Coronavirus Outbreak

[Cultured_Bogan]

Wow, seems that our approach to the Pfizer vaccine offer a year ago could have been even worse than I have read on elsewhere and the failure of our PM to hold a hose to make a call to fix the problem even more negligence on his part.

To read that a former PM in Kevin Rudd was called in by and accepted business leader's requests to intervene and arrange to expedite doses for our nation was disconcerting.

https://t.co/Rpn6NtzlNg?amp=1

"As a result, one very senior Australian businessman — whose identity is known to the ABC but who wishes to remain anonymous — held two meetings with senior Pfizer executives in late June, only to be rebuffed.

Senior Pfizer executives told the businessman that if Australia was to make a more serious effort, after its treatment at the hands of relatively junior bureaucrats, it would have to come from much higher up, expressing their astonishment that Prime Minister Scott Morrison had not directly spoken to the Pfizer chairman and chief executive Albert Bourla, as former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done on multiple occasions.

The executives suggested that, in the absence of Mr Morrison, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd — who was known to them because of his work in the United States as head of the New York-based Asia Society — may have some influence.

The network of businessmen contacted Mr Rudd and set up an introduction to Dr Bourla. A Zoom meeting was arranged on June 30. Mr Rudd sent a text a message to Mr Morrison to tell him he was going to make the call, making clear he would be representing himself as a concerned Australian and not in any way as an emissary from the government."


Not like Rudd to undertake a bit of political grandstanding in a public crisis.......is it?

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/kevin-rudd-claims-of-helping-australia-receive-pfizer-covid19-vaccine-quashed/news-story/54fec7a0027f715afaba1038a525940b

Still only saying that he was not involved in the "contractual" negotiations or arrangements and not denying the involvement in expediting the vaccines.


*“***All agreements*** and supply arrangements, **including dose planning** are **exclusively** made with the Federal Government, "*....Pfizer.

Pfizer statement couldnt be clearer nor is their decision to even make a statement. Disgusting grandstanding.

Of which Rudd himself said he was no envoy of the government and only representing himself. If he had have gone in and said "listen I know I cannot be involved in the contract processes but hey, if you have surplus doses floating around, it would be worth giving the government a shout to let them know so they can decide if they want them," and they do as such, what's the harm?

The only thing about that is disgusting about the situation is that it even got to the point to where for whatever his motives were that it was even possible for Rudd to even propose the meeting.

 

[Tiger5150]

Wow, seems that our approach to the Pfizer vaccine offer a year ago could have been even worse than I have read on elsewhere and the failure of our PM to hold a hose to make a call to fix the problem even more negligence on his part.

To read that a former PM in Kevin Rudd was called in by and accepted business leader's requests to intervene and arrange to expedite doses for our nation was disconcerting.

https://t.co/Rpn6NtzlNg?amp=1

"As a result, one very senior Australian businessman — whose identity is known to the ABC but who wishes to remain anonymous — held two meetings with senior Pfizer executives in late June, only to be rebuffed.

Senior Pfizer executives told the businessman that if Australia was to make a more serious effort, after its treatment at the hands of relatively junior bureaucrats, it would have to come from much higher up, expressing their astonishment that Prime Minister Scott Morrison had not directly spoken to the Pfizer chairman and chief executive Albert Bourla, as former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done on multiple occasions.

The executives suggested that, in the absence of Mr Morrison, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd — who was known to them because of his work in the United States as head of the New York-based Asia Society — may have some influence.

The network of businessmen contacted Mr Rudd and set up an introduction to Dr Bourla. A Zoom meeting was arranged on June 30. Mr Rudd sent a text a message to Mr Morrison to tell him he was going to make the call, making clear he would be representing himself as a concerned Australian and not in any way as an emissary from the government."


Not like Rudd to undertake a bit of political grandstanding in a public crisis.......is it?

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/kevin-rudd-claims-of-helping-australia-receive-pfizer-covid19-vaccine-quashed/news-story/54fec7a0027f715afaba1038a525940b

Rudd said as much himself. He said he was not involved in the contract processes or anything, ***he just met with them in order to have a chat***. He's not in any position to make any decisions on behalf of the government.

Yep, just went to have a chat, about something he knows nothing about and in a situation that he has no jurisdiction, authority or power to make anything happen, and as a result, and as Pfizer have said....nothing did happen.

Doesnt stop Rudd from letting the ABC know what he is up to and "oops" his letter gets leaked to the press. Disgusting grandstanding in the face of a genuine public crisis. Genuinely disgusts me.

My apologies, probably should be in the Politics thread but the two are heavily entwined obviously.

It was all upside. They may have said yeah no worries we'll help we will give Scomo a call, or they were going to laugh him out of there. Neither scenario puts us worse off than where we currently are.

No problem with that, unless of course you then publicise it to make political gain out of a public crisis.

>It doesn't matter anyway, everyone will spend more time putting the boot into Rudd than actually taking aim at the government for their woeful performance.

And who put Rudd in that circumstance? So getting the additional 30M Pfizer jabs announced last week would be a victorious piece of statesmanship if Rudd can take credit for it, or continued poor performance of the Govt if he cant?


Business leaders obviously thought it was worth a shot to be involved in it. Probably sick of losing money due to the slow rollout.

Exactly what business other than self promotion is K Rudd a "leader" in?

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Wow, seems that our approach to the Pfizer vaccine offer a year ago could have been even worse than I have read on elsewhere and the failure of our PM to hold a hose to make a call to fix the problem even more negligence on his part.

