PETER STEFANOVIC:
Well, New South Wales Health has confirmed a traveller has been infected by the Omicron variant, taking the total number of cases to eight.
Joining me live now out of Canberra is the Health Minister Greg Hunt. Minister, good to see you. Thanks for your time as always. Now, before we get on to reflections, I'd like to ask you about on the Omicron and, and just whether you have been given any more information or any more data as to its power and its potential danger.
GREG HUNT:
Sure. So obviously, we've taken a very cautious approach in the difficult decision, but immediate decisions to close the borders to the eight Southern African nations; to require Australians who are returning home to go into full two-week quarantine.
However, we've done that on the basis of determining the international evidence. The emerging early international evidence, so it's too soon to be definitive, is that we know that it is likely to be highly transmissible.
There are signs that it may be milder, but that is still to be determined - I need to be very clear on that. And then on the vaccine resistance to the disease, it appears as if there is still good resistance, strong resistance. But it's too soon to make a definitive call on that.
PETER STEFANOVIC:
Right.
GREG HUNT:
The cases in Australia, the nine cases - now, eight in New South Wales, one in the Northern Territory - on all the advice I have, are either asymptomatic or mild.
Now, obviously, they have to run the course of their infection. But at this stage, there are some reasons for cautious early optimism. But we've taken precautionary decisions to protect the country.
PETER STEFANOVIC:
Right. So, can you give any guarantees at this stage that the current 14-day pause on migrants and international students will be it?
GREG HUNT:
No. I'm certainly not making any guarantees, it's our intention at the end of that period, subject to the science and the medical advice, to return to the previous settings.
But our job is to review that international science. It's the same period as the United States, as President Biden said they would be taking. And so, it will depend on the, on the international evidence.
And I'm sorry for any inconvenience and difficulty for, for people. But making these early decisions are the very things going back to the closure of the borders with China, which have protected Australians throughout.
So, we have to do that again. Another half a billion dollars today for extension of COVID measures during 2020-2022; pathology testing; the National Incident Centre; research into long COVID and, and other conditions.
So, we just keep going, keep protecting Australia and adapt as we have to but with a clear national plan. That's the direction, to progressively open up. But if we have to take interim measures to provide that protection, but we won't hesitate.
PETER STEFANOVIC:
Right. You had the boss of Moderna this week saying that he believes that a new vaccine will be needed to tackle Omicron. I mean, have you had conversations with the vaccine bosses this week? And if so, what sort of indication are they giving you?
GREG HUNT:
So, I've spoken with Moderna, Pfizer, Novavax, this week myself, and the situation at the moment is we believe that there will be good protection. We want everybody to have their primary vaccinations, which is the first and the second dose. And if you’re due for the booster, do not delay. Please come forward.
We're well over 470,000 boosters and 92.6 per cent of first vaccinations around the country. And if there are variant related vaccines that are required, we're in a position to, to do that.
We've already spoken with both Pfizer and Moderna about those, and I was speaking with Novavax yesterday, and that's making very good progress through its medical regulator or TGA assessment in Australia.
So, we're well prepared. We've got deep stocks of vaccine, very- a capacity to have access to the evolving vaccines in the same that the flu vaccine evolves.
PETER STEFANOVIC:
But you won’t need a completely new vaccine?
GREG HUNT:
If they were to vary it, it would obviously be the same base vaccine, but with variations to deal with changes in the nature of the spike protein.
PETER STEFANOVIC:
Yeah.
GREG HUNT:
And so, we're ready, we're in a strong position. But if you haven't been vaccinated, please come forward to be vaccinated. Ninety-two point six is one of the highest rates in the world, but we’d like it to be higher again.
PETER STEFANOVIC:
Minister, it was a chaotic, at times shambolic final sitting week of the year. Libs and Nat’s crossing the floor, multiple resignations for a variety of reasons. But there’s been scandals, dog noises, the whole lot. A lot of criticism coming in for, for Parliament this last week.
How can you govern with the Party in such disarray?
GREG HUNT:
Look, I respectfully disagree with that characterisation. At the end of the day, here we are announcing another half a billion dollars for COVID extension measures; keeping the country safe; Seeing the international forecasters upgrade Australia's expectations for economic growth above 3 per cent previously to above 4 per cent for next year; bringing people back into work, bringing people back home. All of these things are what we're, we're actually doing.
