those states? Is it simply that they need to swallow hard?
PRIME MINISTER: It means you've got to, you've got to move forward, at the end of the day. Now, you've got to be careful. This is a safe plan. I want to stress that to everyone. This isn’t some sort of freedom day. There's no magic in a calendar. There is, but there is confidence that you can have in the medical science that has gone into this plan. And, what it does mean, on the sensitivity analysis we've done, is that between 70 and 80, you've got to be careful. That's what they're saying. Once you hit 70, you can't just, sort of, go open slather. That's not, no one is suggesting that. And, even at 80 per cent - it's not like we've seen in countries overseas. What we're doing is doing this carefully. We've got great science based evidence to say at 70 per cent people who are vaccinated - because they present less of a public health risk to themselves and others - will be able to do things in the event that there were, you know, outbreaks and things like that, that they wouldn't otherwise be able to do. That will have more immediate meaning in places like the New South Wales and Victoria, where they're in lockdown. In Victoria-, in South Australia at the moment, well, you don't have those lockdowns, but what it does mean is that you'll need to keep some common sense precautions in place.
Right now, South Australia, for example, is doing the first trial of home quarantine. Steven Marshall’s doing a great job with this, and that will be the model for the rest of the country, and they're sharing that information with the other states. And, that means you'll be able to travel overseas once you get over 80 per cent and you'll be able to return to Australia and you'll be able to quarantine at home, not go through hotels. That means we’ll be able to bring more people home from overseas. It also means students will start to be able to return. People are coming out on skilled visas, which I know the Premier - he’s been saying this to me for not just three years but longer than that - about the need for South Australia to have access to those additional skills to grow their economy. That can happen again at much higher rates than we're seeing now.
HOST: Prime Minister, can I ask you about the situation in Indigenous communities …
PRIME MINISTER: Yep.
HOST: … particularly in the town of Wilcannia, that, it’s sort of really not that far from SA.
PRIME MINISTER: Yep.
HOST: For them, the big smoke’s Broken Hill, which we regard as part of South Australia. The numbers there are staggering. Is there, is there some role for the Commonwealth? Like, we're talking about relatively small numbers of people. As Prime Minister, are you going to have a closer look at that? Because, it seems that there’s a, particularly given the history of what infections and new exotic diseases did to Indigenous Australians over over the years since …
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah.
HOST: … colonisation. It feels like there's a, there's a humanitarian crisis unfolding here, potentially.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we already have. And, we've got AUSMAT teams in there. We've got ADF teams in there, working very closely with the State Government. And, you know, the western New South Wales outbreak is very serious and, as it will be in a lot of remote and sensitive communities. And, so, while we hit 70 and 80 per cent for the, you know, majority of the population, we understand that, particularly in remote communities, that the risks can still be very high. And, one of the things we're trying to get across, and Ken Wyatt has made this point, that in many remote communities, because they feel like they're a long way away from the cities where these things are happening, they can sometimes form a view that they’re, that they're protected. And, that's not the case. The Delta variant can travel, as we know it does, and you only need a couple of events which can see those transfers take place. And, that's why we already have acted, and we're working very closely with the New South Wales Government. And, the reason for that is not only is that helping us to directly influence that situation, but we have developed a very good partnership model - if that were to happen in South Australia or the Northern Territory or Western Australia - that the responses, we're seeing those vaccination rates rise in those levels. We've got great responses from local Indigenous leaders in helping us do that. But, it is a very sensitive area of the population and it is a difficult area in which to work, which it always is, regardless of whether it's COVID or any other other other health challenges in those communities.
HOST: We’ve had a significant development in the last hour with the US 20 year long operation in Afghanistan ending.
[Excerpt plays]
HOST: Prime Minister, is there any capacity for Australia to increase our refugee resettlement program, something aligned with or akin to what happened in 2015 with the Syrian refugees? We offered an additional 12,000 places - a specific intake for those people under duress. Could we do something similar for Afghanistan, beyond the 3,000, beyond the 3,000 that you’ve already said?
PRIME MINISTER: We already have. Well, let me remind you what happened with Syria. We did 3,000 in that first year. Of that 12,000, we did 3,000 in that first year. It all wasn't done in one year. It was actually done over several years.
HOST: So, that's what’ll happen here then?
PRIME MINISTER: And, what I’ve said, yeah, what I've said is we will do, we think, at least 3,000 this year. Well, I actually believe it will be more based on, you know, the work that we're already doing. The challenge there will be how people actually get out of Afghanistan, and that's why we have to work closely with the IOM and other international agencies, our partners, the United States, United Kingdom, etcetera, to actually see how those pathways can be created - those proper official pathways - and to enable us to fill those numbers. And, I've already said that if the overall intake has to be increased to accommodate those additional numbers, then then it will be, and that it won't just be this year. It'll be next year, it’ll be the year after that, because this will happen over many, many years, is my expectation. And, and so we will continue to provide that support, as we have, as we have since 2013. And, in the airlift that we were engaged in ourselves, that airlift ended up being about four times what our original expectation was, based on on the numbers that we had at the time and what had been advised to us. And, we just kept going and we got as many people out as safely as we possibly could, and over 4,000 people were lifted up on 32 flights, and that included around 600 from other countries, which included Afghans that had worked with other countries, as well as those other countries’ citizens. So, we all work together. Other countries helped uplift our people as well, and the Afghan nationals who'd worked with us, and that was a very dangerous operation. But, everybody who was involved in that went, exceeded what our original estimates were, and the fact that we got everybody out safely, given how dangerous that was, is a great credit to those involved.
HOST: Prime Minister Scott Morrison, thanks very much for joining us this morning on FiveAA.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks a lot, David.
Children Aged 12 to 15 Years Now Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine
27 August 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Health and Aged Care, Minister for Education and Youth
Children aged between 12 and 15 years will be able to book a COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine from September 13 following the Morrison Government’s decision to implement expert medical advice.
Bookings will be available through GPs, Commonwealth Vaccination Clinics and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations. Each state and territory will advise when their state vaccination clinics will open to this group.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) reviewed detailed medical evidence and recommended Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccination in all children and adolescents 12 years of age and above.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Moderna vaccine would also be made available subject to approvals from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and ATAGI recommendations for 12-18 year olds.
“Vaccinating young people will protect them and provide peace of mind to their family,” the Prime Minster said.
“Importantly, this decision provides the opportunity for families to come together to visit their GP and get vaccinated.”
Coordinator General of Operation COVID Shield Lieutenant General John Frewen has been working with the Commonwealth and states and territories on coordinating an approach for this age group while supporting those jurisdictions wishing to undertake a school based vaccination later in the year. This detail will be outlined by each state and territory.
It is expected that all children 12-18 years of age will have access to a vaccine during the course of 2021. The age group between 12 and 15 comprises of approximately 1.2 million children.
Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said the decision was based on the final advice of ATAGI and approval by the TGA. In their advice to Government, ATAGI concludes that the severity of COVID-19 is less in adolescents compared with adults.
“To date, we’ve administered almost 18.4 million COVID-19 vaccines around Australia. I want to thank everyone who has come forward so far to receive their first and second doses, you’re doing an incredible job,” Minister Hunt said.
“I would encourage all parents from September 13 to visit the eligibility checker and book your child in for their vaccination, so we can ensure all Australians are protected from COVID-19.”
Minister for Education and Youth Alan Tudge said the rollout of the vaccines to younger Australians should give more confidence to jurisdictions to keep schools open and community activity alive.
“Some students have missed more than half a year of face-to-face learning, and it is critically important that we get all students back in classrooms as soon as possible,” Minister Tudge said.
“Keeping kids in schools is so important, not just for their education, but for their mental health, physical development and to have those critical interactions with their peers and teachers.”
Parents should check the COVID-19 eligibility checker from 13 September to book in their child’s vaccination.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration is also currently considering the use of the Moderna vaccine in 12-17 years of age as a priority, with a decision expected soon.
Pharmacies will come on board to administer Moderna subject to approval by the TGA and ATAGI.
The Commonwealth Government has secured more than 280 million COVID-19 vaccines, including 125 million Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines and 25 million Moderna vaccines.
