❓ Ms. Davies questions the Premier about the Auditor General's report on vaccination implementation, specifically regarding unfulfilled responsibilities. The Premier defends the state's efforts, highlighting Commonwealth responsibilities and challenges in vaccinating Aboriginal communities, while criticizing the opposition's political maneuvering.
AnsweredQoN 811Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
VACCINATIONS — AUDITOR GENERAL'S REPORT
811. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. I note
that the Premier's reading is that the report is all beer and skittles.
Why does the Auditor General specifically note that our state's
implementation plan failed to establish key roles and responsibilities beyond
phase 1a, and that key actions in the plan are still not done?
VACCINATIONS — AUDITOR GENERAL'S REPORT
811. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. I note
that the Premier's reading is that the report is all beer and skittles.
Why does the Auditor General specifically note that our state's
implementation plan failed to establish key roles and responsibilities beyond
phase 1a, and that key actions in the plan are still not done?
AnswerView source ↗
Parts of the plan relate to the
commonwealth. We are picking up some of slack of the commonwealth. The member mentioned vulnerable communities. The most
vulnerable communities out there are actually Aboriginal communities. They have the lowest vaccination rates. They also have the greatest scepticism
about vaccination, and that is very difficult to, first, manage; and, second,
believe, considering the vulnerability of Aboriginal people. That is the fact of the matter. Aboriginal people, and in particular
remote communities, of which there are over 200 in Western Australia, are actually, under the national plan, the responsibility of the commonwealth
government. The commonwealth government took
that on as its responsibility. The rollout in remote communities is still low.
That is why I am visiting. That is why I am going there. That is why the
police commissioner is going there. That is why we are promoting it. That is
why we are doing all sorts of things to try to do it. I understand that it is
difficult for the commonwealth. I do not
want to cast blame here. It is not easy. We are doing it jointly with the
commonwealth to try to lift vaccination rates. That has been difficult. I point out that the over-12s are at 85 per
cent. The over-16s, which we are not measuring ourselves against, are now close to 90 per cent. Every other state is
doing over-16s. We are actually doing over-12s because it is safer; it is better; it is more precautionary. What we are
seeing in Austria and Germany and other countries around the world is
that if vaccination rates do not go up, lots of people will die and they have
to lock down again.
All I would say to the
opposition is this: there is all this madness going on out there in the
community with all these people behaving appallingly. It would be great
if they just went out there and said, ''We stand with the government in
getting people vaccinated.'' It would be great if they just did that,
rather than constantly trying to score political points in these tawdry, nasty
little campaigns they are running!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for North West Central and others!
Ms S. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER : And the member for Wanneroo,
surprisingly!
commonwealth. We are picking up some of slack of the commonwealth. The member mentioned vulnerable communities. The most
vulnerable communities out there are actually Aboriginal communities. They have the lowest vaccination rates. They also have the greatest scepticism
about vaccination, and that is very difficult to, first, manage; and, second,
believe, considering the vulnerability of Aboriginal people. That is the fact of the matter. Aboriginal people, and in particular
remote communities, of which there are over 200 in Western Australia, are actually, under the national plan, the responsibility of the commonwealth
government. The commonwealth government took
that on as its responsibility. The rollout in remote communities is still low.
That is why I am visiting. That is why I am going there. That is why the
police commissioner is going there. That is why we are promoting it. That is
why we are doing all sorts of things to try to do it. I understand that it is
difficult for the commonwealth. I do not
want to cast blame here. It is not easy. We are doing it jointly with the
commonwealth to try to lift vaccination rates. That has been difficult. I point out that the over-12s are at 85 per
cent. The over-16s, which we are not measuring ourselves against, are now close to 90 per cent. Every other state is
doing over-16s. We are actually doing over-12s because it is safer; it is better; it is more precautionary. What we are
seeing in Austria and Germany and other countries around the world is
that if vaccination rates do not go up, lots of people will die and they have
to lock down again.
All I would say to the
opposition is this: there is all this madness going on out there in the
community with all these people behaving appallingly. It would be great
if they just went out there and said, ''We stand with the government in
getting people vaccinated.'' It would be great if they just did that,
rather than constantly trying to score political points in these tawdry, nasty
little campaigns they are running!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for North West Central and others!
Ms S. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER : And the member for Wanneroo,
surprisingly!
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