I had yesterday major landmark Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme legislation passed the Senate. We had Maeve's law for mitochondrial disease through a magnificent, beautiful conscience vote, passed the, the House of Representatives on Wednesday by a majority of three to one - of 91 to 29. And so the work of the Parliament is ongoing.
And the really interesting thing, as I reflect on my time knowing I've got an immense amount of work to do over the next six months, is throughout, throughout this pandemic, the Treasurer and the Prime Minister, they've always known the way.
They have an innate make sense of the Australian people and they trust in them, and that trust has been returned. And so that relationship has meant that, of all the nations in the world, Australia has one of the highest vaccination rates, one of the lowest rates of loss of life, and one of the strongest economic recoveries.
The big things that are protecting Australians are happening. And you know, that leadership of the PM and the Treasurer, it's really a fine team with a great sense of the nation and an understanding of the direction.
PETER STEFANOVIC:
Minister, you’re of course leaving politics after 20 years. Yesterday, you cited family, which is fair enough.
But it's surely been a slog for you. Are you also just out of steam?
GREG HUNT:
No, not at all. I’m up and out this morning, and up at 5:30 to be out focussing on these new COVID extension measures. Between now and the election a focus on COVID obviously and protecting Australians and making sure that the systems we've established are there.
A focus in particular on a new primary care 10-year plan; a rural health focus; medical research - we're developing the next iteration of our 10-Year Medical Research Plan to bring forward what are called personalised treatments and mental health and aged care.
And there's always more to do on mental health. I particularly want to focus on youth mental health and children's mental health.
PETER STEFANOVIC:
Yes.
GREG HUNT:
So it's going to be difficult to jam at all into that time. So from my perspective, it's about run, run, run, run.
PETER STEFANOVIC:
Will you be the next high commissioner in the UK, Minister?
GREG HUNT:
Honestly, I've not had any discussion with anybody. I saw that report. I haven't spoken with, with Scott or Josh about anything beyond Parliament. I'm just focussed on this.
I want us to win the seat of Flinders; win the election because I believe deeply in the PM and Josh and the, the mission of giving Australians the best chance at the life of their choice.
I literally have not focussed. All I want to do when I finish is just take time to be a dad.
PETER STEFANOVIC:
Okay.
GREG HUNT:
And the rest will deal with itself. Between now and then, there's a heck of a lot to do.
PETER STEFANOVIC:
Okay. So if the PM says to you, you're going to go to London, would you accept that?
GREG HUNT:
Look, I won't even contemplate.
PETER STEFANOVIC:
Okay.
GREG HUNT:
I tell you who gets the first vote on the future, that's my wife, Paula.
PETER STEFANOVIC:
Fair enough.
GREG HUNT:
And right now we want to try to be together. And my kids will want to see me.
They might get tired of me after a little bit of time, but I want to see them and they want to see me.
PETER STEFANOVIC:
Just a quick one. Would you like to see women preselected? Not just in your seat, but also in the seat of Pearce as well?
GREG HUNT:
Absolutely, I would. Absolutely. And I've seen candidates for Pearce that are really strong women, but it'll be a matter for the preselectors.
I know there's the potential in my own seat subject to the will of, of the party members who are the ones that that preselect to have a strong, brilliant woman. And I would love to see a strong, brilliant Liberal woman preselected.
And then we see in seats like Corangamite, Stephanie Asher, the amazing Mayor of Geelong, running for the Liberal Party; and seats like Dunkley, which is Frankston and, and Seaford and, and Langwarrin, Sharn Coombes, who's been a criminal prosecutor and, again, an outstanding, strong, capable woman who's the Liberal candidate.
And so we already have the highest number of women in Cabinet in Australian history. People such as Katie Allen and Amanda Stoker and Fiona Martin and Melissa McIntosh and Lucy Wicks, who are emerging as few future strong leaders within the party.
So it’s strongest female talent that I've ever seen. But then the incoming group, I think, is just transformative.
PETER STEFANOVIC:
Just a quick one here, minister. How many times have you seen The Princess Bride?
GREG HUNT:
Ah, well, too many. It was my university go to film and I love it and to be able to cite it.
Somebody last night said that one of the TV stations took my comments about The Princess Bride and compared them with the actual comments, and that made my day.
There are many things I enjoyed yesterday, but being matched up against The Princess Bride - that's a good day at the office.
PETER STEFANOVIC:
There you go. Greg Hunt, appreciate your time, as always. Thank you. We'll talk to you soon.