Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | Hansard source

We've, in fact, passed them, Senator, if you'd been taking notice. We've actually even passed Israel, which you tried to quote in the chamber. As these numbers show, Australians recognise that vaccination is the best way to protect themselves, their loved ones and their country.

In the context of cases this year versus last year and the impacts that we've seen, last year there were 28,424 cases of the virus in Australia, 2,051 of those in aged care. This year there have been 118,851 cases, 681 of those in aged care. The difference between this year and last year is vaccination. The message is very clear: the vaccines work. The message to Australians is to get vaccinated.