REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Have you had your COVID vaccination yet? Would a million dollars make you roll up your sleeve? What about the fact that on Friday, the Prime Minister announced international travel would resume for any states who hit 80 per cent vaccination?
We’re a way off that here in Queensland, our full vaxxed rate is still under 50 per cent.
Greg Hunt is the federal Minister for Health and Aged Care. Minister, good morning.
GREG HUNT:
And good morning, Rebecca.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
What do you think of the million-dollar vax incentive?
GREG HUNT:
Oh look, I welcome it. All of the different positive reasons to be vaccinated are, I think valuable. The most important reason is it can save your life.
And we see that from the hospitalisations in New South Wales and Victoria around the world. But vaccination can save your life and protect your life and protect your family, and also help everybody get back to the life and the freedoms that they know and love.
So they’re the positive reasons, and if this works for others, I think that's great as well.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Yeah, million dollars on top makes me want to go around again, Minister.
Realistically, what is the vaccination rate we’ll hit? Because we won't hit a hundred per cent, so what is the realistic number?
GREG HUNT:
Well, I think a guide is that when you look at the ACT, 92 per cent, New South Wales at 88. Victoria at 82, we know that we can achieve high numbers. So I won’t put a figure on it. But I think we'll get well past 80 per cent as a country.
And I certainly want us to go past that and to continue to encourage people to be vaccinated. Because everybody has to presume at some stage they will be exposed to the virus. And vaccination is the thing that best protects you.
Just see the results from New South Wales and Victoria in terms of the protections for the fully vaccinated that come with the vaccination. And so if you get the first, people get their second, and they get their second, they get their protection.
And it works to protect each individual, but everybody around them as well.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
It also means that life can open up to some extent for those who are waiting on, whether it's loved ones being able to come from overseas or being able to get back out of this country.
When New South Wales, looks like New South Wales is going to be the first to approach 80 per cent fully vaxxed, the PM says, international travel can resume. Like, which countries will New South Wales open its border to, Minister?
GREG HUNT:
Well the general proposition is that we’ll be opening broadly because, and this is for Australians to- who are fully vaccinated, to leave and to return, or Australians or permanent residents overseas to return if they haven't come back yet.
That's the initial thing, so it's not initially about opening up travel for other people from overseas. It starts with Australians who are fully vaccinated doing that. And so we're not placing restrictions.
There may be that there are individual cases of a mass outbreak, where we’re very concerned about a country, but the presumption is that you leave, you travel to your point of destination, and your protection is you come back double vaccinated and then into home quarantine for 7 days with appropriate testing.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
And in an instance where there is an outbreak or a situation in another country, where there's, say another variant evolves, would you pause international travel then between that country and Australia?
GREG HUNT:
There is the capacity to do that. The example was India, when we were seeing 14 per cent positive rates on the flights that were going into Howard Springs.
We did that for two weeks. It was controversial at the time. But after that, we were able to sure up the testing procedures that were occurring in another country with additional Australian measures, put in place those procedures, and it dropped from a positive rate of 14 per cent to under one per cent.
So that was protecting the Howard Springs and the Northern Territory, and by definition, the rest of Australia. So there are no plans to do that, but there's the capacity to do that.
And I think your example is a good one. Were there to be a virulent outbreak, where its impact on vaccinations was not known initially, that's the sort of thing that you would look for.
But the general proposition is that you leave, you can travel, you can return if double vaccinated and you would go into home quarantine with appropriate testing.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
You're listening to Greg Hunt, the federal Minister for Health on ABC Radio Brisbane in Queensland. My name is Rebecca Levingston.
The million-dollar vax incentive getting the tick from the Minister this morning. Also the idea of international travel returning when a state gets to 80 per cent full vaccination. Minister, we are a long way from that here in Queensland.
Are we, what's your view on Queensland? Because, for example, you couldn't have had the NRL Grand Final last night if Queensland hadn't pursued the strategy that Annastacia Palaszczuk has led. We don't have hospitals full of people in intensive care. We don't have a daily death rate.
And yet, there seems to be pressure from other states for Queensland to get on board with the national strategy. What's your view? Has Queensland had the best COVID response?
GREG HUNT:
Look, I won’t rank the states. I think that you've seen different results in different states.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Why wouldn't you? Why wouldn't you just say, Queensland, my goodness? The fact that you can have almost 40,000 people in a stadium last night and you got no one in an intensive care unit with COVID is extraordinary. Why wouldn't you say congratulations?
GREG HUNT:
No, that's completely different matter. I am- wherever cases are low, wherever people are safe, that's what matters to me. And that's immensely important and it's a huge national achievement, and it's a huge achievement for Queensland, and I do want to acknowledge that. And that's an entirely fair question.
You know, as a nation, we have one of the three lowest per capita loss of lives in the OECD over the course of the pandemic and in particular, in 2021. The vaccination rate of almost 80 per cent, which will pass in the coming days, is, you know, continuing to drive forward.
And Queensland will do that as well, for all the reasons of safety, and also of allowing families to reunite at weddings, funerals, of being there for births or for grandparents to meet their little grandchild for the first time.
So all these things come together, borders, testing, tracing, distancing, and vaccination. And so the different states are at different points in the vaccination program. And in the same way, I wouldn't be critical of one state or another.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Sure. But also, Minister, I guess I'm trying to tap into as well, just your- like, when you look at Queensland, more than 50 times in recent months there have been sort of COVID spot fires that have popped up in Queensland.