National Cabinet Statement
27 August 2021
The National Cabinet met today for the 53rd 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 48,815 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 991 people have died. More than 30.7 million tests have been undertaken. Testing has increased nationally over recent days with 1,742,613 tests reported in the past 7 days.
Globally there have been over 214.5 million cases and sadly over 4.4 million deaths, with 711,553 new cases and 11,051 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 over 18.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Australia, including 307,090 in the previous 24 hours.
In the previous 7 days, more than 1.8 million vaccines have been administered in Australia. More than 55 per cent of the Australian population aged 16 years and over have now had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including over 75 per cent of over 50 year olds and more than 85 per cent of over 70 year olds.
More than 33 per cent of Australians aged 16 years and over are now fully vaccinated including more than 48.7 per cent of over 50 year olds and more than 60.8 per cent of Australians over 70 years of age.
Today, 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 NSW, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.
Leaders noted the health system capacity in place is across to support the current outbreaks.
National Cabinet agreed to establish a cross jurisdictional working group led by the Commonwealth Secretary of Health, with the heads of all state and territory Health Departments to report back to National Cabinet by 3 September 2021, on the health and hospital system capacity and workforce needs to address expected demands under the National Plan, taking into account the Doherty Institute modelling reports to National Cabinet.
Lieutenant General John Frewen, Coordinator-General of Operation COVID Shield, provided an update on the vaccine roll out and the planned roll out to children aged 12-15 years of age, based on recommendations of ATAGI. The rollout to 12-15 year olds will commence from 13 September 2021.
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. Professor Jodie McVernon from the Doherty Institute updated National Cabinet on draft modelling scenarios and sensitivity analysis, confirming the recommendation of the 70% and 80% thresholds from the Doherty Institute’s earlier report that formed the basis of the National Plan.
Further work is underway on the scenarios as well as modelling of optimisation of the public health measures and managing outbreak responses and scenarios to support vulnerable cohorts and areas with low vaccination uptake. These will be presented by the Doherty Institute at future meetings once finalised.
National Cabinet noted the significantly expanded scale of the evacuation from Afghanistan in a dangerous and deteriorating situation.
The Prime Minister thanked state and territory leaders for the substantial increase in quarantine places made available to accommodate the approximately 4,100 evacuees who would be welcomed to Australia over the coming days and weeks.
National Cabinet agreed to meet next on Friday, 3 September 2021.
Interview with Ray Hadley, 2GB
25 August 2021
RAY HADLEY: Prime Minister, good morning.
PRIME MINISTER: G’day, Ray.
HADLEY: Just catching up with news, I'll bring it to you, Annastacia Palaszczuk’s just announced, from midday, Queensland will pause interstate arrivals into hotel quarantine for two weeks because they're overwhelmed. That won't have an impact on international arrivals, but it means people trying to relocate can't do it for at least two weeks. So, that's one that's happened there this morning. There's no new cases out of there. How do you convince Annastacia Palaszczuk and Mr McGowan that the path that you're plotting with the Doherty Institute, and the path that the Premier in New South Wales and I believe Victoria are plotting, is the right way to go? How do you convince them on Friday that they need to follow you?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, first of all, they've already agreed to the national plan. We've agreed it three times and we have been working up this plan since March of this year. And, so, there's been many, many iterations of this. And, the plan is important because it gives people confidence and hope and it encourages people to get vaccinated. It is a safe plan. So, we're not suggesting that Australia should be opening up on a whim or on the basis of ideology. We're saying we have a plan that is based on the best science, the best health advice and the best economic advice, which says when you get to 70 per cent and 80 per cent, then you can allow Australians to move forward and live with COVID. Now, that doesn't mean you live, you know, completely exactly as it was before. You've got to keep sensible precautions, as is occurring all around the world. But, you don't have to have these horrendous lockdowns and these arrangements where you've got people having to always quarantine if they're Australians, when they, you know, are moving from one place to the other in Australia or even returning from overseas, where they should be able to quarantine at home and things like that. The world will change and we’ll live with COVID.
But, the most compelling reason to support the plan is in states like Western Australia and Queensland, which vaccination rates are lagging behind the rest of the country - and part of that is because they've got very low case numbers and so people don't feel the same compulsion to get vaccinated - that this will actually encourage those vaccination rates. The national plan improves the health and safety of the whole country, and it opens up Australia and gives businesses the confidence they need to get through these incredibly difficult months.
HADLEY: See, that's the point about vaccination rates. They've skyrocketed in New South Wales because we're in the middle of a pandemic, with 753 cases yesterday.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, and in Victoria.
HADLEY: But, Queensland’s - yeah, 71’s down to I think 45 today. But, in relation to Queensland, no new cases and there's no rush, and then you've got - I know you won’t enter this debate - you've got Dr Young saying the things she said months ago, and repeating them more recently, about AstraZeneca and the rest of it, and, so, you've got a reluctance from the population in Queensland to get vaccinated because there's no sense of urgency.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the sense of urgency is necessary because Delta can strike in Queensland, Western Australia. You know, the powers of of state governments are not more powerful than the Delta strain of the virus, and they're not more powerful than the vaccine. What is needed for the health and safety of people right across the country, whether they're in Tasmania or New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, is getting the population vaccinated, and the national plan provides the incentives, which says you get vaccinated, then you're able to open up the country. People can go back to connecting with each other again all around the country, moving around, our economy growing, people going back to work, not having their hours reduced, and they can go forward with certainty. And, in a state like Queensland, in particular, where you have so much that depends on the tourism industry, both domestically and internationally, getting vaccinated, getting the plan going is the best plan to get Queensland moving. And, you can't sort of withdraw from that. You've got to move into it.
I get the concerns. I understand that people might be concerned in Queensland listening to us right now - ‘oh, but what happens if there's cases and’ - well, that's what we've worked through. This has been a very careful plan, which took months to prepare, and was based on this, you know, the world's best advice. I mean, the Doherty Institute is the organisation which was the first lab in the world to reproduce the coronavirus and share its make up with the world. So, we're not talking about, you know, just a couple of people in some white coats. We're talking about the best scientists in this area in the world. And, that's why it's a safe plan, it's a smart plan, and it's a plan that's going to ensure our economy resoundingly comes back.
HADLEY: Funny you should mention blokes in white coats. There’s a few of the anti-vaxxers who need a couple of blokes in white coats and some sort of restraint, but ...
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's great to see those vaccine hesitations falling as well, which I frankly always thought would happen, as more and more people get the vaccine. Now, just to update you, Ray. The most recent data - 307,000 vaccines yesterday administered. In New South Wales, there was 130,784. In Queensland, there was 47,283. So, that was a very strong day yesterday - 17.7 million all up; 1.9 million in the last seven days. Now, that's better on a seven day average - you know, for the size of our country - better than the UK, the United States, France, Italy, all of these countries. Today in Australia, there are, again, there are more places you can go and get vaccinated - there are 8,984 places you can get a vaccine - and that's about 10 times more than you can get a Big Mac at. And, there are more petrol stations - that's more than there are petrol stations where you can fill up. So, you know, it's out there. Please go and get it. It's a good thing for you, your country, your community, your economy.
HADLEY: I know personally, and as a Government, you’ve got no appetite for mandatory vaccinations.
PRIME MINISTER: No.
HADLEY: However, what I’ve tried to explain to people, including a bloke that's giving me a hammering this morning about all of this, is if he wants to travel domestically, internationally, or go to the football or go to the races or go anywhere, there will be organisations - not because they've been told to do it - who’ll say, we want to see your vaccination passport. And, I've now got it on my phone. Someone, in fact, my wife, showed me how to do it last night. So, I've got my two jabs on my phone so I can show it to people if I need to. But, I think people have got to understand that life will be different for them if they don't get vaccinated. They've got to understand that - whether you make it mandatory or not, their life will be different.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that is true, and living with the virus will be different. I mean, it's not going anywhere. You can't eradicate it. So, it's still going to be there, and vaccination and the booster shots we've already, you know, ordered for next year will be part of, a part of that life, because you make a very good point. A business under property law has the ability to say, no, you can't come in, and they can ask for that. That's a legitimate thing for them to do. And, they are doing that to protect their own workers. To protect their other clients. And, it's not, it's got nothing to do with ideology. And, this, you know, these issues around liberty and so on. We all believe in freedom, but we also believe in people being healthy, and the sheer fact of it is, if you're not vaccinated, you represent a greater public health risk to yourself, to your family, to your community and others about you. So, it's only sensible that people will do sensible things to protect their public health.