To read that a former PM in Kevin Rudd was called in by and accepted business leader's requests to intervene and arrange to expedite doses for our nation was disconcerting.

https://t.co/Rpn6NtzlNg?amp=1

"As a result, one very senior Australian businessman — whose identity is known to the ABC but who wishes to remain anonymous — held two meetings with senior Pfizer executives in late June, only to be rebuffed.

Senior Pfizer executives told the businessman that if Australia was to make a more serious effort, after its treatment at the hands of relatively junior bureaucrats, it would have to come from much higher up, expressing their astonishment that Prime Minister Scott Morrison had not directly spoken to the Pfizer chairman and chief executive Albert Bourla, as former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done on multiple occasions.

The executives suggested that, in the absence of Mr Morrison, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd — who was known to them because of his work in the United States as head of the New York-based Asia Society — may have some influence.

The network of businessmen contacted Mr Rudd and set up an introduction to Dr Bourla. A Zoom meeting was arranged on June 30. Mr Rudd sent a text a message to Mr Morrison to tell him he was going to make the call, making clear he would be representing himself as a concerned Australian and not in any way as an emissary from the government."


Not like Rudd to undertake a bit of political grandstanding in a public crisis.......is it?

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/kevin-rudd-claims-of-helping-australia-receive-pfizer-covid19-vaccine-quashed/news-story/54fec7a0027f715afaba1038a525940b

Rudd said as much himself. He said he was not involved in the contract processes or anything, ***he just met with them in order to have a chat***. He's not in any position to make any decisions on behalf of the government.

Yep, just went to have a chat, about something he knows nothing about and in a situation that he has no jurisdiction, authority or power to make anything happen, and as a result, and as Pfizer have said....nothing did happen.

Doesnt stop Rudd from letting the ABC know what he is up to and "oops" his letter gets leaked to the press. Disgusting grandstanding in the face of a genuine public crisis. Genuinely disgusts me.

My apologies, probably should be in the Politics thread but the two are heavily entwined obviously.

It was all upside. They may have said yeah no worries we'll help we will give Scomo a call, or they were going to laugh him out of there. Neither scenario puts us worse off than where we currently are.

No problem with that, unless of course you then publicise it to make political gain out of a public crisis.

>It doesn't matter anyway, everyone will spend more time putting the boot into Rudd than actually taking aim at the government for their woeful performance.

And who put Rudd in that circumstance? So getting the additional 30M Pfizer jabs announced last week would be a victorious piece of statesmanship if Rudd can take credit for it, or continued poor performance of the Govt if he cant?


Business leaders obviously thought it was worth a shot to be involved in it. Probably sick of losing money due to the slow rollout.

Exactly what business other than self promotion is K Rudd a "leader" in?

I care little for what the machinations are behind securing doses. If they have secured the doses and can make up for lost time, then it's a reasonable outcome. The story is not Rudd racing over there of his own accord, he was engaged to do so. If it was really about inflating his ego, he would have done it without prompting.

You appear more outraged at this than the actual piss poor performance of the vaccine rollout.

 

[Tiger5150]

Wow, seems that our approach to the Pfizer vaccine offer a year ago could have been even worse than I have read on elsewhere and the failure of our PM to hold a hose to make a call to fix the problem even more negligence on his part.

To read that a former PM in Kevin Rudd was called in by and accepted business leader's requests to intervene and arrange to expedite doses for our nation was disconcerting.

https://t.co/Rpn6NtzlNg?amp=1

"As a result, one very senior Australian businessman — whose identity is known to the ABC but who wishes to remain anonymous — held two meetings with senior Pfizer executives in late June, only to be rebuffed.

Senior Pfizer executives told the businessman that if Australia was to make a more serious effort, after its treatment at the hands of relatively junior bureaucrats, it would have to come from much higher up, expressing their astonishment that Prime Minister Scott Morrison had not directly spoken to the Pfizer chairman and chief executive Albert Bourla, as former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done on multiple occasions.

The executives suggested that, in the absence of Mr Morrison, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd — who was known to them because of his work in the United States as head of the New York-based Asia Society — may have some influence.

The network of businessmen contacted Mr Rudd and set up an introduction to Dr Bourla. A Zoom meeting was arranged on June 30. Mr Rudd sent a text a message to Mr Morrison to tell him he was going to make the call, making clear he would be representing himself as a concerned Australian and not in any way as an emissary from the government."


Not like Rudd to undertake a bit of political grandstanding in a public crisis.......is it?

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/kevin-rudd-claims-of-helping-australia-receive-pfizer-covid19-vaccine-quashed/news-story/54fec7a0027f715afaba1038a525940b

Still only saying that he was not involved in the "contractual" negotiations or arrangements and not denying the involvement in expediting the vaccines.


*“***All agreements*** and supply arrangements, **including dose planning** are **exclusively** made with the Federal Government, "*....Pfizer.

Pfizer statement couldnt be clearer nor is their decision to even make a statement. Disgusting grandstanding.

Of which Rudd himself said he was no envoy of the government and only representing himself. ***If he had have gone in and said "listen I know I cannot be involved in the contract processes but hey, if you have surplus doses floating around, it would be worth giving the government a shout to let them know so they can decide if they want them,"*** and they do as such, what's the harm?

You do realise that there is no evidence that points to that and it is literally jut something in your head?

If you had read the article after where Pfizer stated that Rudd had no effect, the article says...

