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

The Australian government moved very early to put in place a number of measures to support the health system in the event of significant outbreaks of COVID, and there has been a continuation of measures that have been undertaken since then. One of the first things that we did to support the public health system was the private hospitals agreement, which allowed private hospitals to support the public health system in the case of a huge surge in numbers. Of course, as we vaccinate more Australians, as more Australians take up the opportunity to have a vaccination, we reduce the possibility of COVID transmitting through the community. It protects individuals from serious illness, hospitalisation and death. That's the point of the vaccination process. That is also factored into the Doherty modelling, which is dictating our opening up process. So all of this is carefully calculated and agreed with the states. (Time expired)