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

My question is to the Prime Minister, and I ask: does the Prime Minister take any responsibility for the ongoing lockdown in Victoria?

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

As the Leader of the Opposition would be fully aware, the decisions to implement lockdowns in states and territories around the country are solely and totally the responsibility of state and territory governments—solely and totally. The Commonwealth government is not part of that decision-making process. They are made by state governments—in this case, the Victorian state government. But, despite that, the Commonwealth government seeks to work closely with the state government, as we have been doing, particularly in relation to the extension of further support through the ADF to support the measures that they have requested, and I am having further discussions with the Acting Premier this evening, as the Treasurer is having with the Treasurer in Victoria. But lockdowns in states are decisions of state and territory governments. That is a responsibility that the states and territories have jealously guarded over the course of the pandemic. That is their responsibility, and they are making those decisions and taking those responsibilities.