HADLEY: You and I have spoken about rorts, even before you were Prime Minister.
PRIME MINISTER: Oh, yeah.
HADLEY: And, no, no, whenever, you know, whether it's pink batts, whether it's vouchers, whether it's the NDIS, people will find a way to rort the system - not many people, but they do. Now, you have been, as a Government, most generous in coming up with JobKeeper, JobSeeker, and now the $750 for areas in lockdown nationally.
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah.
HADLEY: But, I'm getting, now that we're sort of semi-opening up for the construction industry, where half the population can go to work on a worksite and all the rest of it - electrical contractor writes to me, which is indicative of about 50 emails today - he's got 60 per cent of his workforce available, 40 per cent come from restricted LGAs. We know where they are in Sydney, and those people won't get vaccinated, apparently, he says. So, they're now taking the $750 a week from the Government, topping it up with two days accrued annual leave or an RDO, they're getting in excess of a thousand bucks a week. And, the question is, when will the Government stop making these weekly payments to those that are eligible to have the capacity to work 40 hours but decide against returning to work based on vaccine hesitancy?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah.
HADLEY: And, that is a problem. I mean, I know that you've said initially we'll pay the bill until lockdown finishes, but if you've got people who can come back to work and refuse to do so, what do we do with them?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's a challenge in an environment like this, Ray. And, I don't want to pretend that you can be as calibrated as you'd like in these circumstances. And, that's the challenges of, you know, lockdowns, and that's why the national plan’s so important, so we can get past all that and and get back to a new normal where you can have better compliance around these things. I mean, the way we're doing these payments now is that people have had to have lost, you know, those hours of work. There are, I should stress to anybody, that, you know, there is an obligation on those receiving those payments to advise us if there's been any change in your circumstances, just like with other welfare payments. And, this is, I'm not suggesting this is welfare in the same way, because, you know, there is things that the Government has done with restrictions that meant you haven’t been able to go to work. So, it's a very different issue. But, at the same time, if people's circumstances have changed and they have been able to work or they are getting work, then then they have an obligation to tell us that, and to adjust what support they may be receiving. But, Ray, I'm going to take on board what you've said. That's good feedback and I'll feed that back into the system. And, because they are looking at ways to ensure we can have integrity, even with these payments.
On balance, the payments are important to get us through these lockdowns to ensure the economy is ready to go again. I know, it's not 100 per cent perfect, never can be in these circumstances. But, I think these are reasonable points you're making. And, you know, you know, people shouldn't have a lend of the system. I mean, it's there to help people. It's being done in an unprecedented way to help people get through this. And, I think if people are, you know, as you know, I've been an Immigration Minister, I’ve been a Treasurer, I've been a Social Services Minister. And, so, I've been in pretty much all the areas where people try and have a bit of a lend of the system. And, it's, sadly, it's a feature of it, and I would just hope and appeal to people to do the right thing by their fellow taxpayers.
HADLEY: You and I have known each other for a long, long time. We've butted heads over a number of things, and we’ve found agreement over a number of things. This week we find out the 13 soldiers from the SAS - given notice as show cause why they should not be dismissed after the Brereton Report came out - have now been told there's not sufficient information for their case to be referred to an investigator. These, and one of these officers is now in Kabul on our behalf, trying to repatriate people back to this country. Linda Reynolds may be a guest on the program tomorrow - the former Defence Minister - she talked about cold-blooded murder after the Brereton Report. Do you think, as Prime Minister, these men are now owed an apology by the Government for the words of that Minister?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, Ray, this is a very complicated issue, it's very difficult. The Brereton inquiry, the issues raised in that, of course, everybody agrees were very serious. And, that's why we've put in place a highly robust process to try and get to the bottom of these issues and where people, like those individuals you referred to, have served our country admirably and honourably, what that says to me - that they've been notified of this, about the outcome of where their cases are at - shows that the system is actually trying to resolve all of this. They’re trying to resolve all of this.
Now, the comments made about the Brereton Report were not made about specific individuals. I want to stress that. They're not about specific individuals, and even those those 17 specific individuals, and we don't want to cause any hurt to our veterans community and our defence community. As you say, they are there on the deck at HKIA in Kabul right now. Last night, we got out over a thousand people out last night, in our biggest night of operations. We've got almost 2,500 people out now over the course of this past week. It's probably the most dangerous place in the world right now. And, there are Australians there, right in the middle of it - not just Defence Force, I should stress, but Home Affairs people, people from DFAT - saving lives, particularly women and children, at the moment. And, I'm very proud of what they're doing, including those who have been the subjects to some of these allegations. But, they're there serving, and I think that's their answer. They're there serving, and that's why I honour them for that service.
HADLEY: Okay. Well, I believe you to be a fair and just man, and I believe that you, as the titular head of that Government, you are entitled to offer an apology to these 13 men who have been vilified and called cold-blooded murderers, Prime Minister, cold-blooded murderers.
PRIME MINISTER: No, I understand the point you're making, Ray. I understand it.
HADLEY: And, and if Linda Reynolds is not prepared to apologise, nor Angus Campbell is not prepared to apologise, I think, as the Prime Minister of this country, it would be a mark of respect to say to these men, the allegations made against you, we can't proceed because there is insufficient cause for it to be referred to an investigator. We can't refer to you as a cold-blooded murderer any more. We shouldn't have done it in the first place, and we withdraw and apologise. I think it's the only way forward.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, let’s, I understand the point you're making. And, what I'm going to continue to do is just, this process is designed to ensure that these outcomes can be reached and these matters can be clarified, and people can walk forward with honour. And, I will work to ensure that it is achieved.
HADLEY: So, sometime down the track, when this process is completed, there'll be an apology to these 13 men?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh, what I'm saying, I mean, this process is going to take a very long time. But, in case, in specific cases of individuals, who have already, you know, had had outcomes here, then what I'm telling you is I want them to be able to walk tall and to walk forward with honour, and with the full respect of my Government.
HADLEY: Okay. I appreciate your time. Thanks very much.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks a lot, Ray. Cheers.
Interview with Neil Mitchell, 3AW
24 August 2021
Neil Mitchell: Mr Morrison, good morning.
Prime Minister: G'day, how are you Neil?
Mitchell: I know you're stretched, I'm sorry, but there, I'd be, I apologise in advance. But there's a horrible truth here, Prime Minister, is that you're being forced really to take a punt that the Doherty Institute's right and the others are wrong. That's a punt that could, if it goes wrong, cost 30,000 lives.
Prime Minister: Well, I don't agree with that assessment, but I know others who have put that forward. And they assume that there's, you know, vaccinations don't continue to rise. They assume there's no other public health measures in place and all of that. So, I mean, that's, that's not a realistic scenario and that's not what is going to happen. But the Doherty Institute, as your listeners know, as you will know, is the one of the most significant scientific agencies in the world. They were the first one that could actually reproduce the virus in the lab. I remember going to see them at the Doherty Institute in February last year and they shared all of that with the world. So this is the most significant, I believe, advisory group in the world on these issues. And they've been very clear because we've got a plan to do this safely. This is not Freedom Day. It's a science day, if you like, it's telling us that we can do this safely and we can move ahead and we can when we can get going again.
Mitchell: But, yeah, you still have been required to make a decision between Doherty and others. And a lot of them taken me through the figures. I mean, we are certainly looking at a pandemic of the unvaccinated, aren't we?
Prime Minister: Well, of course. And that's why we're seeking to maximise those vaccination rates. And I'd also note that once you hit 70 and once you hit 80, the first dose rates are even higher. And then also the vaccination amongst the most vulnerable, particularly the elderly, will be even higher than those marks as well. Now, that has been demonstrated when you compare what has happened in Sydney this year to what happened in Melbourne last year. And even with vaccination rates, at you know, 30 per cent double dose, we've had over 80 per cent double dose vaccination rates in aged care facilities. And so we have not seen the terrible outcomes that we saw in Victoria last year when vaccines weren't available, in Sydney. So that demonstrates that you can live with this virus when you reach those levels of vaccination.