*"“The Minister has met with Pfizer Australia country head Anne Harris on multiple occasions with a view to the announcement Friday on the time frame achieved and at the level we had hoped for, which was the maximum Pfizer had indicated might be available,”*

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Wow, seems that our approach to the Pfizer vaccine offer a year ago could have been even worse than I have read on elsewhere and the failure of our PM to hold a hose to make a call to fix the problem even more negligence on his part.

To read that a former PM in Kevin Rudd was called in by and accepted business leader's requests to intervene and arrange to expedite doses for our nation was disconcerting.

https://t.co/Rpn6NtzlNg?amp=1

"As a result, one very senior Australian businessman — whose identity is known to the ABC but who wishes to remain anonymous — held two meetings with senior Pfizer executives in late June, only to be rebuffed.

Senior Pfizer executives told the businessman that if Australia was to make a more serious effort, after its treatment at the hands of relatively junior bureaucrats, it would have to come from much higher up, expressing their astonishment that Prime Minister Scott Morrison had not directly spoken to the Pfizer chairman and chief executive Albert Bourla, as former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done on multiple occasions.

The executives suggested that, in the absence of Mr Morrison, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd — who was known to them because of his work in the United States as head of the New York-based Asia Society — may have some influence.

The network of businessmen contacted Mr Rudd and set up an introduction to Dr Bourla. A Zoom meeting was arranged on June 30. Mr Rudd sent a text a message to Mr Morrison to tell him he was going to make the call, making clear he would be representing himself as a concerned Australian and not in any way as an emissary from the government."


Not like Rudd to undertake a bit of political grandstanding in a public crisis.......is it?

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/kevin-rudd-claims-of-helping-australia-receive-pfizer-covid19-vaccine-quashed/news-story/54fec7a0027f715afaba1038a525940b

Still only saying that he was not involved in the "contractual" negotiations or arrangements and not denying the involvement in expediting the vaccines.


*“***All agreements*** and supply arrangements, **including dose planning** are **exclusively** made with the Federal Government, "*....Pfizer.

Pfizer statement couldnt be clearer nor is their decision to even make a statement. Disgusting grandstanding.

Of which Rudd himself said he was no envoy of the government and only representing himself. ***If he had have gone in and said "listen I know I cannot be involved in the contract processes but hey, if you have surplus doses floating around, it would be worth giving the government a shout to let them know so they can decide if they want them,"*** and they do as such, what's the harm?


You do realise that there is no evidence that points to that and it is literally jut something in your head?

If you had read the article after where Pfizer stated that Rudd had no effect, the article says...

*"“The Minister has met with Pfizer Australia country head Anne Harris on multiple occasions with a view to the announcement Friday on the time frame achieved and at the level we had hoped for, which was the maximum Pfizer had indicated might be available,”*

I am aware, that's why it was qualified with an "IF."

I have no idea what was said or what the indirect or direct outcomes were.

Continue the manufactured outrage. You're angry at the wrong issue.

 

[Tiger5150]

Wow, seems that our approach to the Pfizer vaccine offer a year ago could have been even worse than I have read on elsewhere and the failure of our PM to hold a hose to make a call to fix the problem even more negligence on his part.

To read that a former PM in Kevin Rudd was called in by and accepted business leader's requests to intervene and arrange to expedite doses for our nation was disconcerting.

https://t.co/Rpn6NtzlNg?amp=1

"As a result, one very senior Australian businessman — whose identity is known to the ABC but who wishes to remain anonymous — held two meetings with senior Pfizer executives in late June, only to be rebuffed.

Senior Pfizer executives told the businessman that if Australia was to make a more serious effort, after its treatment at the hands of relatively junior bureaucrats, it would have to come from much higher up, expressing their astonishment that Prime Minister Scott Morrison had not directly spoken to the Pfizer chairman and chief executive Albert Bourla, as former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done on multiple occasions.

The executives suggested that, in the absence of Mr Morrison, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd — who was known to them because of his work in the United States as head of the New York-based Asia Society — may have some influence.

The network of businessmen contacted Mr Rudd and set up an introduction to Dr Bourla. A Zoom meeting was arranged on June 30. Mr Rudd sent a text a message to Mr Morrison to tell him he was going to make the call, making clear he would be representing himself as a concerned Australian and not in any way as an emissary from the government."


Not like Rudd to undertake a bit of political grandstanding in a public crisis.......is it?

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/kevin-rudd-claims-of-helping-australia-receive-pfizer-covid19-vaccine-quashed/news-story/54fec7a0027f715afaba1038a525940b

Rudd said as much himself. He said he was not involved in the contract processes or anything, ***he just met with them in order to have a chat***. He's not in any position to make any decisions on behalf of the government.

Yep, just went to have a chat, about something he knows nothing about and in a situation that he has no jurisdiction, authority or power to make anything happen, and as a result, and as Pfizer have said....nothing did happen.

Doesnt stop Rudd from letting the ABC know what he is up to and "oops" his letter gets leaked to the press. Disgusting grandstanding in the face of a genuine public crisis. Genuinely disgusts me.

My apologies, probably should be in the Politics thread but the two are heavily entwined obviously.

It was all upside. They may have said yeah no worries we'll help we will give Scomo a call, or they were going to laugh him out of there. Neither scenario puts us worse off than where we currently are.

No problem with that, unless of course you then publicise it to make political gain out of a public crisis.

>It doesn't matter anyway, everyone will spend more time putting the boot into Rudd than actually taking aim at the government for their woeful performance.

And who put Rudd in that circumstance? So getting the additional 30M Pfizer jabs announced last week would be a victorious piece of statesmanship if Rudd can take credit for it, or continued poor performance of the Govt if he cant?


