Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has used an address at the National Press Club in Canberra to outline the hits and misses of his government in what will be an election year.
In discussing the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the prime minister conceded that he did not “get everything right.”
“I’ll take my fair share of the criticism and the blame. It goes with the job,” he told attendees in Canberra on Feb. 1.
“In these times we’ve experienced, there’s been no guidebook, you have to make decisions in real-time. With hindsight, views do change, and lessons are learned. Lessons that will continue to be invaluable to me and so many of my team are here with me today.”
He touted Australia’s response to the pandemic and the strength of the health system.
“Our health response has ensured that our health and the aged care system has stood up to the global pandemic where, in so many other countries we know around the world, it collapsed,” he said.
Morrison said more than 40,000 lives had been saved in Australia due to the COVID-19 response of the government.
“The government is also delivering 10 million rapid antigen tests to support state and territory clinics, and in our own area of responsibility, around 8 million tests have already been provided to aged care facilities.”
When questioned on providing rapid antigen tests for free, Morrison responded by saying “you can’t pay for everything, because it all has to be paid for.”
“They’re very hard choices and you make them every day in a pandemic,” he said.
“Not saying yes to everybody and telling them everything that they want to hear – saying one thing to them in one part of the country and another thing in another part of the country. You don’t get that from me,” he said in a veiled reference to federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese.
Morrison also said voters would look towards the political party that could manage the economy and keep the cost of living low.
“They’ll be saying, ‘Who has the economic plan and economic experience to ensure that I can stay in my job and my business can succeed. That can get electricity prices under control and bring them down. That will best support me in saving for my retirement. That will ensure that my kids are getting those skills training like those record apprentices and trade training that we’ve been able to put in place.’”
As part of his speech, the prime minister unveiled an $800 (US$564) cash handout to aged care workers in order to help the industry keep workers. He also revealed an AU$1.6 billion (US$1.1 billion) “economic accelerator” program to help commercialise Australian research.
