KARL STEFANOVIC:
Let's bring in Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg who is in Melbourne for us this morning. Treasurer, good morning to you. Any of those things on the table?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well we are providing financial assistance to states who see a lockdown of more than seven days, but we are not bringing back JobKeeper. That was a temporary emergency support payment. The most expensive such program any Australian Government has ever undertaken, around $90 billion, and it did its job. But we’ve got to obviously contain the virus and that’s why the testing, the tracing and the vaccine rollout are all very important.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
You have admitted, and you have said in the last couple of weeks things economically are going incredibly well. What’s wrong with providing some more financial support then for those businesses that are going through this kind of lockdown?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well we are providing additional support across the economy because of COVID. In fact, $41 billion of additional spending Karl was announced in this year's budget just a few weeks ago. We have transitioned off those emergency support payments to other support. Whether it is investment incentives, whether it is tax relief, whether it's skills programs or for the tourism industry the half-priced airfares. Now obviously they’re contingent upon having free border travel and that’s why it is really important we get on top of this virus as quickly as possible.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Okay so nothing additional, is what you are saying this morning?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Nothing in addition to what we have already announced. But that does include income support for people in New South Wales who are subject to a lockdown of more than seven days.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Okay, the AMA says if the rollout had been quicker, we wouldn't be going through lockdowns on this scale. Do you accept any responsibility?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well we are rolling out the vaccine as quickly as possible and over 7.3 million doses have delivered, more than 28 per cent of the eligible population has received their first dose. And as you know Karl, we’ve focused on the most vulnerable cohorts. So, the over 50s, over 50 per cent have received their first dose, and the over 60s, around 60 per cent have received their first dose, and the over 70s, nearly 70 per cent have received the first dose. If you look at the United Kingdom, yesterday there were 18,000 new cases in the United Kingdom, yet they had seen a rollout of the vaccine to more than 80 per cent of their population. We are dealing with a much more contagious and dangerous Delta strain. And that is why the restrictions are being put in place have been required.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
But do you accept if rollout had been quicker, that the lockdowns wouldn't be of this magnitude?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well we are rolling it out, the vaccine, as quickly as possible. We have got more than 5,000 contact points across the country. We have had issues with supply, with the AstraZeneca vaccine, as you know that were beyond our control with respect to the blood clots and impact it was having on certain age groups. So we took the ATAGI advice, and the health advice at every turn, and we are having more Pfizer vaccine coming online and we are providing them as quickly as possible, those doses to the states and to the GPs.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
So, what will that national vaccination level need to be at to stop the lockdowns?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well again, the UK is instructive. You’ve seen 80 per cent plus of people getting a vaccination yet they are still seeing outbreaks. We are not putting a specific number on it. We are rolling it out as quickly as possible as more supply comes on board.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
So, lord help us then. I mean if we are going to continue to have lockdowns even at 80 per cent and God knows when we will have 80 per cent of the vaccinations rolled out across the country. This is life as we need to get to know it.
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well we are going to have to learn to live with the virus. The virus is going to be with us for some time. But let's not forget how successful Australia has been to date. We have been dealing with outbreaks previously and we have been successful in suppressing them. Australia's economic recovery among the strongest in the world, has been based on a successful suppression of the virus. I’ve got great confidence in our dedicated health professionals on the frontline and in the contact testing and tracing and the other measures that have been put in place.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Was the New South Wales Government wrong in waiting for so long for that lockdown?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
I think Gladys Berejiklian has been a stand-out, strong performer throughout this crisis and she has taken the health advice and acted as quickly as necessary.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
And do you think she should have taken the lockdown sooner?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well, again, she was taking the actions based on the medical advice and I’ll back her judgment to do that.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Will you back the medical advice?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Always backing the medical advice that has been provided to the Government. That is why we have acted the way that we did with our early border closures and that is why we have taken the advice with respect to the vaccine rollout as well and prevented its distribution to certain cohorts with the AstraZeneca vaccine. Again, we are not medical experts, we rely on the medical experts.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Okay the latest polls out this morning and looks like ScoMo's approval rating goes up when he is quarantine. Any truth to the rumour that you are looking to keep him isolated for as long as humanly possible, Josh?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
I spoke to him last night and he is looking forward to getting out of quarantine.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
With respect, you are not answering the question, Treasurer.
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
Well Karl, I think he's getting work done there. But I would welcome him out of quarantine when he's finished his 14 days.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
What sort of work is he getting done?
JOSH FRYDENBERG:
He is having meetings all the time, including a meeting today of the National Security Committee of Cabinet.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Alright. Good to talk with you Josh, thank you.