Business leaders obviously thought it was worth a shot to be involved in it. Probably sick of losing money due to the slow rollout.

Exactly what business other than self promotion is K Rudd a "leader" in?

I care little for what the machinations are behind securing doses. ***If they have secured the doses and can make up for lost time, then it's a reasonable outcome.***

You realise that it was the Govt that secured the extra doses and made up for lost time?

I think its hilarious that certain people would stand and cheer an outcome if there is any possibility (real or imagined) that Rudd made it happen, but in the same breath bash the Govt when in fact it was the Govt that instigated the outcome.

>The story is not Rudd racing over there of his own accord, he was engaged to do so. If it was really about inflating his ego, he would have done it without prompting.

Everything Rudd does is about inflating his ego.

You appear more outraged at this than the actual piss poor performance of the vaccine rollout.

Weak people taking advantage of others suffering for their own self promotion and political gain really rubs me up the wrong way, It is what it is.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Wow, seems that our approach to the Pfizer vaccine offer a year ago could have been even worse than I have read on elsewhere and the failure of our PM to hold a hose to make a call to fix the problem even more negligence on his part.

To read that a former PM in Kevin Rudd was called in by and accepted business leader's requests to intervene and arrange to expedite doses for our nation was disconcerting.

https://t.co/Rpn6NtzlNg?amp=1

"As a result, one very senior Australian businessman — whose identity is known to the ABC but who wishes to remain anonymous — held two meetings with senior Pfizer executives in late June, only to be rebuffed.

Senior Pfizer executives told the businessman that if Australia was to make a more serious effort, after its treatment at the hands of relatively junior bureaucrats, it would have to come from much higher up, expressing their astonishment that Prime Minister Scott Morrison had not directly spoken to the Pfizer chairman and chief executive Albert Bourla, as former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done on multiple occasions.

The executives suggested that, in the absence of Mr Morrison, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd — who was known to them because of his work in the United States as head of the New York-based Asia Society — may have some influence.

The network of businessmen contacted Mr Rudd and set up an introduction to Dr Bourla. A Zoom meeting was arranged on June 30. Mr Rudd sent a text a message to Mr Morrison to tell him he was going to make the call, making clear he would be representing himself as a concerned Australian and not in any way as an emissary from the government."


Not like Rudd to undertake a bit of political grandstanding in a public crisis.......is it?

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/kevin-rudd-claims-of-helping-australia-receive-pfizer-covid19-vaccine-quashed/news-story/54fec7a0027f715afaba1038a525940b

Rudd said as much himself. He said he was not involved in the contract processes or anything, ***he just met with them in order to have a chat***. He's not in any position to make any decisions on behalf of the government.

Yep, just went to have a chat, about something he knows nothing about and in a situation that he has no jurisdiction, authority or power to make anything happen, and as a result, and as Pfizer have said....nothing did happen.

Doesnt stop Rudd from letting the ABC know what he is up to and "oops" his letter gets leaked to the press. Disgusting grandstanding in the face of a genuine public crisis. Genuinely disgusts me.

My apologies, probably should be in the Politics thread but the two are heavily entwined obviously.

It was all upside. They may have said yeah no worries we'll help we will give Scomo a call, or they were going to laugh him out of there. Neither scenario puts us worse off than where we currently are.

No problem with that, unless of course you then publicise it to make political gain out of a public crisis.

>It doesn't matter anyway, everyone will spend more time putting the boot into Rudd than actually taking aim at the government for their woeful performance.

And who put Rudd in that circumstance? So getting the additional 30M Pfizer jabs announced last week would be a victorious piece of statesmanship if Rudd can take credit for it, or continued poor performance of the Govt if he cant?


Business leaders obviously thought it was worth a shot to be involved in it. Probably sick of losing money due to the slow rollout.

Exactly what business other than self promotion is K Rudd a "leader" in?

I care little for what the machinations are behind securing doses. ***If they have secured the doses and can make up for lost time, then it's a reasonable outcome.***

You realise that it was the Govt that secured the extra doses and made up for lost time?

I think its hilarious that certain people would stand and cheer an outcome if there is any possibility (real or imagined) that Rudd made it happen, but in the same breath bash the Govt when in fact it was the Govt that instigated the outcome.

>The story is not Rudd racing over there of his own accord, he was engaged to do so. If it was really about inflating his ego, he would have done it without prompting.

Everything Rudd does is about inflating his ego.

You appear more outraged at this than the actual piss poor performance of the vaccine rollout.

***Weak people taking advantage of others suffering for their own self promotion and political gain really rubs me up the wrong way, It is what it is.***

Jeez, you must hate Scott Morrison then.

 

[Tiger5150]

Wow, seems that our approach to the Pfizer vaccine offer a year ago could have been even worse than I have read on elsewhere and the failure of our PM to hold a hose to make a call to fix the problem even more negligence on his part.

To read that a former PM in Kevin Rudd was called in by and accepted business leader's requests to intervene and arrange to expedite doses for our nation was disconcerting.

https://t.co/Rpn6NtzlNg?amp=1

"As a result, one very senior Australian businessman — whose identity is known to the ABC but who wishes to remain anonymous — held two meetings with senior Pfizer executives in late June, only to be rebuffed.

Senior Pfizer executives told the businessman that if Australia was to make a more serious effort, after its treatment at the hands of relatively junior bureaucrats, it would have to come from much higher up, expressing their astonishment that Prime Minister Scott Morrison had not directly spoken to the Pfizer chairman and chief executive Albert Bourla, as former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done on multiple occasions.

