Senate debates

Wednesday, 4 August 2021

Statements

Prime Minister

1:30 pm

Photo of Jess WalshJess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

[by video link] Prime Minister Morrison took a baby step recently. He actually said sorry for the failures in his vaccine rollout—sort of. Prime Minister Morrison said:

I'm certainly sorry we haven't been able to achieve the marks we hope for at the beginning of this year.

It was not, 'I'm sorry I failed to pick up the phone and get the vaccines that we needed when we needed them.' It was not, 'I'm sorry I insisted getting Australians vaccinated wasn't a race.' It was not, 'I'm sorry that my inaction has meant that millions of Australians have been in lockdowns this year.' And it was not, 'I'm sorry for the hurt and harm that I have caused the Australian people.' Prime Minister Morrison's apology just doesn't quite cut it. It doesn't cut it for all the Australians who have had to close their businesses. It doesn't cut it for all the Australians who have lost their jobs. It doesn't cut it for all the Australians who can't see their families and friends today due to the Morrison lockdowns.

Our Prime Minister doesn't know how to give a real apology, so I have some tips for him. I suspect they may come in handy in the future. Prime Minister, a real apology isn't followed up by a 'but'. A really apology comes from the heart. You actually need to mean it. A real apology acknowledges and accepts the damage that you've caused without excuses. You don't downplay your mistakes and you certainly don't blame others for your failures. That is how you give a real apology. That is the apology the Prime Minister owes Australians and, sadly, it's the apology they will never hear from this Prime Minister.

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