SUBJECTS: COVID outbreaks and restrictions around Australia; vaccine rollout; Doherty modelling; vaccinating young children.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: Yesterday, Labor announced, on the 70th anniversary of the ANZUS Treaty, our position that upon coming into government we would initiate a Defence Force Posture Review. What we need to do is to recognise that the world has changed, including, of course, in our region, and that last year's Strategic Update warned that the rapidly changing circumstances of our region showed that a 10-year strategic warning time for a major conventional attack against Australia is no longer an appropriate basis for defence planning. And that's why Labor will initiate this review. It will be the first one since 2012. And the last time there was a review during that was when President Obama and Prime Minister Gillard agreed for the stationing of US Marines in Darwin. It is timely now that the Biden Administration is itself having such a review for Australia to also do that, as attention focuses on the Indo-Pacific. And yesterday was a timely reminder of showing us the importance of the ANZUS Treaty of the Alliance for Australia. Happy to take questions.

JOURNALIST: Annastacia Palaszczuk said yesterday that she would effectively keep her border closed until children under the age of 12 are vaccinated. Employment Minister Stuart Robert says if she sticks to that plan, it’ll mean economic Armageddon for Queensland. (Inaudible).

ALBANESE: Well, I support the national plan. And what the national plan provides for is for a reduction in restrictions upon achieving the 70 per cent and 80 per cent full vaccination rates. Now, there is also a case that the Prime Minister and the Government need to outline what the plan is to vaccinate 12- to 15-year olds, and whether those numbers should be included as part of those targets. Labor has said that is a matter for the National Cabinet, although we are in favour of it. But that is a decision for the National Cabinet to consider as the national plan is adjusted going forward. But at the moment, there aren't vaccines that have been approved for those people under 12. And we do need to open up when it is safe to do so. 

JOURNALIST: So is Annastacia Palaszczuk scaremongering when she talks about the risks to children under the age of 12?

ALBANESE: Look, parents are very worried about their children. Parents are worried about home-schooling in states that are locked down. In states that aren't locked down, they're worried about the impact that this disease could have. And that's why it's important that 12- to 15-year olds be fully vaccinated. But we need to follow the health advice.

JOURNALIST: But she's talking about under-12s in this scenario. So is she scaremongering?

ALBANESE: We need to ensure that we follow the advice. Federal Labor has been very clear. We support the national plan. All these matters will be a matter, I'm sure, for debate going forward, but at the moment what's been approved is the vaccine for 12- to 15-year olds. 

JOURNALIST: So do you think her plan to keep the state closed, do you think that is reasonable? And do you recognise that it will have a major economic impact on the state?

ALBANESE: I support the national plan. And the reason why there are lockdowns right now are two reasons. Because this Federal Government failed to roll out the vaccine effectively. They failed to get the supply of vaccines that were necessary, to order enough vaccines early enough. And it also failed when it came to national quarantine. Thanks very much.

ENDS