The executives suggested that, in the absence of Mr Morrison, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd — who was known to them because of his work in the United States as head of the New York-based Asia Society — may have some influence.

The network of businessmen contacted Mr Rudd and set up an introduction to Dr Bourla. A Zoom meeting was arranged on June 30. Mr Rudd sent a text a message to Mr Morrison to tell him he was going to make the call, making clear he would be representing himself as a concerned Australian and not in any way as an emissary from the government."


Not like Rudd to undertake a bit of political grandstanding in a public crisis.......is it?

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/kevin-rudd-claims-of-helping-australia-receive-pfizer-covid19-vaccine-quashed/news-story/54fec7a0027f715afaba1038a525940b

Still only saying that he was not involved in the "contractual" negotiations or arrangements and not denying the involvement in expediting the vaccines.


*“***All agreements*** and supply arrangements, **including dose planning** are **exclusively** made with the Federal Government, "*....Pfizer.

Pfizer statement couldnt be clearer nor is their decision to even make a statement. Disgusting grandstanding.

Of which Rudd himself said he was no envoy of the government and only representing himself. ***If he had have gone in and said "listen I know I cannot be involved in the contract processes but hey, if you have surplus doses floating around, it would be worth giving the government a shout to let them know so they can decide if they want them,"*** and they do as such, what's the harm?


You do realise that there is no evidence that points to that and it is literally jut something in your head?

If you had read the article after where Pfizer stated that Rudd had no effect, the article says...

*"“The Minister has met with Pfizer Australia country head Anne Harris on multiple occasions with a view to the announcement Friday on the time frame achieved and at the level we had hoped for, which was the maximum Pfizer had indicated might be available,”*

I am aware, that's why it was qualified with an "IF."

I have no idea what was said or what the indirect or direct outcomes were.

Continue the manufactured outrage. You're angry at the wrong issue.

Mate I can multi task.

 

[Tiger5150]

Wow, seems that our approach to the Pfizer vaccine offer a year ago could have been even worse than I have read on elsewhere and the failure of our PM to hold a hose to make a call to fix the problem even more negligence on his part.

To read that a former PM in Kevin Rudd was called in by and accepted business leader's requests to intervene and arrange to expedite doses for our nation was disconcerting.

https://t.co/Rpn6NtzlNg?amp=1

"As a result, one very senior Australian businessman — whose identity is known to the ABC but who wishes to remain anonymous — held two meetings with senior Pfizer executives in late June, only to be rebuffed.

Senior Pfizer executives told the businessman that if Australia was to make a more serious effort, after its treatment at the hands of relatively junior bureaucrats, it would have to come from much higher up, expressing their astonishment that Prime Minister Scott Morrison had not directly spoken to the Pfizer chairman and chief executive Albert Bourla, as former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done on multiple occasions.

The executives suggested that, in the absence of Mr Morrison, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd — who was known to them because of his work in the United States as head of the New York-based Asia Society — may have some influence.

The network of businessmen contacted Mr Rudd and set up an introduction to Dr Bourla. A Zoom meeting was arranged on June 30. Mr Rudd sent a text a message to Mr Morrison to tell him he was going to make the call, making clear he would be representing himself as a concerned Australian and not in any way as an emissary from the government."


Not like Rudd to undertake a bit of political grandstanding in a public crisis.......is it?

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/kevin-rudd-claims-of-helping-australia-receive-pfizer-covid19-vaccine-quashed/news-story/54fec7a0027f715afaba1038a525940b

Rudd said as much himself. He said he was not involved in the contract processes or anything, ***he just met with them in order to have a chat***. He's not in any position to make any decisions on behalf of the government.

Yep, just went to have a chat, about something he knows nothing about and in a situation that he has no jurisdiction, authority or power to make anything happen, and as a result, and as Pfizer have said....nothing did happen.

Doesnt stop Rudd from letting the ABC know what he is up to and "oops" his letter gets leaked to the press. Disgusting grandstanding in the face of a genuine public crisis. Genuinely disgusts me.

My apologies, probably should be in the Politics thread but the two are heavily entwined obviously.

It was all upside. They may have said yeah no worries we'll help we will give Scomo a call, or they were going to laugh him out of there. Neither scenario puts us worse off than where we currently are.

No problem with that, unless of course you then publicise it to make political gain out of a public crisis.

>It doesn't matter anyway, everyone will spend more time putting the boot into Rudd than actually taking aim at the government for their woeful performance.

And who put Rudd in that circumstance? So getting the additional 30M Pfizer jabs announced last week would be a victorious piece of statesmanship if Rudd can take credit for it, or continued poor performance of the Govt if he cant?


Business leaders obviously thought it was worth a shot to be involved in it. Probably sick of losing money due to the slow rollout.

Exactly what business other than self promotion is K Rudd a "leader" in?

I care little for what the machinations are behind securing doses. ***If they have secured the doses and can make up for lost time, then it's a reasonable outcome.***

You realise that it was the Govt that secured the extra doses and made up for lost time?

I think its hilarious that certain people would stand and cheer an outcome if there is any possibility (real or imagined) that Rudd made it happen, but in the same breath bash the Govt when in fact it was the Govt that instigated the outcome.

>The story is not Rudd racing over there of his own accord, he was engaged to do so. If it was really about inflating his ego, he would have done it without prompting.

Everything Rudd does is about inflating his ego.

You appear more outraged at this than the actual piss poor performance of the vaccine rollout.

***Weak people taking advantage of others suffering for their own self promotion and political gain really rubs me up the wrong way, It is what it is.***

Jeez, you must hate Scott Morrison then.

