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

Senator Watt is right. There has been quite a significant outbreak at Jeta Gardens, unfortunately, and the numbers that he's quoted in his question are the latest figures that I've had. Fortunately, I'm able to say that the situation at Jeta Gardens has stabilised. There was a lot of concern over the weekend. I am cognisant of the question, Senator Watt, so I'm not trying to—there was a lot of concern over the weekend at Jeta Gardens when somebody, quite irresponsibly, started a rumour that the facility was to be evacuated by the Defence Force. It caused a huge media storm. This is an important point, because it's caused enormous distress to the families. I will deal with the booster clinic, and then I will deal with the rest of it.

The booster clinic was scheduled and brought forward from its original date at Jeta Gardens, and it occurred on 31 January. There are a number of other methods through which aged-care residents can get a booster shot. They can get a GP or pharmacist to come and do it. They can attend a GP clinic. The facility can run its own clinic, and we will pay for the cost of that.

I just want to go back to the point that I've made, because it's a serious one. The distress caused to the families by the clearly irresponsible rumours that were started in Queensland on the weekend is outrageous— irresponsibly fanned by the opposition, I might say, and unfortunately reported by the media before being— (Time expired)