House debates Questions without Notice

COVID-19: Vaccination

Thursday, 27 May 2021 House of Representatives

Joanne Ryan

Joanne Ryan Lalor, Australian Labor Party

2:42 pm

My question is to the Minister for Health and Aged Care. Yesterday I asked how many of the Victorians infected in the latest COVID-19 outbreak had been vaccinated. The minister undertook to seek that information. So I ask again: how many of the Victorians infected in the latest COVID-19 outbreak had been vaccinated?

Greg Hunt

Greg Hunt Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for Health and Aged Care

I'm not aware that any person who has been infected has been vaccinated, and I think that that's a noncontroversial statement. What I am noticing here is that there are two implications which are coming through today. The first is that the opposition is indicating that, in some way, shape or form, if the Commonwealth were operating the quarantine system, the result would be different. We think all of the states and territories have been doing an excellent job. All of the states and territories—

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

I'd just say to the minister: he's making some observations, and I understand he wants to do that, but he can't do that when he wasn't asked that question. He was asked a very specific question. I do say to the member for Lalor, the minister can come back either at the dispatch box or by way of a written answer. But it was a very specific question.

Mr Hunt interjecting—

You said you believe you answered it in your first sentence? In that case, that's the end of the matter.

Greg Hunt

Greg Hunt Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for Health and Aged Care

I was then adding—

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

No, that's the end of the matter.

Mr Hunt interjecting—

No, that's the end of the matter. You just told me you answered it in the first sentence.