Mitchell: But this decision is still being made. You had to weigh up the evidence there ...
Prime Minister: Of course you do.
Mitchell: We have to. And that's what I want to get the point. On one side is that it could cost 30,000 lives. And I hope to hell they're wrong. But we have to brace ourselves, do we not? I mean, in the Doherty says, what? 385,000 are likely in six months?
Prime Minister: Well, they've also said that with appropriate public health measures, which doesn't mean lockdowns, we can, we can reduce infection significantly and also fatalities. And it means that we can manage this like any other infectious disease. I mean, there are 600 death to the flu each year and there are some 200,000 cases each year. And that doesn't shut down cities. And we live with that. And we still see our families and we still go out for coffee. We still go to the 'G. We still do all of these things. And so this is something we can live with. And I understand, Neil, that there are very real fears about this. And you're right, we do have to make decisions and we make them on the best possible advice. And the 30,000 figure that I'm familiar with is the 30,000 lives we've saved, that we saved, by taking decisions, listening carefully to the best possible advice. And that 30,000 figure, by the way, is based on the fatality rate in countries just like Australia. United Kingdom, across Europe, the United States, countries with big economies, sophisticated health systems. If we had the same fatality rate as them, more than 30,000 Australians would be dead today because of that. So we've made good decisions. We've worked together. The national plan is based on that same sensible, careful approach.
Mitchell: Have you, have you got national unity? It does seem still that some of the premiers are running off in different directions. Have you really got unified leadership on this?
Prime Minister: Well, on three occasions we have agreed this plan, not just one. It was many months in the development informing the process through the Doherty Institute and the economic advice that we received. We agreed the plan as to what its phases would be. Then we agreed that the rate of vaccination that would apply to it and then we confirmed it again a week later when the outbreak of Sydney was already well underway. And so we have agreed to this. But it's not an agreement with me, Neil. It's an agreement with the Australian people. And I appreciate the comments that the Premier Andrews said yesterday. I mean, he's been a strong supporter of the plan. And the issues we now need to work through between now and when we reach those rates is that we can reinforce our public health systems, that we get the sensible, practical measures that will need to be in place with living with the virus. And that's what we have to focus on. So we step forward into that rather than stepping away from it.
Mitchell: Well alright, the public health system is going to be pushed, it's stretched already. It's going to be pushed more and is going to be pushed long term because of long COVID with people still remaining ill for a long time in different ways. How much money can you put into the health system?
Prime Minister: Well, we've been putting record amounts in now and ...
Mitchell: Yeah, but this is a new one, this is a new challenge …
Prime Minister: Yeah, I get that. To be honest, there are many stresses on the health system, there are many stresses on the aged care system, the mental health system, and we've responded to all of those challenges. I mean, we put in this additional $17 billion commitments into the aged care system in the last budget, we put $2.3 billion extra into mental health. And so we've demonstrated, I think Neil, the point of raising that is we've demonstrated our commitment to getting these sort of things done and dealing with these challenges. And we do have to deal with them. The states principally have responsibility for those health systems. I think it's reasonable for states to be saying, well, I'm concerned about this. I'm concerned about that. Fair enough. But let's work through that. I mean, because if it's not at 70 or 80 per cent, then when?
Mitchell: Prime Minister, we vaccinate babies before they leave the hospital. We vaccinate kids before they're walking, why not vaccinate children age five?
Prime Minister: Well, there is no country in the world that's doing that right now.
Mitchell: I know, but unless you vaccinate kids it's not going to work.
Prime Minister: Well, no, no, I don't necessarily agree with that. And that's not the advice that we've been given either. And if there is to be a vaccine that's provided to children under 12, then we will follow all the necessary processes to give clearance to that from the medical experts like we do with any other vaccine, the vaccine you're talking about that we vaccinate children with now, go through that same process and we have one of the highest rates of children vaccination immunisation in the world, over 95 per cent. And the reason for that is because I think people understand that when we say your child should get a vaccine, then we can say with the confidence of the process we've gone through. And that's what we'll do here, like we do with every other vaccine,. 12 to 15 year olds, we have that approval from the TGA. The Immunisation Advisory Group will give us their final advice, my understanding is on Friday, we're already working with the states. That means we'll be able to do that in parallel with the broader vaccination programme.
Mitchell: Just finally, could we be looking at a Delta divide here? I mean, if some states get to 70 or 80 per cent ahead of others, and New South Wales is ahead of everybody at the moment, even Victoria narrowly, then we could have New South Wales or a particular state opened up to an extent, and the state next door isn't?
Prime Minister: Look, on the East Coast and certainly with New South Wales and Victoria, I mean, I think they are both moving well. I think the vaccination programme is working well there. And I'd say particularly in Victoria, the state based vaccination clinics. I mean, that's the leading state based vaccination programme around the country. They're doing a really great job. And the GPs, as I said this morning, there's more places you can get the vaccine in Australia then you can get a Big Mac now. And so you know, those points of presence through pharmacies and GPs. But I'll tell you what, I don't think anyone is going to want to be left behind. And so states like Western Australia, which haven't had those outbreaks, then, of course, people think that, oh, I don't need to get the vaccine because it's not here. Well, COVID will have a second view about that. And the borders and those other things that states might want to do are not as powerful as the vaccine. And that's why it's important that all Australians do it.
Mitchell: Is there more vaccine available if Victoria wants it?
Prime Minister: We've been piling the vaccines in now. And and that's why we're able to keep these record numbers and both with Pfizer. We've got Moderna starting next month. We've got the AstraZeneca, which Victoria has done a great job on, making sure we continue to push forward that. I greatly appreciate that.
Mitchell: The Premier was still indicating he didn't have enough yesterday, is there more there if he wants it?
Prime Minister: Well, there's certainly more AstraZeneca. And we're maximising every dose of Pfizer to get it out there. And that's why we're hitting marks of almost, well yesterday, I can tell you there was, we were able to do 289,942 yesterday. That gets us to 17.44 million. In Victoria, we continued in Victoria now, we've got over, we're approaching 4.5 million doses that have been done there. And there was 67,982 extra done yesterday. So it's going ahead. And it's I mean, our last seven days, you know, Monday to Sunday, that was about 1.8 million on a per capita basis. That was better than any week the UK ever had.
Mitchell: Prime Minister, I'm sorry, we have run out of time. I really appreciate you squeezing that. I thank you very much.
Interview with Karl Stefanovic, Today Show
24 August 2021
KARL STEFANOVIC: PM, good morning to you.
PRIME MINISTER: G’day, Karl.
STEFANOVIC: So, you’ve, you've locked and loaded on the states. Went down like a lead balloon in Queensland and WA.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the National Cabinet agreed the plan, and it's not a deal with me, it's a deal with the Australian people, and it's based on the best medical, science and economic research in the world. And, it says that you can safely open at 70 and 80 per cent when when your, the population is vaccinated to that level. And, that means we can go into a new COVID normal, we can get out of the cave and, importantly, we can do it safely. And, that's a deal we’ve made with Australians - not with me - that people going and doing the right thing every week and getting vaccinated, 1.8 million last week, more than 300,000 people each day, going and saying, ‘we want to get out of this’.
STEFANOVIC: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: And, so, that's the deal. Now, I understand there can be some concerns about cases rising, and I get that. But, that means you just prepare for it, you make sure your public health systems are ready, you get it done, but you can't stay here forever. And, if not at 70 and 80 per cent, then when?
STEFANOVIC: Ok. You put, didn't you put the deal together, though?
PRIME MINISTER: Of course I did. That's my job ...
STEFANOVIC: Isn’t it your deal?
PRIME MINISTER: … And we did, and we all agreed it. We did it over many, many months, and it went through many iterations. We agreed at first about what the four steps were.
STEFANOVIC: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: Then we agreed that we'd use the scientific evidence to guide what those rates would be, because we had to do it safely. We agreed that, and then we confirmed it again. And, yes, I know there's been more cases in New South Wales since then, but as the Doherty Institute, which is the group that has advised us this - this is the group it was the first ever to reproduce the virus in a lab anywhere in the world - said again last night, it doesn't matter whether it's 30 cases or 800 cases, the conclusions are the same. And, that's what the Doherty Institute said last night. And, so, we can do this safely and we do need to do it.