Not a big fan.

Im also not completely binary when it comes to politics like many here where if "their" team does it, its good, if the other team does it is bad.

EDIT: THis isnt the politics thread

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Wow, seems that our approach to the Pfizer vaccine offer a year ago could have been even worse than I have read on elsewhere and the failure of our PM to hold a hose to make a call to fix the problem even more negligence on his part.

To read that a former PM in Kevin Rudd was called in by and accepted business leader's requests to intervene and arrange to expedite doses for our nation was disconcerting.

https://t.co/Rpn6NtzlNg?amp=1

"As a result, one very senior Australian businessman — whose identity is known to the ABC but who wishes to remain anonymous — held two meetings with senior Pfizer executives in late June, only to be rebuffed.

Senior Pfizer executives told the businessman that if Australia was to make a more serious effort, after its treatment at the hands of relatively junior bureaucrats, it would have to come from much higher up, expressing their astonishment that Prime Minister Scott Morrison had not directly spoken to the Pfizer chairman and chief executive Albert Bourla, as former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done on multiple occasions.

The executives suggested that, in the absence of Mr Morrison, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd — who was known to them because of his work in the United States as head of the New York-based Asia Society — may have some influence.

The network of businessmen contacted Mr Rudd and set up an introduction to Dr Bourla. A Zoom meeting was arranged on June 30. Mr Rudd sent a text a message to Mr Morrison to tell him he was going to make the call, making clear he would be representing himself as a concerned Australian and not in any way as an emissary from the government."


Not like Rudd to undertake a bit of political grandstanding in a public crisis.......is it?

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/kevin-rudd-claims-of-helping-australia-receive-pfizer-covid19-vaccine-quashed/news-story/54fec7a0027f715afaba1038a525940b

Rudd said as much himself. He said he was not involved in the contract processes or anything, ***he just met with them in order to have a chat***. He's not in any position to make any decisions on behalf of the government.

Yep, just went to have a chat, about something he knows nothing about and in a situation that he has no jurisdiction, authority or power to make anything happen, and as a result, and as Pfizer have said....nothing did happen.

Doesnt stop Rudd from letting the ABC know what he is up to and "oops" his letter gets leaked to the press. Disgusting grandstanding in the face of a genuine public crisis. Genuinely disgusts me.

My apologies, probably should be in the Politics thread but the two are heavily entwined obviously.

It was all upside. They may have said yeah no worries we'll help we will give Scomo a call, or they were going to laugh him out of there. Neither scenario puts us worse off than where we currently are.

No problem with that, unless of course you then publicise it to make political gain out of a public crisis.

>It doesn't matter anyway, everyone will spend more time putting the boot into Rudd than actually taking aim at the government for their woeful performance.

And who put Rudd in that circumstance? So getting the additional 30M Pfizer jabs announced last week would be a victorious piece of statesmanship if Rudd can take credit for it, or continued poor performance of the Govt if he cant?


Business leaders obviously thought it was worth a shot to be involved in it. Probably sick of losing money due to the slow rollout.

Exactly what business other than self promotion is K Rudd a "leader" in?

I care little for what the machinations are behind securing doses. ***If they have secured the doses and can make up for lost time, then it's a reasonable outcome.***

You realise that it was the Govt that secured the extra doses and made up for lost time?

I think its hilarious that certain people would stand and cheer an outcome if there is any possibility (real or imagined) that Rudd made it happen, but in the same breath bash the Govt when in fact it was the Govt that instigated the outcome.

>The story is not Rudd racing over there of his own accord, he was engaged to do so. If it was really about inflating his ego, he would have done it without prompting.

Everything Rudd does is about inflating his ego.

You appear more outraged at this than the actual piss poor performance of the vaccine rollout.

***Weak people taking advantage of others suffering for their own self promotion and political gain really rubs me up the wrong way, It is what it is.***

Jeez, you must hate Scott Morrison then.


Not a big fan.

Im also not completely binary when it comes to politics like many here where if "their" team does it, its good, if the other team does it is bad.

EDIT: THis isnt the politics thread

Mate I would be hammering the ALP if they performed like this. I would also have the same view if it was Toned Abs rather than Rudd talking to Pfizer.

But yes, we are on a tangent.

 

[Tim Sheens]

Wow, seems that our approach to the Pfizer vaccine offer a year ago could have been even worse than I have read on elsewhere and the failure of our PM to hold a hose to make a call to fix the problem even more negligence on his part.

To read that a former PM in Kevin Rudd was called in by and accepted business leader's requests to intervene and arrange to expedite doses for our nation was disconcerting.

https://t.co/Rpn6NtzlNg?amp=1

"As a result, one very senior Australian businessman — whose identity is known to the ABC but who wishes to remain anonymous — held two meetings with senior Pfizer executives in late June, only to be rebuffed.

Senior Pfizer executives told the businessman that if Australia was to make a more serious effort, after its treatment at the hands of relatively junior bureaucrats, it would have to come from much higher up, expressing their astonishment that Prime Minister Scott Morrison had not directly spoken to the Pfizer chairman and chief executive Albert Bourla, as former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done on multiple occasions.

The executives suggested that, in the absence of Mr Morrison, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd — who was known to them because of his work in the United States as head of the New York-based Asia Society — may have some influence.

The network of businessmen contacted Mr Rudd and set up an introduction to Dr Bourla. A Zoom meeting was arranged on June 30. Mr Rudd sent a text a message to Mr Morrison to tell him he was going to make the call, making clear he would be representing himself as a concerned Australian and not in any way as an emissary from the government."


