Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister acknowledge this simple fact: quarantine is a Commonwealth responsibility?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Quarantine is a Commonwealth responsibility and it is a responsibility shared with the states and territories.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on my left.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a simple fact. It may come as a surprise to the Leader of the Opposition. I have never known a member of this place to be here so long and learn so little.

Opposition members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will pause for a second. Members will contain themselves or I will start ejecting members, including the Leader of the Opposition, the member Ballarat and others. I won't be able to eject everyone who's interjecting, but I'll give it a good go, I promise you.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have never known a member of this place to rise to an office like the Leader of the Opposition, to be here so long and to know so little. When it comes to these matters, the public health orders that are issued by states and territories are administered and enforced by the states and territories. When the combined public health orders were put in place in March last year, following a resolution of the national cabinet, that is what was put in place to deal with hotel quarantine.

Mr Brian Mitchell interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Lyons will excuse himself from the House under the provisions of standing order 94(a).

The member for Lyons then left the chamber.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That arrangement that was worked up together with the states and territories has seen 99.99 per cent effectiveness around this country, which has enabled this country to have one of the most effective responses in protecting the Australian people from the impacts of COVID-19.

Mr Gosling interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Solomon will excuse himself from the House under the provisions of standing order 94(a).

The member for Solomon then left the chamber.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Were it not for the combined efforts and coordination of all levels of government in this country, we would have seen some 30,000 additional Australians, if you take the average of the fatality rate across OECD countries, fall victim to this pandemic. So, as I said before, we will keep fighting this virus. Labor will keep fighting us and, when they're done with that, they'll keep fighting with each other.