CORONAVIRUS — MANDATORY VACCINATION POLICY
660. Ms C.M. COLLINS to the Premier:
I refer to the state government's efforts to get as
many eligible Western Australians as possible vaccinated against COVID-19.
(1) Can the Premier
update the house on the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination program and how the
government is making vaccinations more accessible for more Western Australians?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house of any attempts to undermine this government's
efforts to get all eligible Western Australians vaccinated?
Mr M. McGOWAN
replied:
(1) Thank you,
member for Hillarys. About 76 per cent of eligible Western Australians aged 12
years or over have now had their first dose
of vaccine. Over 58 per cent of 12-year-olds and over are now fully vaccinated.
That is a terrific achievement considering we are the largest state in the
world and have some of the most remote communities in the entire world, and we
did not get the extra doses that New South Wales and Victoria did early on, and
also we have not had the major outbreaks that they have had.
On Sunday, the Commissioner of
Police, Rob Scott from Wesfarmers and I were able to open the first pop-up
vaccination clinic at Bunnings. We are going to be opening, we think, at least
10 of those around Western Australia. No booking will be required. People can
just arrive at Bunnings, buy their hardware, buy a sausage out the front and
then get vaccinated as well. That means that people can get the job done,
especially if they are time-poor like many tradies are. We are confident that
this new initiative will help to drive vaccination rates up around the state.
We have also opened a new clinic
at Carramar Village Shopping Centre in the northern suburbs—another opportunity
for people in the north to get vaccinated. That will provide 2 000 vaccinations
initially, but we expect that will increase. Additional clinics will open in
Mandurah, Ellenbrook and Canning Vale in early November. Community clinics are
now open at Armadale Central Shopping Centre, The Square Mirrabooka,
Centrepoint Midland, Claremont Showgrounds, Kwinana Supa Centre, the Perth
Convention and Exhibition Centre, and
Lakeside Joondalup Shopping Centre. There are more than 100 locations across
Western Australia and regional communities whereby people can get a vaccine, or
they can go to their general practitioner,
pharmacy, Aboriginal medical service and GP respiratory clinics, which are
managed by the commonwealth, to get vaccinated.
(2) I have said
what I had to say about Mr Goiran a moment ago. What he is doing is reckless,
dangerous —
The SPEAKER: Premier, I need
you to call him ''the honourable''.
Mr M. McGOWAN: I have said
what I had to say about Hon Nick Goiran a moment ago. What he is doing is reckless, dangerous and irresponsible. When you
are questioning the health advice, you are undermining the COVID
vaccination rollout, and you are giving credibility to the anti-vaxxers. All I say
to the Liberal Party is this person is your shadow Attorney General, and what you
should be doing, Leader of the Liberal Party, if you had any guts whatsoever,
is sacking him.
Dr D.J. Honey interjected.
The SPEAKER: Member for
Cottesloe, your interjections are disorderly.