Not like Rudd to undertake a bit of political grandstanding in a public crisis.......is it?

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/kevin-rudd-claims-of-helping-australia-receive-pfizer-covid19-vaccine-quashed/news-story/54fec7a0027f715afaba1038a525940b

Still only saying that he was not involved in the "contractual" negotiations or arrangements and not denying the involvement in expediting the vaccines.


*“***All agreements*** and supply arrangements, **including dose planning** are **exclusively** made with the Federal Government, "*....Pfizer.

Pfizer statement couldnt be clearer nor is their decision to even make a statement. Disgusting grandstanding.

Of course they are, nobody has mentioned otherwise.

Doesn't mean there was any grandstanding, nor change that our PM made some 55 phone calls to secure Cormann an OECD position, but not one to Pfizer.

 

[Tiger5150]

Wow, seems that our approach to the Pfizer vaccine offer a year ago could have been even worse than I have read on elsewhere and the failure of our PM to hold a hose to make a call to fix the problem even more negligence on his part.

To read that a former PM in Kevin Rudd was called in by and accepted business leader's requests to intervene and arrange to expedite doses for our nation was disconcerting.

https://t.co/Rpn6NtzlNg?amp=1

"As a result, one very senior Australian businessman — whose identity is known to the ABC but who wishes to remain anonymous — held two meetings with senior Pfizer executives in late June, only to be rebuffed.

Senior Pfizer executives told the businessman that if Australia was to make a more serious effort, after its treatment at the hands of relatively junior bureaucrats, it would have to come from much higher up, expressing their astonishment that Prime Minister Scott Morrison had not directly spoken to the Pfizer chairman and chief executive Albert Bourla, as former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done on multiple occasions.

The executives suggested that, in the absence of Mr Morrison, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd — who was known to them because of his work in the United States as head of the New York-based Asia Society — may have some influence.

The network of businessmen contacted Mr Rudd and set up an introduction to Dr Bourla. A Zoom meeting was arranged on June 30. Mr Rudd sent a text a message to Mr Morrison to tell him he was going to make the call, making clear he would be representing himself as a concerned Australian and not in any way as an emissary from the government."


Not like Rudd to undertake a bit of political grandstanding in a public crisis.......is it?

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/kevin-rudd-claims-of-helping-australia-receive-pfizer-covid19-vaccine-quashed/news-story/54fec7a0027f715afaba1038a525940b

Still only saying that he was not involved in the "contractual" negotiations or arrangements and not denying the involvement in expediting the vaccines.


*“***All agreements*** and supply arrangements, **including dose planning** are **exclusively** made with the Federal Government, "*....Pfizer.

Pfizer statement couldnt be clearer nor is their decision to even make a statement. Disgusting grandstanding.

Of course they are, nobody has mentioned otherwise.

Doesn't mean there was any grandstanding, nor change that our PM made some 55 phone calls to secure Cormann an OECD position, but not one to Pfizer.

The Govt secured an additional 30M Pfizer jabs last week, as a result of the Health Minister doing his job.

Politics Thread ==============>

 

[TillLindemann]

I appreciate that people have strong views, as is to be expected.

My view is we should go to great lengths to avoid politicising the covid response, be it pro or anti Scomo, pro or anti Rudd, pro or anti Dan Andrews, pro or anti Gladys. This is exactly what poisoned the issue of climate science, and completely hamstrung our response to energy transition/climate change for over a decade. Please don't replicate it with covid.

Of course governments should be held to account for their response, but not in a tribal manner.

One side of politics will trash a sensible measure if they think it is identified with the other side of politics.

 

[Tiger5150]

I appreciate that people have strong views, as is to be expected.

My view is we should go to great lengths to avoid politicising the covid response, be it pro or anti Scomo, pro or anti Rudd, pro or anti Dan Andrews, pro or anti Gladys. This is exactly what poisoned the issue of climate science, and completely hamstrung our response to energy transition/climate change for over a decade. Please don't replicate it with covid.

Of course governments should be held to account for their response, but not in a tribal manner.

One side of politics will trash a sensible measure if they think it is identified with the other side of politics.

At the risk of further derailing the thread....


I agree with this 117% (the last 17% is for Geo)...

Which is why what Rudd is doing annoys me. He isnt even involved in Aus Pol anymore but it is (IMO obviously) totally grandstanding for his own promotion and with a bonus side of poking the Govt.

FWIW I have been very impressed with the narrow line that Albo has walked on Covid. Bipartisan support mostly with recent justified pressure on the speed and efficiency of the vax rollout.

I agree that COVID cant be politicised as it may literally cost lives. IMO it already has in the US and as a result impacts worldwide.

Ok, no more politics from me in this thread.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Wow, seems that our approach to the Pfizer vaccine offer a year ago could have been even worse than I have read on elsewhere and the failure of our PM to hold a hose to make a call to fix the problem even more negligence on his part.

To read that a former PM in Kevin Rudd was called in by and accepted business leader's requests to intervene and arrange to expedite doses for our nation was disconcerting.

https://t.co/Rpn6NtzlNg?amp=1

"As a result, one very senior Australian businessman — whose identity is known to the ABC but who wishes to remain anonymous — held two meetings with senior Pfizer executives in late June, only to be rebuffed.

Senior Pfizer executives told the businessman that if Australia was to make a more serious effort, after its treatment at the hands of relatively junior bureaucrats, it would have to come from much higher up, expressing their astonishment that Prime Minister Scott Morrison had not directly spoken to the Pfizer chairman and chief executive Albert Bourla, as former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done on multiple occasions.

