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

I thank Senator Roberts for his question. All people who have a COVID-19 vaccine are asked to provide consent to the process. That's part of the process by which we've put in place the vaccination program. We ask those receiving the vaccine to provide consent. Of course, in some circumstances, in sensitive sectors and on the basis of medical advice, we have worked with the states to require some members of the workforce to have a vaccine—for example, those in aged care or the health system, some frontline workers and people working in circumstances where the risk of contracting COVID is very strong.

But all the way through, we have said, from a national perspective, that as much as possible it should be a voluntary process. I think the Australian people have demonstrated, through their actions, that they want to participate in the vaccination program. We're at over 90 per cent with a first dose and well over 85 per cent with a second dose. Australians have turned up in their droves to get vaccinated.

I was looking at the figures this morning. Of those who are currently eligible to take up a booster shot—which is a bit over 500,000 people who, on the basis of their vaccination date, will have reached the six-month period—in excess of 75 per cent have turned up to have a booster shot. The Australian people have overwhelmingly demonstrated their understanding of the importance and value of vaccination, and they're turning up to get vaccinated.