Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Payne. Can the minister update the Senate on the government's support to the rollout of vaccines to combat COVID-19 in Australia's region, including in the Pacific?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Scarr for his question. Australia is standing strongly with our partners, in the Pacific and in South-East Asia, in their response to COVID-19. We are delivering on the Prime Minister's commitment at the G7 to provide up to 20 million vaccines for our neighbours, including 15 million to the Pacific and Timor-Leste and five million to South-East Asia.

To date, we've delivered over one million vaccine doses to eight countries: Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Samoa, Tonga and, most recently, Vanuatu. Our contribution of Australian vaccines complements the $623 million we've committed to vaccine access, including end-to-end support for the Pacific and South-East Asia. Our Pacific flights program is sustaining air connectivity to the Pacific and Timor-Leste, ensuring life-saving vaccines and medical equipment are delivered. In Papua New Guinea, our closest neighbour, we're strongly supporting the government's campaign to lift vaccination rates. We're partnering with churches, businesses and NGOs to promote vaccination-positive messages. The ADF is providing vital logistics support to PNG's vaccination campaign in the Torres Strait border region. In Fiji, our regular supply of vaccines, AUSMAT teams, PPE and medical equipment has been vital to assisting our partners in Fiji to address a very difficult delta variant COVID-19 surge.

I've been in regular contact with my counterparts on these matters. I met with Pacific Islands Forum foreign ministers last week. Today I've met with ASEAN foreign ministers and spoken with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and Tuvalu foreign minister Simon Kofe. Our assistance through these vital partnerships is genuinely saving lives and genuinely helping to stem very lethal outbreaks.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Scarr, a supplementary question?

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister advise on the broader support Australia is providing to our region to strengthen health security?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia is also investing in our region's health systems—in health governance, in specialist clinical services and in training. Last financial year we provided $228 million for regional health programs in the Pacific. In Papua New Guinea, for example, we're working with local partners to provide high-quality, integrated sexual and reproductive health, family planning and maternal and child health services. We're partnering with New Zealand and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to build health system capacity to increase routine immunisation coverage. Australia has supported the establishment of a new ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases. That was part of my discussions with ASEAN foreign ministers today, which delayed my attendance in the chamber—for that, my apologies. Our Pacific Medicines Testing Program is a foundational initiative within our Pacific Step-up. It boosts public safety through the testing of the quality and safety of medicines used in the Pacific by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Scarr, a final supplementary question?

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There's no need for the minister to apologise for engaging with our ASEAN friends. Can the minister outline Australia's assistance to the region to transition from COVID-19 response to longer-term recovery?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's fair to say that our region faces an unprecedented economic shock from COVID-19. The Asian Development Bank has cut its growth forecasts for the Pacific from 1.4 per cent, just in April this year, to 0.3 per cent, so Australia is implementing a $500 million package of new economic development and security measures to support South-East Asia's recovery from COVID-19. We're delivering on our commitment through the Mekong-Australia Partnership and our Partnerships for Infrastructure initiative.

Our Pacific COVID-19 Response Package is providing essential services, flight connectivity and increased social spending. In Fiji, we provided over $83 million in fiscal support last financial year, directly benefiting Fijians impacted by COVID-19. This complements the Fiji government's important Poverty Benefit Scheme and disability allowance for women, children and other vulnerable groups. These initiatives are key to supporting the region's resilience and recovery from COVID-19.