Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-02-03 Daily Xml

Contents

COVID-19 Vaccine

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:28): When will the sites be ready to receive the vaccine, once it is available?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:28): I think it's a very important question the honourable member asks, because I just want to stress that we are the distributors of vaccines. It is the commonwealth that has secured the vaccines and I think it is worth making the point, as I have already done—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I am sorry, Mr President, I am trying to give an answer; I just don't know if they want one. I think it is important to stress the success that the commonwealth has had in terms of securing. I am advised that Australia is in the fortunate position of having secured 140 million doses of vaccine, one of the highest per capita rates in Australia.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: How many was that again?

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The Hon. David Ridgway, a bit too far away to hear me—

The PRESIDENT: Is out of order.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: —was wanting me to reiterate the fact that the commonwealth government has secured 140 million doses of the vaccine, one of the highest per capita rates in the world. A very impressive achievement.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, on both sides! Order!

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Again, I want to pay tribute to the Morrison Liberal government for its foresight in actively pursuing procurement and supply of vaccines early in 2020. Just to make the point—

The Hon. J.E. Hanson interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hanson has been quiet up until now and he should remain so.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Yes, I am sorry if my raising my voice for former minister Ridgway ended up waking up the honourable member.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister should conclude.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Ridgway is not helping. I am asking the minister to conclude his answer and I want to hear him in silence.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: In conclusion, I stress the point that the vaccines are supplied by the commonwealth. We administer them when we receive them, we look forward to advice from the commonwealth as to when supplies will be available, and we will certainly have clinics available as soon as they arrive.