CORONAVIRUS —
VACCINATIONS
791. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Health:
I
note the release of the Auditor General's report, WA's
COVID-19 vaccine roll-out. Why has the WA Country Health Service not developed a specific implementation
plan for Aboriginal people when it was responsible for collaborating
with the commonwealth in the vaccination rollout, as confirmed by the Auditor
General?
Mr R.H.
COOK replied:
I note that part of the conclusion
in the Auditor General's report stated —
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. 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.
By and large, the Auditor General
was glowing; she provided a great report and concluded that the vaccine program
was effective.
Back
in March 2021, the commonwealth government released the COVID-19 vaccination
program implementation plan:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is consistent with the agreement between the commonwealth and
the states that the commonwealth would take responsibility for vaccinating
people in residential aged-care facilities and the Aboriginal population.
Mr
R.S. Love: That's not what the report says. It says that you were
undertaking to coordinate that on the ground through WACHS.
Mr R.H. COOK: I am telling
you facts, member.
Mr R.S. Love: That's
not what the Auditor General says.
Mr M. McGowan: You don't
know anything about it.
Mr R.S. Love: That's
why he's saying the Auditor General doesn't know.
Mr R.H. COOK: No; we are
saying you do not know. I quote —
This
plan states that the Commonwealth will be 'leading the implementation
of the COVID-19 vaccination program for Aboriginal people in
consultation with state and territory governments and the Aboriginal Community
Controlled Health Services sector'.
It
is very clear who was responsible for vaccinating the Aboriginal population,
particularly those in remote communities.
It
is a matter for the record that the commonwealth government has done a thoroughly
abysmal job at that, but we do not hear any critique of the commonwealth
from the opposition. It is for the public record that the commonwealth has done
an abysmal job but we will not stand by and allow that situation to continue.
The state remains a steadfast partner of the commonwealth, and we will assist
it to complete this aspect of our mission. The Western Australian government
has been doing much to support Aboriginal medical services, the WA Primary
Health Alliance and the pharmacies. We are working together across the
communities to ensure that we continue to improve vaccination rates for Aboriginal people. The fact is that
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander vaccine cohorts are the responsibility
of the commonwealth. We will continue to work with it, we will continue to
assist it and we stand ready to make sure that we can protect the most
vulnerable people in our community.