STEFANOVIC: Ok. If it's 800 cases, Queensland and WA will not open their borders, even if the numbers in New South Wales stabilise - they look like getting worse.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we’ll see, we’ll see.
STEFANOVIC: So, there's no chance that they will open their borders. This is not my argument, it’s their argument.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I heard those comments, but it's still several months until we get to those marks, and I think every single day, seven and eight out of 10 Australians will make that very clear. And, there's a lot to work through. We've got to address any concerns that they might have about the issues of rising cases, which will happen, because we'll go from, I mean, cases will not be the story once we hit 70 and 80 per cent. The idea of COVID zero, that's not the issue once you get to 70 and 80 per cent. Any state and territory that thinks that somehow they can protect themselves from COVID with the Delta strain forever, that's just absurd. I mean, New Zealand can't do that. They were following an elimination strategy. They're in lockdown. The way through is to get to those 70 and 80 per cent marks, open safely. Of course, there are baseline things you still have to do, and when you hit 70 and 80 per cent, you'll have an even higher rate of first dose vaccinations and an even higher rate of double dose vaccinations for the most elderly in our community. And, the proof of this plan is what we've already seen. In Sydney, right now, we are not experiencing the same level of fatalities as we did in Melbourne last year. The reason: we got our older population vaccinated. And, as a result, that is protecting people.
STEFANOVIC: So, the Doherty Institute has updated its outlook, which were based on low case numbers, as you mentioned, in the community. And, now it says it doesn't matter how many cases there are. You've seen the modelling. I mean, how many COVID cases will we have every day, and how many deaths are they predicting? How many cases and deaths are you comfortable living with?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, what we, what the plan does is when you get to 80 per cent, you manage it like any other infectious disease. Now, we don't shut the country down because of the flu. We don't do that. We don't do it for other infectious diseases. And, so, what's really important is that that's what this, that's what this modelling shows us, that you can manage this with some baseline elements as well, common sense measures, to ensure that you can treat it like the flu. And, that’s where we want to get. That's what living with COVID looks like. And ...
STEFANOVIC: Ok. Epidemiologists say you can’t open up with hundreds of cases, contact tracers, they can't keep up. Hospitals can't care for the numbers of sick. Do you think differently?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the Doherty Institute thinks differently. I mean, I'm not the epidemiologist here, the Doherty Institute is, and they're the well-respected science organisation that have informed our our decisions on this. And, I stand by their their work every single day of the week. And, what it's been backed up by is a vaccination program which is vaccinating at record rates. I mean, there are more places you can get a vaccination jab now than you can get a Big Mac in this country. And, so, that rollout is really hitting its marks. It’s, we've had the best week ever, and per capita it's better than the best week ever in the UK, and it's on par with the best week ever in the United States. So, we're getting it done. Australians are getting it done. They're doing it because they want their lives back. And, my plan ensures, I should say, our plan, because it's all of the states and territories and mine, our plan ...
STEFANOVIC: See, it was your plan PM, it was your plan. It’s ok to say it was your plan.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I put it on the table.
STEFANOVIC: So, it was your plan? They agreed to your plan, and now they’re going to back out of it.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's only a plan when everybody agrees to it. So …
STEFANOVIC: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, they shouldn't, and I don't believe they will ultimately, Karl ...
STEFANOVIC: What will you do about it?
PRIME MINISTER: There'll be a bit of noise for now. Well, I believe we'll get there. That's the point. And, we’ve just got to remain focused on getting there because, as I say, it's a, it's a deal with the Australian people. They're the ones - seven and eight out of 10 Australians would have made it very clear that they want to move forward.
STEFANOVIC: Ok.
PRIME MINISTER: Now, it's like that movie in ‘The Croods’ - people wanted to stay in the cave. Some wanted to stay in the cave, and that young girl, she wanted to go out and live again and deal with the challenges of living in a different world. Well, COVID is a new, different world, and we need to get out there and live in it. We can't stay in the cave and we can get out of it safely. That's what the plan does.
STEFANOVIC: You just, you meandered to an area I never in my life thought you would meander to. So, just to be clear …
PRIME MINISTER: I like the movie.
STEFANOVIC: I understand. To be clear, you still believe the lockdown in New South Wales has to work, right? Or has that changed?
PRIME MINISTER: No, no, of course it does. The plan is that when you're in this phase, you've got to try and keep cases low, because we still have people who are unvaccinated, it’s a great risk to them.
STEFANOVIC: What is low, because I’m not sure, 800 cases is not low, PM.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, in, overseas, they've got tens of thousands of cases every day. I was talking to Boris Johnson the other day, he's amazed that our cases are that low by comparison to what it is around the rest of the world. So, it's all relative. But, the point is how, what should we be doing in this phase, we should keep them as low as we possibly can. And, the reason for that is, is we still have people, you know, we’ve got, we’ll be, probably be at about a third fully vaccinated, hopefully, by the end of this month. That still means there's two thirds who are not. That means there's still a lot of people at risk.
STEFANOVIC: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: And, that's why we've got to keep case numbers as low as we can. That's why, sadly, these lockdowns, which are infuriating, I get it, but they are necessary, and they will save lives in this phase of the plan.
STEFANOVIC: Ok. Our kids aren't included in the Doherty Institute modelling for those vaccination rates, and it's clear they're spreading the virus, and in some cases being hospitalised, very few, but still being hospitalised. When will they be vaccinated? Because, I mean, no one wants to see our kids sick and in hospital.
PRIME MINISTER: I agree, and 12 to 15-year-olds, which we now have TGA approval to vaccinate them, the ATAGI - which is the immunisation advisory group - we will get final advice, my understanding, is on Friday, which will enable us to go forward vaccinating 12 to 15-year-olds, and we will do that in parallel. When Doherty came back to us they said, ‘yes, there is that group of 12 to 15s, but the overall levels of 70 and 80 per cent in the adult over 16 population give that level of comfort more broadly across the population’. No country in the world, I'm advised, is currently vaccinating children under the age of 12. There are some trials going on in a few places, but there is no vaccine that is now currently approved as being able to be given to children under 12. So, the best way to protect children under 12, I mean, I have a child under 12, is to ensure that you're vaccinated, and that's also the advice from Doherty. The best way we can protect children aged 12 to 15 is to ensure that you're vaccinated, as parents, uncles, aunties, families. That's the best way, because that's where you're going to catch it from. That's one of the many ways you can catch it, but it's a predominant one. And, that's why we need to focus on that. When we have advice which says we can safely vaccinate children under 12, and it's not clear that will be the case, but if it is, then we will obviously proceed and do that. But, it's an important priority for us.
STEFANOVIC: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: We did discuss it last week. We’ve discussed it many times and we've been working at our plans to ensure that when we get that tick, we can do that in parallel with the broader national program.
STEFANOVIC: Alright, Afghanistan. The Taliban, I note this morning, is not budging on its August 31 deadline to get out. How are we travelling? Have you got any, any more updates for us?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, I do. Last night we got over 650 people out. It was our biggest night. That was on five flights, including one Kiwi flight. We've uplifted a lot of Kiwis. They were with us last night, uplifting Aussies, and so we thank them for that. But, five flights, over 650, almost 1,700 people we’ve evacuated now. The people who are doing this job on the ground, Karl, they are real heroes, compassionate heroes, dealing with people in the most distressing and dangerous of situations. Our ADF, our Air Force, flying people in and out, those from 3 Brigade there on the ground doing the job, providing security and supporting people getting onto these planes. Our Home Affairs officials, our Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials, you know, they're going through what is an extraordinarily intense time, and they're getting people out. Now, yes, that that is the deadline, and I've been working to that. I've made no assumptions about the Taliban. We know their form. We've been going like we won't be able to get another flight in the next day. So, we've been trying to make every every flight as successful as possible. We’ll keep doing that for as long as we can. If that deadline is able to be pushed out, we've made that clear to the United States that we would support that. But, in the meantime, we'll just keep getting on with the job.
