24th Jun 2021, 1:58 PM – Senate Covid-19 Disaster Payment (Funding Arrangements) Bill 2021 - Second Reading - Quarantine and vaccine rollout

The majority voted against an amendment to the usual second reading motion "that the bill be read a second time", which is parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill. It was introduced by Queensland Senator Murray Watt (Labor).

Amendment text

At the end of the motion, add: ", but the Senate:

(a) notes the Government has:

(i) catastrophically failed to address outbreaks in hotel quarantine, which has led to extended lockdowns in states across Australia,

(ii) botched the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, which has left all Australians, but particularly aged care workers, vulnerable, and

(iii) failed to ensure that workers and businesses received the support needed in the recent Victorian lockdown,

(b) further notes this bill may not have been necessary, if not for the Government's failure on quarantine and vaccines, both national responsibilities; and

(c) calls on the Government to:

(i) build dedicated quarantine facilities and expand existing facilities in every state and territory,

(ii) fix the vaccine rollout and expand mobile and mass vaccination clinics,

(iii) start a mass public information campaign to encourage people to get vaccinated, and

(iv) begin manufacturing mRNA vaccines right here in Australia".