Scott Morrison promises vaccines for all in 2021, as Anthony Albanese calls for sped-up rollout

Scott Morrison has pledged every Australian will be able to get a coronavirus vaccine in his New Years message, as Labor pressure him to speed up the rollout of anti-COVID jabs.

Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese bump elbows at the conclusion of Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House on December 10 this year. Picture: Getty Images

Scott Morrison says every Australian will be able to get a coronavirus vaccine this year in his New Year’s message, as Labor pressures him to speed up the rollout of anti-COVID jabs.

Anthony Albanese has started 2021 on an election-ready attack footing, calling on the government to roll out a vaccine the moment it is approved and hitting out at New Year’s Day cuts to the rate of JobKeeper wage subsidies and JobSeeker welfare benefits.

In his New Year’s message filmed at the Lodge, the Prime Minister put vaccinations at the heart of his message for Australians, saying the country would soon see the shoots of a health and economic recovery.

“In 2021, we must stay vigilant as we continue our comeback,” Mr Morrison said.

“A safe and effective vaccine — validated, proven by our scientists, by our doctors — will be available for all Australians and will be a key step in our recovery.

“Our economic recovery plan will continue to get even more Australians back into work and restore their livelihoods, driven by a business-led recovery.”

Later on Friday at Parliament House, Mr Morrison made it clear there would be no acceleration of vaccine approvals and rollouts, currently scheduled for March.

“There will be no short cuts. The standards must be maintained and upheld. For the vaccine to be successful, Australians need to have confidence in it,” he said in Canberra.

The Opposition Leader said in Sydney that if the Therapeutic Goods Administration approved the Pfizer vaccine near the end of this month as forecast, the government must start rolling it out straight away to deal with the recent outbreaks in Sydney and Melbourne.

“The only people undermining faith in the vaccine is those saying once it’s approved we’ll have to wait potentially till March,” Mr Albanese said.

“Surely the ongoing breakouts that we’ve seen here in Sydney show once the TGA approves a rollout, we should be rolling out as soon as possible.”

Mr Albanese also used the New Year to attack the government’s Industrial Relations Bill — calling it “WorkChoice Mark Two” — and the changes to COVID-19 economic support.

As of Friday, JobSeeker’s COVID supplement fell by $100 a fortnight and JobKeeper decreased by $200 a fortnight. Both supports are due to be phased out in March.

“The further rollback of support for the economy continues unevaded,” Mr Albanese said

“This will produce further hardship and a further hand brake on our economy.”