❓ Ms Davies questions the Premier regarding failures in the WA vaccine rollout identified in the Auditor General's report. The Premier defends the rollout, citing the report's overall positive assessment and WA's unique circumstances.
AnsweredQoN 810Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — VACCINATIONS — AUDITOR
GENERAL'S REPORT
810. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I refer to the damning report tabled
by the Auditor General last week that makes multiple findings about the
failures of the WA vaccine rollout and to the Auditor General's comment
on 6PR Radio that there is a shameful gap of disadvantage
for vulnerable cohorts of Western Australians. Was it the Premier or the
Minister for Health who failed to ensure that the Department of Health
had specific measurable targets and comprehensive plans for the roll out of the
vaccine across WA?
GENERAL'S REPORT
810. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I refer to the damning report tabled
by the Auditor General last week that makes multiple findings about the
failures of the WA vaccine rollout and to the Auditor General's comment
on 6PR Radio that there is a shameful gap of disadvantage
for vulnerable cohorts of Western Australians. Was it the Premier or the
Minister for Health who failed to ensure that the Department of Health
had specific measurable targets and comprehensive plans for the roll out of the
vaccine across WA?
AnswerView source ↗
Madam Speaker, I have got a copy of
the report here. The report's conclusion is this —
In an environment of uncertain supply
and demand, the COVID-19 vaccination program in WA has been largely effective
in delivering injections for the vast majority of people.
That is what it says. That is its
conclusion. I will go further. This is what it also says —
A mix of delivery approaches by the
Commonwealth and State governments has been an effective way to accelerate
vaccination rates and make efficient use of vaccine supplies. The Department
predicts that it will achieve its target for 80% of people aged 12 years and
over in WA to be fully vaccinated by the end of 2021.
The first paragraph of the
conclusion is that what we have done has been largely effective in delivering
injections to the vast majority of people.
That is what the Auditor General's report says. I do not understand why
the Leader of the Opposition would be seeking to politicise this. That
is what she had to say.
The reality is that in the Western Australian
context, we did not receive the extra doses of Pfizer vaccine that Victoria and
New South Wales did—the hundreds of thousands early on; we did not have
the mass outbreak that New South Wales and Victoria had, which obviously
spurred vaccination rates in those two states; and we did not receive the health advice that we could bring the
period between first and second doses closer together, because of the
existential threat that New South Wales and Victoria had. So obviously they are
going to be ahead of us in the vaccination rollout. It stands to reason. It is
basic sense.
But,
despite that, our vaccination rate today for over 12-year-olds is 85 per cent.
It is 72.9 per cent for over-12s, today . Since we announced our safe
transition plan two weeks ago, the number of additional people who have
received a first-dose vaccination is 120 000. We had all the doomsayers out
there saying it would not work; people would not
go and get vaccinated. That included the Leader of the Opposition. We had them
all out there, saying that, running it all down, yet 120 000 Western Australians
have gone to get their first-dose vaccination since we announced it two weeks
ago. Obviously the program is working, despite all the doomsayers.
I
will tell members what else. It would be great if the opposition actually went
out there and said, ''We support what the government is doing.
This is not a time for politics.'' It would be great if the opposition
did that. It is not a time for politics. We have some of the most vile and
extreme threats out there in the community. How about you stop politicising
this and support us in what we are trying to do!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
the report here. The report's conclusion is this —
In an environment of uncertain supply
and demand, the COVID-19 vaccination program in WA has been largely effective
in delivering injections for the vast majority of people.
That is what it says. That is its
conclusion. I will go further. This is what it also says —
A mix of delivery approaches by the
Commonwealth and State governments has been an effective way to accelerate
vaccination rates and make efficient use of vaccine supplies. The Department
predicts that it will achieve its target for 80% of people aged 12 years and
over in WA to be fully vaccinated by the end of 2021.
The first paragraph of the
conclusion is that what we have done has been largely effective in delivering
injections to the vast majority of people.
That is what the Auditor General's report says. I do not understand why
the Leader of the Opposition would be seeking to politicise this. That
is what she had to say.
The reality is that in the Western Australian
context, we did not receive the extra doses of Pfizer vaccine that Victoria and
New South Wales did—the hundreds of thousands early on; we did not have
the mass outbreak that New South Wales and Victoria had, which obviously
spurred vaccination rates in those two states; and we did not receive the health advice that we could bring the
period between first and second doses closer together, because of the
existential threat that New South Wales and Victoria had. So obviously they are
going to be ahead of us in the vaccination rollout. It stands to reason. It is
basic sense.
But,
despite that, our vaccination rate today for over 12-year-olds is 85 per cent.
It is 72.9 per cent for over-12s, today . Since we announced our safe
transition plan two weeks ago, the number of additional people who have
received a first-dose vaccination is 120 000. We had all the doomsayers out
there saying it would not work; people would not
go and get vaccinated. That included the Leader of the Opposition. We had them
all out there, saying that, running it all down, yet 120 000 Western Australians
have gone to get their first-dose vaccination since we announced it two weeks
ago. Obviously the program is working, despite all the doomsayers.
I
will tell members what else. It would be great if the opposition actually went
out there and said, ''We support what the government is doing.
This is not a time for politics.'' It would be great if the opposition
did that. It is not a time for politics. We have some of the most vile and
extreme threats out there in the community. How about you stop politicising
this and support us in what we are trying to do!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
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