Transcript - Ticker News - Monday, 16 August 2021

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TELEVISION INTERVIEW
TICKER NEWS
MONDAY, 16 AUGUST 2021

SUBJECTS: COVID-19 vaccine rollout, relationship with China, Afghanistan
 
HOST, ANTHONY LUCAS: Now, Patrick, what's your assessment of Australia's national vaccine rollout at this point in time? We heard from the Prime Minister just yesterday about those Pfizer doses that arrived in the country. What's your take?

PATRICK GORMAN, SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA: I think the Prime Minister should be very embarrassed that he's had to go on an international hunt to scrounge for vaccines. The reality is that Pfizer was approved for use in Australia in January. It's now August, and we only have 20 per cent of the population fully vaccinated. This is an embarrassment for us, but it's also causing real heartbreak. We've seen the announcements today from what's happening in Darwin, where they are now in a lockdown for three days, obviously the extension of restrictions in Melbourne, and the ongoing tragedy across Sydney and across New South Wales. Not to forget our friends in the ACT, who had really shocking news today of 20 cases. This is all happening on Scott Morrison's watch. And it's simply because he didn't do the job right. We don't have enough vaccines. That's the problem.

HOST: Labor is proposing a cash incentive for people who receive the vaccine. This has been huge on social media. A lot of people are backing it. A lot of people are saying it isn't needed. What's the rationale is behind this?

GORMAN: We need to throw everything at this. What we did in 2020 was we said, JobKeeper, we're going to throw everything at keeping people in jobs. And that was because we didn't have a vaccine. Now we've got the vaccine, we need to throw everything we've got at getting people vaccinated. I don't want to save a few dollars here and there, if we don't get those crucial vaccination rates of 8 per cent of the population, eligible population, vaccinated. So $300 per person, we think that's a good incentive for people who might be hesitant or wanting to hold back. We also believe that it will make a huge difference in getting people who have had the vaccine back into the economy, supporting businesses, supporting the retail economy once it opens up again, because we know that there's a whole bunch of small businesses across Australia who are doing it tough. I know even here in Western Australia, where we've been so fortunate to not have had as bad outbreaks as elsewhere, there are businesses that rely on the national economy. They are struggling because they can't get access to the markets they normally would. You know, the shops that would normally supply to in the eastern states are unable to open at the moment, so everyone is hurting. And so a national income would make a huge difference.

HOST: Yeah. Now, I just want to discuss AstraZeneca, the vaccine that's available for almost all of Australians over the age of 18 I believe, the messaging surrounding that particular vaccine has been confusing to many people, with ATAGI saying that over 55 or over 60 should be getting it, and no one younger than that. And then there was a change saying, get it if your GP suggests it. Should Australia be doing more when it comes to the AstraZeneca vaccine and the messaging surrounding that particular that particular jab, especially due to the concern of blood clots?

GORMAN: What we need is a proper national information campaign, not just a shock ad when things get bad in New South Wales, which is what the Government offered up. We need to make sure that we're reaching out to people in their own languages, reaching out to people with proper medical advice in their letterboxes. I've been very critical of Clive Palmer for the misinformation that he's been putting in people's letterboxes. The biggest problem is actually that there's nothing from the Federal Government in people's letterboxes. We need to make sure that there's information going in every channel possible because we only get one shot at this. We need to make sure that everyone goes and gets vaccine. AstraZeneca is a safe and effective vaccine. Of course, it's not for everyone, and that's what ATAGI have said. But for most people, it's perfectly fine. And I've been very encouraged by the reports of people in their 20s, 30s, 40s going out, talking to their GP or their medical professional and getting that vaccination because it gives you fabulous protection. But remember, it's only been the last couple of months we've had enough supply of AstraZeneca for younger people to be able to access it. So that's the other problem I have with this, is that this sort of Pfizer-AstraZeneca debate up until very recently has been entirely academic for young Australians. People under 30 have only just started to get access to a recommended vaccine in the last few weeks. And it was just today that they've been offered for 18 to 30 year olds here in Western Australia. So, all of these things point to the fact that Scott Morrison really just missed the boat when it came to ordering vaccines, when the rest of the world was rushing to sign deals. He wasn't even picking up the phone.