And then there's not a kind of a serious outbreak, the likes of which has occurred in Sydney and Melbourne. And there's this whole discussion that's ongoing, anecdotally, where people go, well, the Premier would say Queenslanders do the right thing. We're more compliant, we take the advice.
Anecdotally, Minister, you know that people are shaking hands, hugging, kissing. They were at the footy last night, some had masks on, some didn't. How do you think Queensland keeps dodging Delta?
GREG HUNT:
Look, at this stage, I think it's a combination of, obviously, the national measures. And then you have, one thing that is very strong, and we have recruited the former deputy chief medical officer, Sonya Bennett to the Commonwealth, is the contact tracing system.
Queensland has a very, very good contact tracing system. I think it's important for me, as you say, to call things out where they’re very positive. And they do have an excellent contact tracing system, which has allowed the cases to be tracked.
Sonya Bennett's helping to coordinate that at a national level. She's our Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Australia, having been in that equivalent role in Queensland.
And so Queenslanders have done a great job, Australians have done a great job. You know, when you look at the comparative case levels around the world, at the comparative loss of life, and then the economic outcomes, and now the vaccination outcomes, which are now well pass the United States, which would surprise many people, you'll see that level of protection is there.
The next thing for Queensland is to add to what they've done with the case outcomes, with the vaccination outcomes, because I have to say, no matter where you are, no matter who you are, all of us, at some stage, if not now, you know over the coming years, are likely to be exposed to the coronavirus.
The best protection for every single person who's listening now is vaccination.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Minister, I know we're going to let you go shortly, because indeed you are the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, so a busy day for you despite the fact it’s a public holiday around lots of the country.
GREG HUNT:
Not in Victoria.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Oh, where you are still locked down as well. Okay, maybe you’ve got plenty of time. Stick around for the next two and a half hours, Minister, why not, be my co-host?
GREG HUNT:
We could take talkback.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Just a couple of quick questions, though, with brief answers. When will children under the age of 12 start to get vaccinated?
GREG HUNT:
So once there's been an application and an approval, we have the supplies.
At this stage, Pfizer has indicated that they will be applying in America, and we’ve invited them to apply in Australia.
They haven't, to the best of my knowledge, applied yet in America to what's called their FDA, or their federal medical regulator. But we have asked them to apply here as soon as possible.
And so once that’s assessed and found to be safe and effective, we have the supplies, and just as we've done with 12 to 15 year olds, we’ll make it available immediately.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Approximate time frame, though?
GREG HUNT:
I won't put that on because it's in the hands of the company and the medical regulator. But we're ready as soon as they're ready.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Okay, would you ever make vaccination mandatory to receive social security payments?
GREG HUNT:
Not part of our plans and not something that we've been proposing.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
When will Australian start to get booster shots?
GREG HUNT:
For boosters, again, the same thing. We've invited the companies to apply for boosters.
At this stage, both the medical regulator is ready to do that and we have 60 million Pfizer for next year. We have 51 million Novavax. We have an extra 15 million Moderna. So we’ve got all the supplies.
And then the medical body, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, is considering. I'm presuming we will have boosters; we’re prepared for boosters.
And that's something that we’ll run likely, if it does occur, during the course of 2022, with the possibility of some immunocompromised and others receiving it this year.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Okay, Minister in the time that we've been speaking, the New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro has announced he is stepping down as Nationals Leader. He’ll resign from Parliament.
So that's a premier and a deputy premier gone in New South Wales. Who are you backing as the next Premier of New South Wales?
GREG HUNT:
Oh, look, they’ll have a party room decision. I don't think there'll be any surprises but I’ll leave that with to New South Wales party.
I do want to wish Gladys Berejiklian and John Barilaro all the best. And Gladys, I’ve worked closely with. And she's been one of, I think, the great premiers of New South Wales.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
But you've also got to work with whoever is the next premier. And really, the people of New South Wales are going, okay, they've got to adjust to a new political leader who they know is going to work with you. Is the New South Wales strategy likely to change?
GREG HUNT:
My understanding is that no matter what happens, the New South Wales Government is committed to the national plan. They’re committed to the reopening plan.
Their vaccination program now has them at 88.4 per cent first dose and 61 per cent second dose. So they are really making good progress and their case numbers are coming down. And that will impact on their hospital system in a very positive way. So there's some strong, positive direction.
So it's a difficult weekend for many people who have lost a premier that I think captured the hearts of so many people in New South Wales, but also around Australia. Myself included. I was very, very sorry and sad to see Gladys go.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Just finally, Minister, say you were in the Lotto to win the million-dollar vax, you get your name pulled out of the hat: Greg Hunt, congratulations, you've won a million bucks. What's the first thing you spend that on?
GREG HUNT:
I think I'd give that away, but I don’t think I’ll participate, and unfortunately I won’t.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Oh, come on.
GREG HUNT:
I think there are far more worthy people who can enter and should enter. But I think it would be.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
You don't want to reveal one small vice? You don’t want to reveal one small vice? I don’t know.
GREG HUNT:
I know what I would get. I’d get a new pair of running shoes. But I think the rest I’d be giving away.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Lash out. You’d be buying Yeezy’s at that rate. Minister, really appreciate your time this morning, thanks so much.
GREG HUNT:
Thanks very much. Cheers.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
The Federal Health and Aged Care Minister, Greg Hunt.