Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Davey, for your question. Our government understands regional Australians facing lockdowns are asking immediate questions about their incomes, about the weeks ahead and about the pathway back to a normal life when we learn to live with this virus. Rural and regional Australians are feeling the ongoing impact of the pandemic, particularly the delta variant, which has forced two entire states into lockdown and seen localised lockdowns within states, and border communities particularly are feeling the effects. However, until we reach the recommended vaccination targets, lockdowns are the most effective way to stop the spread and they will still be necessary.

The government are ensuring the financial security of those who live or work in a Commonwealth hotspot through the COVID disaster payment, and we have already delivered $4 billion in support to over 1.6 million Australians. Regional Australians, like others, are doing the right thing—they are pulling up their sleeves and getting vaccinated in record numbers. We have already seen 17 million doses delivered so far, 4.6 million of those in regional Australia. We must back the science and the evidence that inform our national plan. Once we achieve our target of 70 to 80 per cent vaccinations, Australians will be able to get back to a sense of normality, restrictions will be able to be safely eased, and lockdowns will become a thing of the past. Our government is particularly committed to making that happen and to providing Australians with the necessary support so that we can learn to live with the virus, not fear it. We are assisting regional families with child care, providing gap-free waivers to relieve the burden of out-of-pocket costs when their children cannot attend care. We have also extended telehealth and NBS items. Telehealth can't replace face-to-face health services but it is critical, particularly with the mental health impacts of lockdowns that we see now.