Question Time

Vaccine Manufacturing Capability

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:07): My question is to the Premier. Why is South Australia falling behind in the race to become a national provider of mRNA vaccines? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr MALINAUSKAS: Earlier this week, the Queensland government committed $20 million to its mRNA vaccine capability. This follows a $50 million investment from the Victorian government into their capability in April and a push for the New South Wales government to build a vaccine manufacturing industry last month.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:08): I am disappointed that the Leader of the Opposition hasn't been following this in the media. We have a very good opportunity here in South Australia with BioCina, which purchased the Pfizer facilities here in South Australia. It is the only TGA-approved mRNA facility in the country.

We have had extensive discussions with the federal government. We have been working with this company since 2018, courting them and making sure that this is an appropriate place for them to invest.

There is no doubt that we do need to have mRNA vaccine manufacturing capability here in Australia. This previously wasn't the case. We haven't had an ability to respond like they have in other parts of the world. Whether it be with the Pfizer vaccine or whether it is with the Moderna vaccine, we haven't had that ability to respond. Of course, we have with the AstraZeneca and that is now being produced here in Australia.

One of the things that I think the Prime Minister has been very clear about is that we do need to have sovereign manufacturing capability in key areas. We were one of the first states in the country to respond with the production of masks, with Detmold Medical. This is a company that we assisted to set up and operate as quickly as possible. This was something that they weren't manufacturing before. Detmold do manufacture a range of paper and cardboard products, which are manufactured here, developed here and, in fact, exported around the world. They have manufacturing around the world.

I think we have been able to demonstrate that we can move very quickly and we, similarly, are moving quickly with regard to this. Mr Speaker, you may be aware that I have been in Canberra twice recently, and on both of those occasions—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Playford!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —we were working hard to speak to the federal government about the opportunities with regard to this vaccine and other opportunities for our state. Some states may choose to prosecute everything via the media. I think that we can point to our record in terms working with the federal government, cutting out the fake fights that existed under those opposite, working diligently to deliver for South Australia.

A classic example of that, of course, is the decision made by the federal government with regard to the establishment of the headquarters for the Space Agency. I know every other state around the country was talking about it in the media. I know every other state around the country was saying, 'We're going to commit this money to it.' Well, I know which state actually got the deal: it was South Australia. We put in a compelling and competitive bid for the federal government to consider.

I note that there are other states out there at the moment talking about bringing international students back. We have been working with the federal government on this matter for months and months and months—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —and we have put in our proposal to the federal government almost two weeks ago—in fact, two weeks tomorrow. We are hoping that we will get a positive approval. We are very keen to bring international students back safely to South Australia.

Mr Picton: What about the vaccines? That was the question.

The SPEAKER: Member for Kaurna!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: It is another example of the way we are trying to optimise the situation that we face in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We know that this is affecting economies around the world, but we made a decision here in South Australia to do everything we could to keep our economy safe and our economy strong and that's precisely what's happened.

We now have more people employed in South Australia than pre COVID. In fact, we have a record number of people who are employed in South Australia and we have a record number of job advertisements in South Australia. That's because we have looked to every single opportunity, whether it be vaccine, whether it be protective equipment opportunities that come out of it—every single opportunity to chase down to maximise the benefit to our state.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the leader, I call to order the Minister for Trade and Investment, I call to order the member for Wright, the member for Playford and the member for West Torrens and I warn the member for Kaurna.