TRANSCRIPT: PARLIAMENT HOUSE DOORSTOP, 16 March 2021

1:19PM

E&OE

Subjects: COVID-19 vaccine roll-out;

JOURNALIST

[Inaudible] Matt Canavan?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Look, I appreciate Matthew Canavan’s concerns but the important thing is that we have followed – all the way through – the expert medical advice provided by the medical experts. I was just sitting at a table with Professor Brendan Murphy, he's now the Secretary of the Health Department. He was the Chief Medical Officer, of course, Paul Kelly is now in that position and they have given us, as the Government, the best medical advice.

We've also followed the TGA – the Therapeutic Goods Administration – with what they've told us about AstraZeneca. We have confidence in that vaccine. Just like we've got confidence in Pfizer and we will be continuing the vaccine roll-out. This is the largest peacetime logistical exercise undertaken by Australia.

It's important that people get their jab, of course. It's important people have confidence in the jab. We've taken the best possible medical advice all the way through for our health and economic outcomes and we're delivering for Australians.

JOURNALIST

Does his views represent those of the Party?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Well, they don't represent my views and they don’t represent the Government’s views but I appreciate he's free and willing. Look, if you're in Labor and you go against what they say, they expel you from the Party. If you cross the floor, they expel you from the Party. We’re a broad church but you know, look I understand that he's got some concerns and I get that some European countries have put a pause – only for a day or so – on the vaccine roll-out. But, we're getting on with ours. It's important – it's a critical part of what we're doing as a nation.

JOURNALIST

You’re talking about the importance of confidence, is he not undermining it by calling for [inaudible].

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Well, I would have preferred if he hadn't have actually said what he said but, given the fact that he has, it is out there, I get that it's his personal view. He's entitled to his personal view but the Government's getting on board with making sure that we've got the vaccination roll-out. It’s critical Australians do it and we're going to do that.

JOURNALIST

[Inaudible] Mr McCormack, you are the leader of the Party, what have you said to him today since he made those remarks?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

I have not spoken to him today, I’ve been in Joint Party Room and I have gone from meeting to meeting to meeting.

JOURNALIST

So, you haven’t had any discussions with him after he called for a suspension of the roll-out of the vaccine?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

I haven’t spoken to him, no.

JOURNALIST

Will you speak to him today?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

I may well do, I have got Question Time to get to.

ENDS 1:22PM