HOST: I've heard from a few people, we've received a particular email as well to the newsroom about the actual booking system that's being used by the Federal Government to get a jab. And in comparison to State Governments and the way the State Governments are organising people to book and get a jab is quite different and quite confusing. A lot of people are complaining about the Federal Government's website particularly, not sure if you've heard about this one, booking to get a jab. What's your take on that? Have you heard the complaints surrounding the whole booking process? Is it confusing? Is it not working? What's happening there?

GORMAN: The problem is we’re in the 21st century, but we've got a 20th century Government. When it comes to technology this government, pretty much everything they touch, they screw up. The COVIDSAFE app that we all downloaded last year has been completely ineffective. And now we get to booking the vaccinations, this should have been in development from April of last year. We should have had like the best coders in Australia working on it, trying to make sure that was a smooth and seamless process. And it seems like they spent $1 million, millions of dollars on another vaccination booking app that seems to provide confusing advice. I've also received complaints about the questions and the way the questions are structured. They're quite confusing for people, that the information doesn't link through well. And yeah, unfortunately, what we should really do is say, well, which of the states have developed the best of these different booking systems? And maybe the Federal Government could just pick up the phone to them and say, hey, can we just borrow your technology? Because, you know, ultimately we're all trying to do the same thing, which is find the most efficient way to get people booked in and vaccinated. Yes, it is concerning. And I've heard those concerns too.

HOST: Hey Patrick, you're a former advisor to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. How does Scott Morrison's stance on China, we're just going to switch topics there, how does his stance on China differ from previous Prime Ministers, in your in your opinion?

GORMAN: The China relationship has always been complex. And I think that's the first thing to remember is that the China relationship became difficult the day Tony Abbott or Malcolm Turnbull, Scott Morrison became Prime Minister. It's always been a complex relationship. And so we need to accept that complexity, but then also work through international forums, multilateral forums, to make sure that we continue to engage in dialogue. And, you know, the best time to start working on the China relationship would have been eight years ago when the Coalition was elected. The next best time is now. To sort of look at ways we can continue to build and rebuild our diplomatic engagement. China's, you know, one point three billion people in our region. It's a country with a huge potential now, and a huge future. Obviously, Australia has benefited from having a productive trading relationship and a robust diplomatic relationship. And it would be sad to see that trading relationship has some tensions. So one of the things that Labor's said we're very strongly committed to is a diversification of our trade relationships. My colleague, Madeleine King, another great West Australian, has done a lot of really deep thinking on how we, as a Labor government, we work on diversifying our trade relationships. The other thing is we've got to commit to our own national resilience, making sure that we have the domestic manufacturing capability to build the things that Australia needs now and into the future.

HOST: I just want to touch on Afghanistan, obviously, all the scenes that we're seeing coming out of Kabul right now. Does Australia have, I guess, a plan right now to reach out to the now-former Afghani government to kind of put an end to the Taliban's takeover? Are you hearing any word in government right now?

GORMAN: This is deeply complex how you deal with both a newly formed insurgent government and a previously democratically elected government under Ashraf Ghani. Now, I was in Afghanistan, in Kabul in 2014 for the count of their presidential election. I was doing my part as an Australian to help Afghanistan transition to democracy. And it's just heartbreaking what we're seeing now. Now, I know that our defence intelligence agencies would be looking at the best way Australia can play a role, given where, tragically, we find ourselves today. But right now, I think every Australian just wants to know that we get both all of our diplomats, anyone, any Australians and of course, anyone who's helped Australia over that last 20 years to a place of safety. And in the footage that we're seeing out of the airports, the footage we're seeing on the streets of Kabul, it's really shocking, and I just, you know, my heart goes out to the people of Afghanistan. They've been through, you know, some incredibly difficult times and what the resurgence of the Taliban means to the ordinary citizens of Afghanistan is heartbreaking. It means girls won't be able to go to school. It means that, you know, there are going to be unnecessary deaths. I mean, we're talking here on Ticker, part of that whole new media, which is very exciting, but what we're going to see in Afghanistan is a cancellation of press, of radio, of digital media. The Taliban are going to close that public square of debate that's just started to build in that country. It's tragic every way you look at it.

HOST: Absolutely. I do agree with you there. Patrick, thank you so much for joining us here on Ticker News this afternoon, we really appreciate your insight. Stay well over there in Perth and we'll chat to you very soon.