DAVID KOCH:
Treasurer, would this sort of replicate the flu vaccine program that a lot of big businesses put on offer for their staff?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
All options are on the table today, Kochie. As you say, it’s an important opportunity for the Government to sit down with the CEOs of Australia’s largest companies and the industry group representatives. They will represent more than 7.5 million workers today, those more than 30 representatives around the table.
The businesses involved have had experience with the distribution and the delivery of the flu vaccine to their workers, and they’re very keen to get involved in the vaccination rollout. Whether it’s offering premises, helping with logistics, communication strategies, community engagement - for example in regional communities.
I think there will be really good opportunities for us to work together, bearing in mind that last year, the Morrison Government partnered with the business community; whether it was on rent relief, or mortgage relief that was provided to millions of Australians.
DAVID KOCH:
What's your view on mandatory vaccination in workplaces?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Obviously it depends on the particular roles that workers are undertaking. In some areas, as we know for example with aged care workers, we’re moving to those mandatory vaccinations for those who are involved. But our guiding principle to date has been that the vaccination has been voluntary, but we want as many people as possible to take it, and the more people that do, the stronger our nation will be in beating off the virus.
DAVID KOCH:
Are you too soft on that? It is so bad this pandemic, we’ve got these different strains, shouldn't we be a bit tougher and go, look, unless there is medical advice to the contrary and you've got a particular condition as an individual, you just have got to get vaccinated.
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
That is our message, we are very clear…
DAVID KOCH:
No, no, enforce it.
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
That is a different step, and if you look around the country and look around the rest of the world, there is vaccine hesitancy, there always has been with previous vaccines, but I think underlining the importance of the rollout to the broader community, as well as to individual’s health. I know speaking to some of the businesses, they want to put incentives on the tables for workers to get the jab, and they'll have that conversation around the workplace with their own staff and that's a good thing.
DAVID KOCH:
But see, if I want to travel to Africa, I have to get Yellow Fever or you won't let me back in, or to South America. How is it any different with this vaccination?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
This is where the talk of the vaccination passport comes from because you won't be subject to the same restrictions if you've had that vaccination, and I think that's an opportunity for us going forward, and certainly the Prime Minister has raised that and they are one of the options and one of the processes that we are working through right now.
DAVID KOCH:
Sydney's lockdown expected to be extended for another week, affected residents are eligible for the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 disaster payment, are you considering any other financial support?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Not at this stage. There are two payments with a $500 and $325 payment, depending on the number of hours a week to have been lost for a person who has been subject to these lockdowns that have gone for longer than a week.
But as you know Kochie, in the Budget just a matter of weeks ago, we put an additional $41 billion of direct COVID economic support in there to ensure the momentum and economic recovery will continue; whether that's tax relief that is rolling out, or the other particular skills program, or infrastructure projects. We have transitioned off those emergency support payments like JobKeeper to other more nuanced support and I think that's a good thing.
DAVID KOCH:
Treasurer, appreciate your time. Thank you.
JOSH FRYDENBERG
It’s a pleasure.