STEFANOVIC: Good on you. Thank you for that. And, well done to all the ADF who are doing an outstanding job. Good to see you, Prime Minister. Appreciate it.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks, Karl. Cheers.
Interview with David Koch, Sunrise
24 August 2021
DAVID KOCH: PM, the Doherty Institute are the experts the premiers and the Federal Government has relied upon for advice to reopen the economy.
PRIME MINISTER: That's true. I mean, remember, this was the organisation down in Melbourne that were the first one to reproduce the virus in a lab and share that with the world.
KOCH: Yep.
PRIME MINISTER: So, these are the world's leading experts here. And, Sharon Lewin just confirmed again last night that at 70 and 80 per cent you can reopen safely, and that's the key point here. We're not just reopening because we want to reopen. We know that at that level, based on the expert scientific work that they have done, that we can reopen safely at that point and we can move forward. In fact, once you get above those levels …
KOCH: Right.
PRIME MINISTER: … it is, it does more harm than good to have lockdowns, both economically and more broadly on people's mental health and other physical health issues that come from those type of restrictions. So, that's the advice. That's the basis for the plan.
KOCH: Right.
PRIME MINISTER: We've all signed up to it. We all need to get on with it.
KOCH: Ok. Well, but you haven't all, you signed up for it back months ago. Why are some states now saying, “Ok, we agreed to follow these people's plan, but, oh, now we don't agree with it”. What's going on?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, well, if at not at 70 and 80 per cent, then when? I mean, when? I mean, and the point is, once you get to 70 and 80 per cent, what we also need to bear in mind is first dose rates will still be even higher than that. And, also, those in our most vulnerable populations, our elderly in particular, they'll be at even higher rates than that, double doses. And, that's why by getting the elderly vaccinated early that has put an additional layer of protection in. And, we're seeing that even with the Sydney outbreak now compared to the Melbourne outbreak last year, that the level of fatalities is significantly lower because we were able to vaccinate particularly those in our aged care facilities. So, look, look, I think there's some hesitation based on the fact that there's been more cases that have occurred in New South Wales. But, as the Doherty Institute made clear again yesterday, that that doesn't ultimately have an impact on the conclusion of their model.
KOCH: Right.
PRIME MINISTER: What it does mean is, as you just, I heard in the intro, your previous person you were interviewing, of course, you've got to get things right in your public hospitals and your health system, and that's the work we need to do. We should just be preparing for that, walking into the plan, not walking back from it, because Australians are doing the right thing. And, seven, eight out of ten Australians who have done the right thing and got vaccinated, well, the plan was a deal for them. It wasn’t a deal with me. It was a deal with them.
KOCH: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: And, so, that means we need to move into that, so families can be reunited, we can get into the new COVID normal in the future. We've got to get out of the cave.
KOCH: Ok, but Queensland and WA want to stay in the cave. They're saying, “We're backing away from that blueprint.”
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we'll see, we'll see. And, you know, there's a lot being said now, but several months down the track, you know, you've set out, I mean, everybody's got their predictions about when these marks will be hit. But, as each day passes and 300,000 more people each and every day vote to get with the plan, get vaccinated, and move Australia forward, I think as each day that passes, I think we'll be able to address any of the concerns and fears. And, I think the key concern, with great respect to my colleagues, is that we need to make sure that the public health response, because there will be cases. I mean, we've got to change our mindset. There will be cases. Of course there will be. But, as we're already seeing this year with the vaccine, that compared to the lockdown last year in Melbourne to what is occurring this year in Sydney, that we're seeing far fewer cases of fatality, far fewer cases of hospitalisation.
KOCH: Yep.
PRIME MINISTER: And, that is what the vaccine achieves.
KOCH: Ok.
PRIME MINISTER: And, that's why it assists us to get where we want to go. But, we're still going to have to live sensibly in a COVID world.
KOCH: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: I mean, there's not zero restrictions. There’s common sense, a baseline sort of level restrictions, and I wouldn't even call them restrictions. It's just common sense behaviour about washing your hands and maintaining good hygiene and doing all that sort of common sense stuff, like you do with the flu.
KOCH: But, are you feeling a bit of a lame duck on this issue, that you really can't get Queensland and WA to toe the line? You can say, “Stick to the plan,” but if they say, “No, we don't want to,” there's nothing you can do about it.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, let's just see, David, that's my point.
KOCH: What can you do? What will you do?
PRIME MINISTER: I mean, a lot of noise, a lot of noise at the moment. Look, the point is this. The Australian people want to see it happen. The Australian people, seven out of and eight out of 10, right across the country, will have made their voice very clear.
KOCH: Do they? Yeah, but in those states ...
PRIME MINISTER: And, that’s why David I have confidence. Yeah, look, there's lots of hypothetical discussions about what people might and might not do. Let's just see what they actually do do.
KOCH: Yeah, but don’t …
PRIME MINISTER: And, we'll keep working together between now and then to open up the country. And, so, I'm not I'm not I'm not intimidated by it. I'm not worried about it. What I am focused on doing is ensuring that we continue to address issues that are raised, make it very clear that we can open up safely at those marks.
KOCH: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: We prepare our health system, you know, we embrace this. We move into it. That's what Australian’s expect of us, around the country, to get it done.
KOCH: But, Mark McGowan, Mark McGowan and Annastacia Palaszczuk are extremely popular in their states. So, basically their communities are saying, “We back you.”
PRIME MINISTER: Well, let me be clear, there is nothing more powerful to deal with COVID than the vaccine. There’s no Government, there's no individual, there's no set of border protections that is more powerful than the vaccine. And, once the vaccine is there at 70 and 80 per cent, you do more harm than good to your people …
KOCH: Right.
PRIME MINISTER: … by locking them down and locking them up and keeping them in the cave.
KOCH: Yep.
PRIME MINISTER: And, over the next few months, I think people will understand that very clearly. And, there's plenty of time to get ready. We'll keep working together. So, I'm not going to get drawn into, and I don't, you know, I'm not looking to get drawn into any sort of debate about this with the states. We've got a plan. We’ve agreed a plan. It's based on the best medical, health and economic advice. And, so, we've got to get on with delivering that plan. Others will try and draw us into conflict and debate and, and all of that sort of stuff. That’s what happens ...
KOCH: Well, you’re not agreed.
PRIME MINISTER: But, we'll just focus on the plan.
KOCH: Well, we want you to all do that. Can you guarantee that we’ll be able to have Christmas with family and friends interstate?
PRIME MINISTER: Yeah, I believe we will be able to be in that position if we hit those marks of 70 and 80 per cent, because there's no reason why you shouldn't be. That's the whole point. I mean, you get to 70 and 80 per cent, what would, what what possible reason would there be to prevent that?
KOCH: Ok, yeah.
PRIME MINISTER: So, I mean, that's that's the compelling argument. It's not a deal with me. It's a deal with the Australian people who are keeping up their end of the bargain, and they expect the political leaders to keep their end of the bargain. Now, you're right, the Commonwealth doesn't have control over public health leavers. That's true. We've known that since the start of the pandemic. John Howard made that point himself. I mean, I think these powers of the states were not as well known at previous times because we didn't have pandemics running like we do now. I think people are very alive to the very important powers that states and territories have. But, that also means they have great responsibilities. And, those responsibilities are to, you know, support the health and the economic wellbeing of their states, which I absolutely believe they're committed to, and I, that's why I believe we'll get this done.
KOCH: Yeah, ok. So, you believe, but you can't guarantee, and that's the problem with the federation in a pandemic. Should you have imposed a health emergency so that the Federal Government can be consistent and we have consistent rules for everyone right across the country?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, there is not that power in Australia. It doesn't exist. It just doesn't exist. So, I can't sort of play fantasy government …
KOCH: State of emergency.
PRIME MINISTER: I have to deal with real government in Australia.
KOCH: Right.
PRIME MINISTER: No, there is, there are no powers that enable that to occur in this country, David.
KOCH: Ok.
PRIME MINISTER: They just don't exist.
KOCH: Alright.
