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

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to reports the government approached Tabcorp about conducting a lottery as an incentive for more Australians to get vaccinated against COVID. Are these reports correct, and will the government rule out economic incentives for vaccinations?

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

What we'll rule out is bad ideas. That's what we'll rule out. We'll rule out bad ideas. Of course, the government has got no issues with incentives; what we have a problem with is bad policy. That's the problem that we have, bad policy, paying $6 billion—

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. Members on both sides, the minister for agriculture. 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

Yes, Mr Speaker. It goes to relevance. I'm quite happy to have a debate, if the Prime Minister wants a debate about our ideas. This is about his idea for a lottery conducted by Tabcorp, whether the reports are correct and whether the government would rule out economic incentives for vaccinations.

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

Yes, I just say to the Prime Minister it was a specific question that didn't ask for alternatives. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

I can confirm that we are not proceeding with any arrangement like that with Tabcorp. We're not proceeding with any such arrangements—

Opposition members interjecting—

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

No, the Leader of the Opposition has asked his question. He's had his point of order. If he wants to ask other questions, he'll have to wait until the call alternates. The Prime Minister has the call.

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

The Operation COVID Shield has considered many types of incentives, particularly when we're in phase B of the program, not phase A of the program. But I tell you what we're not considering: we're not considering a cash splash. We're not considering splashing $6 billion to people who, by and large, have already had the vaccine. That is not the disciplined, informed approach the government is taking. That is the approach of the opposition, which has been rejected by the health professionals as a cash splash. We will not be indulging the cash-splash ideas of the Leader of the Opposition.