House debates

Monday, 22 November 2021

Questions without Notice

COVID-19: Vaccination

2:06 pm

Photo of Jim ChalmersJim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Why does the Prime Minister claim to oppose mandates on hospitality venues in Queensland but support the exact same restrictions in New South Wales?

2:07 pm

Photo of Scott MorrisonScott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

Again, the member who puts forward the question is misrepresenting. Let me be very, very clear. The government supports mandatory vaccines of health workers, aged-care workers and disability workers. That's what the government supports for all other venues and employers. You don't like the answer?

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The Leader of the Opposition will either raise his point of order or not. The Leader of the Opposition, on a point of order.

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

The question very clearly went to hospitality venues in Queensland. The Prime Minister says it's a problem you can't get a cup of coffee without showing your vaccination certificate—

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

We don't need the explanation.

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

in Brisbane. It's the same in Sydney.

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The Prime Minister has the call.

Photo of Scott MorrisonScott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | | Hansard source

If venues, businesses, airlines and other places of work seek to require their employees to be vaccinated, they have that right under the law. They have that right under the law, but it is not the Commonwealth government's policy that they should be told to do that. Wherever that is in the country, that is not the government's policy. We couldn't be clearer. We support mandatory vaccines for health workers, aged-care workers, disability workers—those who are working with vulnerable people. But when it comes to what happens in somebody's business, we believe businesses should make that decision and shouldn't be told by the government what they should be doing.