4 October 2021
Federal Labor MP Julie Collins has today continued Labor’s negative campaign to talk down Tasmania’s vaccination rates by insisting that Tasmanians need to be offered cash to get the jab.
Liberal Senator for Tasmania Jonno Duniam said Labor’s plan was a wasteful proposal not backed by evidence, and commended Tasmanians for going out and getting vaccinated.
“Frankly I think it is a bit insulting to the thousands of Tasmanians who have already gone out and received the jab to now say that everyone who has had one by December gets a pocketful of cash,” Senator Duniam said.
“Over 77 per cent of Tasmanians have already rolled up their sleeves to get their first dose, and those numbers are increasing every day.
“Those Tasmanians didn’t need a cash incentive to know that getting vaccinated is the right thing to do to protect themselves, their friends and family, and their fellow Tasmanians.
“Research shows that financial incentives are unnecessary and Labor’s plan would cost the tax payer billions of dollars.
“My focus remains on encouraging Tasmanians to get vaccinated so that we can open the borders, welcome visitors back to our state, and get our tourism industry back up and firing.
“I encourage Julie Collins and her Tasmanian Labor counterparts to do the same.”