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QUESTION ON NOTICE

Question:

21 November 2022

257. The TGA report on the Pfizer vaccine said, “The duration of protection afforded by COMIRNATY is unknown as it is still being determined by ongoing clinical trials.” – why did the TGA say it was safe and effective if you didn’t know how effective it was going to be. See 2389-2 page 6? 258. As per Page 7 of FOI 2389-2 – given the high mortality rate in the older age group don’t you think the Covid Pfizer vaccine rollout should be stopped? To quote “The data for use in the frail elderly (>85 years) is limited. The potential benefits of vaccination versus the potential risk and clinical impact of even relatively mild systemic adverse events in the frail elderly should be carefully assessed on a case-by-case basis”

Answer:

Question Number: 251
PDR Number: SQ22-000621
Date Submitted: 21/11/2022
Department or Body: Department of Health

Question 257 The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has comprehensively evaluated each of the provisionally registered COVID-19 vaccine to ensure that they meet Australia’s high standards of safety, quality, and efficacy based on the information available at the time of application. This statement was made in the AusPARS report written in January 2021, almost two years ago, when extensive information on the duration of protection from infection or from serious illness was not well established. It would have been massively negligent in January 2021 for governments to wait until say six or 12 months or more after that date to obtain results from studies of duration of protection as many millions more globally would have died if the rollout of vaccines had been correspondingly delayed. Since that time there have been dozens of studies published in top-tier international medical journals on the duration of protection from vaccination, both from infection and serious illness and hospitalisation. Since these vaccines were granted provisional approval more than five billion people have received COVID-19 vaccines worldwide. Data on real-world use of the COVID-19 vaccines approved in Australia provides reassurance about their safety and effectiveness. This is supported by reviews of safety data by international medicines regulators in countries with extensive COVID-19 vaccine experience who have found no new safety concerns associated with the use of COVID-19 vaccines in these populations.

Question 258 Again, this statement was made at an early stage of the pandemic and much more information is now available on the benefit risk of the vaccines in those over 65. Overall, the benefits overwhelmingly outweigh the risks given that that this age group is the most susceptible to serious illness or death from SARS-Cov 2 infection. However, the decision to vaccinate very frail or elderly persons should be made on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with health care professionals, with consideration of the potential risks and benefits for the individual.

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28/11/2022

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28/11/2022

Senator RENNICK: Thanks very much. Yet again, in terms of the overall modelling, have you got a breakout of how many turbines you need, how many solar panels you need to get to 82 per cent renewables? Ms Brunoro: Again, the Integrated System Plan does provide an indication of the type of the level of renewable energy, so just bear with us a second. Mr Peisley: Sorry, I don’t think we do have that figure in front of us. We’re happy to take it on notice and get it to you. Ms Brunoro: But if it gives you a sense of it, it’s nine times the amount of the existing variable renewable energy that currently is-well, as of when the last Integrated System Plan came out, it was operating in the NEM at that point. So that gives you the quantum ofSenator RENNICK: So nine times what? Ms Brunoro: Nine times. Senator RENNICK: Yes, but what? Ms Brunoro: The variable renewable energy that is currently in the National Electricity Market. Senator RENNICK: So what’s the cost of that? Ms Brunoro: Again, Senator, it depends on the mix of technologies that you’re going to deploy. There are some figures that we can pull out for you around what they roughly think around different-solar versus wind for instance. We can actually seek to provideSenator RENNICK: So can you give me some definite costings on that? Not now, but on notice?

28/11/2022

1. According to the December 2020 update, Australia emitted 499 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent to a 5 per cent decrease on 2019. Australia’s grasslands are estimated to be 440 million hectares and native forest 147 million hectares, a total of approximately 587 hectares. It is estimated forest and grasslands absorb between 0.5 and 2 tonnes of carbon per hectare. Assuming an average of 1 tonne of CO2 absorbed by these landscapes then isn’t Australia already at net zero? 2. Can the CSIRO provide a comprehensive roadmap of the work required for Australia to meet a 43% reduction in CO2 by 2030? This roadmap should set out the length of transmission lines, the number of transmission towers, the number of solar panels (for a given wattage), the number of wind turbines (for a given wattage), the number of batteries (for a given storage), the amount of lithium, copper, cobalt, nickel, concrete, and steel etc. needed to build the aforesaid generators and storage. It will need to include the amount of land needed for solar, wind, transmission, and storage products and the biodiversity offsets. Could the amount of CO2 required to build, recycle, or dispose of the aforementioned items also be included. Likewise, could the cost of building, recycling, and disposing of the aforementioned items also be clearly outlined. Biodiversity impacts such as increased tyre wear due to heavier batteries in cars, increased breaking distance on roadkill, impact on bats and birds from transmission lines and wind turbines, and removal of native flora and fauna due to land use should also be clearly outlined. 3. If the CSIRO cannot provide, can it state which department is responsible for maintaining and tracking the roadmap and refer the question onto them? 4. Could the change in Earth’s temperature as a result of Australia undertaking the 43% reduction in CO2 measures please be stated in order to ensure appropriate benchmarking and accountability if targets are not met? 5. Could the CSIRO confirm if every country uses the same methods to calculate CO2 emission and reductions? If not, why not? What guarantees are there under the Net Zero that Australia won’t be disadvantaged as a result of signing up to the Net Zero pledge?

23/11/2022

1. Can the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water provide a comprehensive roadmap of the work required for Australia to meet a 43% reduction in CO2 by 2030. This roadmap should set out the length of transmission lines, the number of transmission towers, the number of solar panels (for a give wattage), the number of wind turbines (for a given wattage), the number of batteries (for a given storage), the amount of lithium, copper, cobalt, nickel, concrete, and steel etc. needed to build the aforesaid generators and storage. It will need to include the amount of land needed for solar, wind, transmission and storage products, and the biodiversity offsets. Could the amount of CO2 required to build, recycle, or dispose of the aforementioned items also be included? Likewise, could the cost of building, recycling, and disposing of the aforementioned items also be clearly outlined? Biodiversity impacts such as increased tyre wear due to heavier batteries in cars, increased breaking distance on roadkill, impact on bats and birds from transmission lines and wind turbines, and removal of native flora and fauna due to land use should also be clearly outlined. 2. If the Department cannot provide, can it state which department is responsible for maintaining and tracking the roadmap and refer the question onto them?

21/11/2022

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21/11/2022

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