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

Following the release of the Doherty Institute modelling yesterday, all senators and all Australians have the opportunity to see both the content of that modelling and the way in which the modelling outlines the impact of different vaccination levels on expected rates of transmission, on expected rates of contraction of COVID-19 and on the seriousness of the consequences of that and how that shifts at different levels of vaccination across the population. It also outlines different phases of restrictions that could be applied at those different rates.

It is correct that, in terms of the different phases of moving through, variations in the types of restrictions that may be necessary at different levels were made to make sure that we could have an appropriately staged approach at the different levels of vaccination through the modelling. This is entirely consistent with an approach of seeking to follow scientific and medical advice in the handling of the pandemic. What the government has done in terms of seeking to chart a pathway of reopening is listened to that scientific and medical advice. We are one of the few countries in the world to have had the opportunity to take that advice and adapt policy along the way according to that advice and information—some of the best practice in the world. We are one of the few countries in the world to have had that opportunity to do so. That is because, as a country, notwithstanding the many difficulties and uncertainties in responding to a global pandemic, we have been in a position where lives have been saved, where we have been able to act in accordance with advice and where we are able to make sure that we get it right before we move to those next stages.