Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

I don't think I could have been any clearer in relation to the government's position or my position about the receipt of vaccines. We encourage everyone to receive the vaccine. It is voluntary across Australia. It will be voluntary. But, we want to make sure there are high levels of confidence in the vaccine program. We have gone through a process that is thorough and rigorous to ensure those high levels of confidence.

Australia, unlike other countries that have had to rush emergency approvals, has been able to go through the comprehensive processes of the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Australia, unlike other countries that have had to rush distribution processes, has been able to develop distribution arrangements that should give people confidence in the efficacy and efficiency of the rollout. Australia is taking this role not only in our country but in leading others in our region to promote the receipt of the vaccine.