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

My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. The government first announced that it was 'looking at manufacturing facilities' for mRNA vaccines in August—10 months ago. Why has the government, a year and a half into this pandemic, failed to deliver on its announcement?

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll get the minister for industry to add to my remarks, but I will say that we are getting onboard with making sure we've got sovereign manufacturing of vaccines. And I tell you what, I would much sooner live in Australia than live anywhere else—in this nation. CSL are getting on with the job in Melbourne, and I know how much the now home affairs minister did when she was in this portfolio area. We are getting on with the job of making sure the vaccines are not only manufactured here but delivered, right across the nation. I'll ask the minister for industry to add to my remarks.

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question. It was I think 30 years ago that the cutting-edge researchers at the University of Wisconsin first experimented on mRNA technology in mice, and it took 30 years for the first mRNA technology and vaccines to be put in the arms of human beings in the context of COVID-19. The single first vaccine that have been used on human beings and that used mRNA technology was used in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic—very, very recently. This is absolutely cutting-edge technology.

The proposition contained in the question from the Leader of the Opposition—that somehow it would be reasonable to put to the Australian people that it would be possible that right now Australia would be manufacturing mRNA vaccines—is just not a reasonable proposition. The idea that—

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

The Leader of the Opposition on a point of order?

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

Far be it from me to interrupt the minister attacking his predecessor, but the question went to—

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

When you rise on a point of order, you need to state what the point of order is. We all know what the rules are. Points of order are not a chance to debate the matter. I give enormous tolerance to the leaders of both parties, but you simply need to just—

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

I appreciate that.

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

I want you to appreciate it more.

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

That's just not possible!

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

You have the call. Come to the point of order. It might help if you state what it is.

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

The point of order is on relevance. The question went to the government's own announcement, 10 months ago, that it was looking at manufacturing facilities.

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

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The Minister for Industry, Science and Technology has the call.

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Of course, Australia has got this sort of capability and capacity. Choosing the right path to realise that capability and capacity is the job of a responsible government. To ensure that Australians get the best, most sustainable deal, the deal that provides for a 10-year end-to-end capability that can not merely produce a domestic market that's scalable from zero vaccines to 25 million plus in a short period of time for a cutting-edge technology but is also able to provide scalable production for export markets and a breadth of goods using this cutting-edge technology—including therapeutics, potentially, for cancer treatments, for which mRNA had its genesis, and for cardiovascular disease—means you have to have a thorough, thoughtful process. That process means having submissions for fully costed proposals for end-to-end onshore population-scale mRNA capability. It means ensuring the proposals show demonstrated— (Time expired)