PRIME MINISTER: And, and that means that we have to work together. And, that's why on 52 occasions I've got the premiers and the chief ministers around a table, and now we're doing that every week and have been for a very long time, to make sure that we keep coming back to the issue. And, you know what happens every week before National Cabinet, every week the stories appear, oh, they're disagreeing, nothing's happening, etcetera, etcetera. Everybody lays in. Then we get together in the room on the Friday and we sort it out, and it all turned out to be …
KOCH: And, then they disagree the next week. Then they disagree when they walk out again.
PRIME MINISTER: And, then the cycle repeats itself …
KOCH: I know.
PRIME MINISTER: ... and then we all agree it again, and we keep moving forward, every single week we keep moving forward.
KOCH: Ok, alright.
PRIME MINISTER: So, that's what the job is and we'll keep getting it done. That's democracy in Australia.
KOCH: Yeah. Alright, Prime Minister, appreciate your time. Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks, David.
New Sculptures to Honour First Women and Indigenous Australian Elected to Parliament
24 August 2021
Prime Minister, Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories
Three Australian Parliamentary trailblazers are set to be honoured by the Morrison Government in two new sculptures.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the first two women elected to federal Parliament and the first Indigenous Australian to take his place in Parliament will be honoured within Canberra’s National Triangle near Old Parliament House.
“Enid Lyons, Dorothy Tangney and Neville Bonner laid the path for those who have followed and they rightly deserve our recognition,” the Prime Minister said.
“It’s important we never forget those who shaped our history so that ours and future generations are always reminded of the sacrifices they made and the courage they showed.”
Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories Nola Marino said the Morrison Government had set aside $1.25 million for the two new sculptures.
“These statues will join those of other prominent Australians in the National Triangle as we honour their important legacy,” Assistant Minister Marino said.
“The National Capital Authority will work closely with their descendants and family members in developing each sculpture and I hope we can see them completed in 2022.
“The contributions of these three remarkable individuals will be immortalised for everyone to see.”
Enid Lyons, born in 1897 in Smithton, Tasmania, was the first woman elected to the House of Representatives and the first woman to serve in Federal Cabinet. Prior to her own political career, she was best known as the wife of Joseph Lyons, who was Prime Minister of Australia (1932–1939) and Premier of Tasmania (1923–1928). Enid Lyons and Senator Dorothy Tangney became the first two women elected to Federal Parliament.
Dorothy Tangney was born in Perth, Western Australia in 1907 and served as the first woman elected to the Senate for Western Australia from 1943 to 1968. She was the first woman elected to the Senate and one of the first two women elected to Federal Parliament, along with Enid Lyons.
Neville Bonner was an elder of the Jagera people born in 1922 in northern NSW. He was appointed by the Queensland Parliament to fill a casual vacancy in the representation of Queensland in the Senate, and later became the first Indigenous Australian to be elected to the parliament by popular vote.
Interview with Oliver Peterson, 6PR
23 August 2021
Prime Minister: G'day Olly and g'day to everyone in WA.
Oliver Peterson: When you talk about those who are trying to undermine the national plan and that their motives are clear, are you talking about Mark McGowan?
Prime Minister: No, I'm talking about Anthony Albanese, and he's just been doing it in Question Time for the last hour or so. So I'm working with all the premiers. The premiers and I have agreed a national plan based on the best scientific, medical and economic modelling, I'd argue, in the world, let alone in Australia, that has basically made it clear that once we get to 70 per cent and 80 per cent, we can start coming out of the cave and we can do that confidently and not on the basis of some day on the calendar, but on the basis of the clear scientific research, which shows that that's when we can do it safely. And I understand that there are those concerns about, this must be done safely. You know, we've done very well in this country to protect lives. And when we take this next step, we have to do it carefully. And that's why we've done so much work to determine what is the safe level of vaccination at which we can do that. And the answer is 70 per cent and 80 per cent.
Peterson: Does the plan need to be tweaked, though, Prime Minister, because the Premier, Mark McGowan quotes the Doherty Modelling saying at 70 per cent vaccination, the outbreak involves 30 cases. Obviously, we're grappling in Australia right now with more than 11,000 active cases. So Mark McGowan says the modelling needs to be redone, that the outbreaks in New South Wales and Victoria force you to deviate from and rework this plan.
Prime Minister: Not the vaccination rates. I mean, I think, I spoke today about what we have to do to prepare for 70 and 80 per cent. And the advice that we've had from Professor McVernon, who did that modelling with a very large team, was that the ultimate conclusions of that work are really not impacted by that. What the real issue is and I understand the two points that I think are being made by Mark and others is we've got to a) ensure that our public health system is ready for that time because, of course, cases will arise when you move into that. But there's a big difference between a case that may occur today in Perth, where vaccination rates in Western Australia at 27.2 per cent and a case that occurs when vaccination rates in Western Australia are at 70 per cent or 80 per cent, it has a much, much, much reduced impact. And so I think that's the first point and what we've seen all around the world, and we're seeing it even in the UK, that even with the case numbers being so high, their levels of hospitalisation and fatality proportionately compared to where they were, significantly reduced from where they were. So we're dealing with sort of almost two different worlds, the vaccinated world and the unvaccinated world. Right now, we're still in the suppression phase and we need to continue to have those restrictions, what you're seeing in the in the eastern states. But we've got to be on our guard in Western Australia. I mean, what has happened in New South Wales and Victoria and the ACT could just as easily happen in Western Australia. We saw that in the ACT. The ACT hadn't had a case for over a year, even more than that and now they're in lockdown in the ACT. That's the nature of the Delta strain. And I know the Premier is very conscious of that. And so we just need to work through the protections that are in place and the public health system can deal with any potential challenges that come through. And I think the further work that's being done by Doherty will greatly assist that.
Peterson: Is living COVID-free at 80 per cent vaccination, a fantasy, Prime Minister?
Prime Minister: Well, I don't know anywhere in the world where anyone is doing that, Olly. I mean, that's, I mean, it's a virus. And if you want to engage with the rest of the world or even the rest of the country, then the virus will be present. I mean, the idea that it won't be present anywhere, I mean, even New Zealand's finding that and New Zealand has run one of the most harshest elimination strategies in the world. I was speaking to Prime Minister Ardern just last night. And, you know, they've got an outbreak now that's going through their Pacific community in Auckland. And, you know, we've been through that experiences with other communities in both Sydney and Melbourne. And once Delta's there, then that's how it goes. So, you know, we've really got no choice. Do we live locked down forever or do we find the safest point of which we can jump off and actually move into the new COVID world where we live with it? I mean, that's the only other way families are going to get reunited across the country. That's the only way people are ever going to see Bali again. That's the only way that we're going to be able to get the tourism industry supported again and be able to move it off the significant economic supports that taxpayers are providing. That's the only way that happens. And we've got to recognise that that is the pandemic world and we need to be able to operate in that. We can't stay in the cave forever.
Peterson: Mark McGowan says, though, even at 80 per cent, lockdowns remain an option, and it's part of this national plan in Phases B and C, is that right?
Prime Minister: Well, it's well, there are two phases. In Phase B, it goes to unlikely but highly targeted. So I'll give you a good example of that. A remote indigenous community in Western Australia or a remote community that might have a low vaccination rate. Well, you know, you've got to protect the vulnerable in those situations and that's what's envisaged in those circumstances and it's certainly at 80 percent, the circumstances would have to be very specific. But, you know, it's not impossible. But if you're talking about complete state wide, metropolitan wide lockdowns in a situation where 80 per cent of your population is vaccinated, well, what all of the advice shows us is, is that would do more harm than good, not just to people's public and mental health, but also to their economic well-being as well. So that's what the work shows. And I know the Premier understands that and I appreciate his support for the national plan. And so we just have to work through how we continue to implement it for the benefit of all Australians.
Peterson: Can you see the conundrum here, though, 70 per cent, WA has to go backwards in putting restrictions like the two square metre rule, caps on venues and stadiums? Right now we're living in a restriction free life, as you and I talk from Canberra to Perth.
Prime Minister: Well, what we also agreed as part of the national plan is that states and territories would not have to go to backwards. And that was a point that the Premier made very clearly. And I made that very clear when I announced the national plan, when it was first agreed. And then when we applied the 70 and 80 per cent vaccination targets when they were agreed as well, that means Western Australia will have to manage its risk a bit more there, because living with the virus means you still do need to have practical common sense measures. And I'd argue you still need those in Western Australia. I mean, you get the Delta variant in an unvaccinated population, which it largely is in Western Australia, it will move very fast.
