Michael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

As this lamentable motion points out, there is no doubt that the Ebola virus does pose a grave threat to the health and security of the nations in West Africa and the wider world. From the government's perspective, in dealing with this matter we have three main objectives: firstly, to ensure we are prepared to deal with any Ebola threat in Australia; secondly, that we are prepared to deal with any threat in our sphere of influence in the region; and thirdly, to assist in the global effort to combat the virus. We are fortunate that the chances of an Ebola outbreak in Australia are low. Indeed, as Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Baggoley, pointed out, there is no epidemic threat to Australia and that our border procedures are sufficient enough to deal with any possible threat. The chief medical officers from around the country have also recently met with the health minister and discussed the importance of ensuring our hospital system is well prepared to receive any Ebola patients should the need arise.

From an international perspective of course, the most important fact is that we ensure we are ready to deal with any threat in our region. In this respect, the government has confirmed that a team of 20 health workers, as mentioned earlier by my colleagues, are available to be dispatched from Australia as an immediate response to our regional neighbours, should there be an outbreak. In terms of the broader international effort to combat Ebola, the best and most effective way that Australia can contribute to the response this time is by doing our bit to fund international organisations and frontline health services.

To date, we have contributed $18 million, which includes $10 million to the UN Ebola Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund, $3.5 million to the World Health Organisation's consolidated regional response; $2.5 million for frontline health services through NGOs such as Caritas, World Vision, Plan International Australia and Save the Children; and an additional $2 million to support the UK's delivery of front-line medical services in Sierra Leone. This is, of course, in addition to the $40 million already provided to the World Health Organisation over the past 12 months. Let me remind members opposite who glibly get up to the dispatch box and say we are not doing enough that the UN Special Envoy on Ebola, Dr David Nabarro, praised the Australian government's additional contribution of $10 million, stating that, 'It was exactly the kind of quick and effective response the UN is asking of members states.'

World Vision CEO, Tim Costello, has also acknowledged the government for the grant made to his organisation who have been doing such wonderful work on the ground. It is therefore disappointing and quite frankly frustration to see Labor trying to point score on this humanitarian issue. This has been most starkly highlighted by the final and most substantial part of this motion—that is, that Australia should send health workers to West Africa at this time. As has been outlined by the Prime Minister, we are of considering requests to send Australian health workers to West Africa, but we will only accept such a request if we can guarantee the safety of our workers. Unlike the irresponsible approach of the Labor Party we will never order Australian personnel to travel to West Africa, potentially being exposed to Ebola, without an iron clad ability to provide world-class medical, treatment for those who would be sent. It is not good enough to stand at the dispatch box and say, 'I'm pretty sure the UK or the US would treat an Australian health worker,' as the member for Kingsford Smith glibly said. No. The government will send Australian workers to West Africa only if we can absolutely guarantee them and their families that, if they were to contract Ebola, we have either appropriate on-the-ground medical treatment for them and in, the absence of that, an ability to evacuate them to a place where they can get world-class medical treatment.

The Labor Party have absolutely no answers for that, so to get up at the dispatch box and argue for this ridiculous motion, saying we should send Australian health workers into harm's way in West Africa, is an absolute outrage. (Time expired)

Debate adjourned.

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