Senate debates

Thursday, 5 August 2021

Questions without Notice

COVID-19: Vaccination

Photo of Murray WattMurray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. Yesterday the minister refused to say whether Mr Morrison agrees with coalition Senator Rennick's use of social media to undermine a TGA approved COVID vaccine which his own government is encouraging Australians to take up. Does Mr Morrison agree with Senator Rennick, yes or no? If not, what action will he take?

Photo of Simon BirminghamSimon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

I can't say that I've reviewed the specific comments of Senator Rennick, and I won't always take Senator Watt's word for it. What I can confirm, well and truly, is the government's very strong support for the vaccination rollout and very strong encouragement for all Australians to get vaccinated at the earliest opportunity and for all Australians to heed the advice in relation to the safety of vaccines and the efficacy of vaccines. The evidence shows very clearly that both vaccines available in Australia, the AstraZeneca vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, reduce the rate of death when somebody acquires COVID-19 by some 92 per cent and 90 per cent respectively. That is the prime abiding reason and incentive for why anyone should get a vaccine. The number one incentive to get vaccinated in Australia: because it could save your life; because it could save the lives of family members.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Watt on a point of order?

Photo of Murray WattMurray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | | Hansard source

On relevance: the question is simply whether Mr Morrison agrees with Senator Rennick.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

I think Senator Birmingham did address his familiarity or otherwise with that when he commenced the question. I'm reluctant to rule out this material as not directly relevant, given that he started with that point.

Photo of Simon BirminghamSimon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr President, obviously it was the fact I was talking about the real incentives to get a vaccine that perhaps drew the point of order from Senate Watt. The real incentives to get a vaccine being the fact it will save your life, save the lives of your family members and save the lives of your fellow Australians. You know what? Australians know that's the real reason to get a vaccine. They know that the real reason to get a vaccine is those lifesaving properties. It's why Australians participate overwhelmingly in childhood vaccination programs. It's why Australians are turning out in record numbers to participate in this vaccination program. It's why demand is very strong. That's why the Labor Party policy in relation to handing out $6 billion of cash is so horribly misplaced.

Photo of Penny WongPenny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | | Hansard source

A point of order on direct relevance. It is the case that there was reference to what Senator Rennick was doing, but the question goes to whether the Prime Minister agrees, and, if not, what action he will take.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

On the point of order: I believe Senator Birmingham addressed, at the commencement of the answer, his lack of intimate familiarity with the alleged comments referred to by Senator Watt in his question. I will say however that I made it clear I was reluctant to rule material about the vaccine rollout generally as being not directly relevant. I will say that I do not think that commenting on opposition policies meets the direct relevance test.

Photo of Simon BirminghamSimon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

Thanks, Mr President. There was no direct quote in the question. As I said at the outset, I've not seen whatever the comments are that Senator Watt is referring to. But I'm very clear, the Prime Minister is very clear and the government is very clear in our continuous advocacy around the science, the efficacy and the encouragement of Australians to get vaccinated, as they are doing in record numbers.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Watt, a supplementary question?

2:52 pm

Photo of Murray WattMurray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | | Hansard source

According to his social media, yesterday coalition member for Dawson, Mr George Christensen, told the coalition party room, and I quote, 'We should not be mandating the wearing of masks and we should not be condoning lockdowns.' Does Mr Morrison agree with Mr Christensen? If Mr Morrison won't take action against Senator Rennick, will he take action against Mr Christensen?

Photo of Simon BirminghamSimon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

The Prime Minister has already said he doesn't agree. He's already said publicly that he doesn't agree. He's made that perfectly plain. I know that Senator Watt thinks there's some ability to run around with a muzzle or a gag or something to address these sorts of comments. In the end—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting

Photo of Simon BirminghamSimon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

We are, and you're the ones who wants to keep highlighting these matters! We want to make sure what we highlight is firmly and squarely the health advice. That is precisely what we're doing. It's what we're doing in the communications campaigns this government pursues.

The member for Dawson's not seeking re-election at the next election. He will say what he's saying. The government speaks very clearly, from the Prime Minister, from the health minister, from all the ministers of the government, from the officials of the Chief Medical Officer and otherwise, to encourage Australians to get vaccinated. And they're doing so in record numbers: 42.4 per cent of all Australians over the age of 16 have now had their first dose—another record day—and we are going to keep providing them information and encourage them to keep— (Time expired)

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Watt, a final supplementary question?

2:53 pm

Photo of Murray WattMurray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | | Hansard source

Coalition senator Matt Canavan has criticised public health measures as, I quote: 'Doing much more damage to our love of liberty and our political system. That's the real threat to us now'. Does Mr Morrison agree with Mr Canavan? Importantly, what action will Mr Morrison take to ensure that his MPs back in the government's own public health message?

2:54 pm

Photo of Simon BirminghamSimon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

No. Indeed, in a debate only earlier today in this chamber, I responded to Senator Canavan, acknowledging that we did not agree in relation to some of those statements. We have been very clear in that regard. Senator Watt wants to ask about whether or not people agree. I would love to know whether they all agree with Mr Albanese's policy, because it didn't go to shadow cabinet, apparently. Apparently they didn't get a chance to say in their senior levels and their executive levels whether they agree. I can assure you that every member of the cabinet of this government agrees with our approach.

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Order! Senator Gallagher is on her feet with a point of order.

Opposition senators interjecting

I can't see who's interjecting on my right, but please cease. Senator Rennick, I can see you.

Photo of Katy GallagherKaty Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

Point of order, Mr President, on direct relevance: the minister is ignoring the guidance you've provided in previous rulings on commenting on opposition policy.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

I think, by the time you had raised your point of order, the minister had moved on from that glancing phrase. But I take the point and I think the minister has taken the point. He sounded like he had moved on. Senator Birmingham.

Photo of Simon BirminghamSimon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | | Hansard source

Indeed, Mr President, as I was saying, to finish my sentence, every cabinet minister in our government stands very clearly for the policies of getting this rollout delivered. Our policies are consulted through the cabinet. They go through the cabinet, and we stand by them. The fact is that the vaccine rollout is seeing high and growing demand across Australia. That high and growing demand is something that we will continue to encourage. Australians are responding to that message, and we—

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Order, Senator Birmingham, time for the answer has expired. Senator O'Sullivan.

Photo of Gerard RennickGerard Rennick (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

You don't even know what CPR stands for!

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Senator Rennick!