Peterson: Will you seriously consider withholding, though, financial support if WA or Perth is locked down even after a 70 per cent full vax rates?
Prime Minister: Well, I simply say this. If lockdowns are put in place in an 80 per cent vaccinated population, that will do economic harm to the people who live in that state, it will do economic harm to them. And so the suggestion that the government might want to incentivise something that did economic harm to the Australian public. Well, you know, but look, I can't see that scenario. To be honest, I think people work practically together. The plan is there. We've worked collaboratively on this plan. You know, since what really from March, we started the process back in February. It went through numerous iterations as we work collaboratively together. And the Premier made very good contributions to that. So, you know, I think sometimes people try to make a bit more of a disagreement than there actually is there.
Peterson: So you think you're both on the same page?
Prime Minister: We're working together. The bit I recognise about Western Australia and I've always recognised this about Western Australia, and that is the situation in the West is very different to what's occurring in the East. You know, you've got a situation there where it's, for a start, more of a remote place than the rest of the country. And that, to a large extent, insulated Western Australia from many of the transmissions of the virus that have come on the eastern states. And that's to the great good fortune of Western Australia. And I get it that, you know, we want to be able to preserve that. But, you know, and so Western Australia's done very, very well. But at some point in time, we all have to rejoin the world. And I know Western Australians have, you know, they have an outward looking gaze as well, and they want to do that as well. And they want to welcome people back into their state and they want to go and see their family. And I want to go overseas and they want to do all of these things. And for that to happen, then we need to be able to manage living with the virus rather than squirrelling away from it.
Peterson: The Tourism Council in WA wants all travellers to have the jab. You mentioned before, the rate here, 27.2 per cent. Are you worried how low WA's vaccination rate is compared to other states and territories? I saw just last week, only 516 jabs were administered to West Aussies under 40. By comparison, New South Wales 85,000. Victoria 44,000.
Prime Minister: Well, I think there's a couple of, a couple of reasons that would explain that. One is that in Sydney, where my family is, they're locked down and they're not getting out until we're able to a) bring that under control at the very least, until you can reach those levels of vaccination. So there is a very urgent imperative there. In the West, I understand that people might feel, oh, well, it's a long way away from me. I'm not likely to get it. Well, you can. Delta can move quickly and it can disrupt your life. It can cost you your life. So it's very important for people to get vaccinated for those reasons. But I get it, that in a place that doesn't really seem much COVID, they can feel like the system is giving them their inoculation. It won't. Western Australia is not a good enough vaccine. It's not as good as the vaccine of AstraZeneca and Pfizer. Those things can inoculate you against COVID-19. Borders and other things like this can't.
Peterson: The target rate doesn't include children, will that need to be changed when we have the virus now spreading amongst school students, Prime Minister?
Prime Minister: Well no, it just needs to be done in parallel. In terms of the overall level of the population that is vaccinated, the advice we have is doing that as a percentage of the population aged over 16 is the right thing to do. We considered that at the time. But for those aged between 12 and 15, there's about 1.2 million of those Australians across the country, then we will run a vaccination programme in parallel with that. And we all agree that we need to do that properly. By this Friday, we should have, I think, the final advice from the immunisation advisory group. And we're discussing, again, as they've been worked up over these several weeks, the plans we will need to put in place to get that job done. So the two jobs will be done together.
Peterson: Before I let you go, Prime Minister, on a couple of other matters, Craig Kelly is becoming the leader of Clive Palmer's United Australia Party. Will that now cause a preference deal with the United Australia Party to the next election?
Prime Minister: I'm not even thinking about the next election, to be honest, I've got a global pandemic. I'm trying to get as many people as I can right now out of Kabul. The National Security Committee of Cabinet is meeting every single day. So I can assure you Craig Kelly is the last thing on my mind.
Peterson: Speaking of Kabul, reflecting on the last week, how surprised were you with how quickly the situation deteriorated in Afghanistan?
Prime Minister: Well, I don't know if surprised would be the word, because, as you know, we moved to close our embassy back in May and that was an acknowledgement that we knew with the Americans withdrawing and the further withdrawal of forces that the situation could deteriorate. That's why we had already begun the work. We've already been doing the work for some time to get so many people out of Afghanistan, particularly Afghans, who'd work closely with us. I mean, we got 430 out alone between April and before these events turned very serious for us. And now, you know, we're working hard to get as many people out as we can. There are very brave Australians, that's hundreds and hundreds of Australians right now there in Kabul, getting Australians, Afghans who've worked with us and their families out safely there. We're also helping airlift others of our partners out from New Zealand, from the United Kingdom to the United States. And they're doing the same for us. It's a very dangerous environment and we're making a lot of progress and we've got some very brave people there.
Peterson: Any more thought about a pathway to citizenship for Afghans here on a temporary protection visa?
Prime Minister: No, that won't be happening. That won't be happening. And I'll tell you why. For a start, they are here. They're not in Afghanistan. So they have been removed from that situation. They're on a temporary visa. And we're very clear about the policy. Anybody who came here illegally by boat would not have a pathway to permanent residence. That is not going to change. And I'll tell you why. There are 14,000 people sitting up in Indonesia right now all ready to buy a product from a people smuggler. And I'm not going to give them a ticket.
Peterson: So these people on temporary protection visas could be sent back to Afghanistan?
Prime Minister: No, that's not what I said. I said they will not be provided a pathway to permanent residency, permanent residence or citizenship.
Peterson: Prime Minister, I appreciate your time. Thank you very much.
Prime Minister: Thanks very much.
Targeted Assistance for Child Care Services During COVID Lockdown
23 August 2021
Prime Minister, Minister for Education and Youth
The Morrison Government will provide additional targeted support for thousands of child care providers impacted by extended COVID-19 lockdowns, through new fortnightly payments.
Child care services in Commonwealth-declared hotspots will be eligible for payments of 25 per cent of their pre-lockdown revenue. Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) services will be eligible for payments of 40 per cent.
This will apply to services seven days after the hotspot is declared, where states have directed families to keep their kids at home.
Where kids are still allowed to attend, the supports will kick in four weeks after the hotspot declaration.
The measure is in addition to the existing Commonwealth supports, including gap fee waivers which allow Commonwealth Child Care Subsidy to continue even when children are not attending.
The new payments will immediately benefit child care services in affected areas of Sydney and the ACT and OSHC services in Metropolitan Melbourne.
All other services in Metropolitan Melbourne, regional Victoria and regional NSW will become eligible after seven days of lockdown, and payments will be backdated to today.
The supports will also be available for services who meet the criteria in any future extended lockdowns.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the payments would immediately help around 3,600 services caring for almost 300,000 children in Greater Sydney, as well as nearly 900 OSHC services in Metropolitan Melbourne and nearly 300 services in the ACT.
“The child care and early education sector is critically important for Australian families and our economy, and these payments will help keep services open and staff employed,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“The sector has been doing an incredible job to provide essential care for Australian kids during the pandemic and we are backing them in while attendance rates are down.
“These payments will ensure our high quality child care and early education centres are there on the other side of these lockdowns.”
Minister for Education and Youth Alan Tudge said the payments build on the support already being provided to the sector through the Child Care Subsidy and broader economic supports.
“Giving families additional absence days and allowing gap fee waivers has kept many children enrolled and means services have still been able to receive the Child Care Subsidy even if kids haven’t attended,” Minister Tudge said.
“Importantly the new payments are targeted to services that have seen attendance levels fall by at least 50 per cent and are conditional on centres keeping staff in work and passing on support for families.
“The measures will encourage services to pass on gap fee waivers to parents, meaning those keeping their kids home during lockdown won’t be paying out‑of‑pocket costs when they aren’t using the service.
“The package recognises the impact extended lockdowns are having on the sector.”
Payments will be contingent on services:
expecting attendance below 50 per cent
waiving gap fees for all families whose children are not attending
maintaining staffing levels
agreeing to a fee freeze for the duration of support
not accessing other Commonwealth Government funded supports
Streamlined payments will be available to services in around two weeks.
Families in affected areas are not required to do anything.