The executives suggested that, in the absence of Mr Morrison, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd — who was known to them because of his work in the United States as head of the New York-based Asia Society — may have some influence.

The network of businessmen contacted Mr Rudd and set up an introduction to Dr Bourla. A Zoom meeting was arranged on June 30. Mr Rudd sent a text a message to Mr Morrison to tell him he was going to make the call, making clear he would be representing himself as a concerned Australian and not in any way as an emissary from the government."


Not like Rudd to undertake a bit of political grandstanding in a public crisis.......is it?

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/kevin-rudd-claims-of-helping-australia-receive-pfizer-covid19-vaccine-quashed/news-story/54fec7a0027f715afaba1038a525940b

Still only saying that he was not involved in the "contractual" negotiations or arrangements and not denying the involvement in expediting the vaccines.


*“***All agreements*** and supply arrangements, **including dose planning** are **exclusively** made with the Federal Government, "*....Pfizer.

Pfizer statement couldnt be clearer nor is their decision to even make a statement. Disgusting grandstanding.

Of course they are, nobody has mentioned otherwise.

Doesn't mean there was any grandstanding, nor change that our PM made some 55 phone calls to secure Cormann an OECD position, but not one to Pfizer.


The Govt secured an additional 30M Pfizer jabs last week, as a result of the Health Minister doing his job.

Politics Thread ==============>

Do you have a link for this? I can't find anything on the 30m doses. Only thing I can see is that the UK have secured another 30m doses.

 

[hobbo1]

So, I'm putting together a band. We just need a bass player and we're ready to go. We're called Scummo and the Gladbags.

Basically, we're going to raise a lot of hype and expectations and commit to gigs that we won't show up to. No probelm though, we've already provided the rave reviews for the Murdoch press to publish and the moronic punters to believe and post on Insta.

Rock on, Australia!!!!!!!


So who is going to play the organ like Scummo does?

Scotty doesn't hold an instrument.

Yeah.. it’s called a fiddle

 

[Tim Sheens]

A link below from the channel 7 site purporting to be video from Coogee earlier today. If that is what is going on there and possibly elsewhere, we are going to be in lockdown for a while yet.

I am happy to do my bit, but got to say that being at the top of the Central Coast with no cases up here and staying home whilst others look to be living basically unchanged in hotspots is demoralising.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1414419056304685057

Edit: Rare site seeing what looks to be a running WB Statesman in the shot.

 

[Tiger5150]

Wow, seems that our approach to the Pfizer vaccine offer a year ago could have been even worse than I have read on elsewhere and the failure of our PM to hold a hose to make a call to fix the problem even more negligence on his part.

To read that a former PM in Kevin Rudd was called in by and accepted business leader's requests to intervene and arrange to expedite doses for our nation was disconcerting.

https://t.co/Rpn6NtzlNg?amp=1

"As a result, one very senior Australian businessman — whose identity is known to the ABC but who wishes to remain anonymous — held two meetings with senior Pfizer executives in late June, only to be rebuffed.

Senior Pfizer executives told the businessman that if Australia was to make a more serious effort, after its treatment at the hands of relatively junior bureaucrats, it would have to come from much higher up, expressing their astonishment that Prime Minister Scott Morrison had not directly spoken to the Pfizer chairman and chief executive Albert Bourla, as former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done on multiple occasions.

The executives suggested that, in the absence of Mr Morrison, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd — who was known to them because of his work in the United States as head of the New York-based Asia Society — may have some influence.

The network of businessmen contacted Mr Rudd and set up an introduction to Dr Bourla. A Zoom meeting was arranged on June 30. Mr Rudd sent a text a message to Mr Morrison to tell him he was going to make the call, making clear he would be representing himself as a concerned Australian and not in any way as an emissary from the government."


Not like Rudd to undertake a bit of political grandstanding in a public crisis.......is it?

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/kevin-rudd-claims-of-helping-australia-receive-pfizer-covid19-vaccine-quashed/news-story/54fec7a0027f715afaba1038a525940b

Still only saying that he was not involved in the "contractual" negotiations or arrangements and not denying the involvement in expediting the vaccines.


*“***All agreements*** and supply arrangements, **including dose planning** are **exclusively** made with the Federal Government, "*....Pfizer.

Pfizer statement couldnt be clearer nor is their decision to even make a statement. Disgusting grandstanding.

Of course they are, nobody has mentioned otherwise.

Doesn't mean there was any grandstanding, nor change that our PM made some 55 phone calls to secure Cormann an OECD position, but not one to Pfizer.


The Govt secured an additional 30M Pfizer jabs last week, as a result of the Health Minister doing his job.

Politics Thread ==============>

Do you have a link for this? I can't find anything on the 30m doses. Only thing I can see is that the UK have secured another 30m doses.

It is literally in the article that I posted and that you were commenting on,...that the Govt was doing nothing....Did you read it?

"The Morrison government has been criticised for the country’s slow vaccine rollout. Australia’s ***initial contract with Pfizer was for 10 million jabs***, signed in November 2020, ***this was until last week*** when the PM announced there would now be ***40 million administered by the end of the year***."

"A spokesman for Health Minister Greg Hunt told The Australian there was no evidence Mr Rudd’s meeting influenced the decision for the pharmaceutical giant to send more vaccines down under.

“The Minister has met with Pfizer Australia country head Anne Harris ***on multiple occasions*** with a view to the ***announcement Friday*** on the time ***frame achieved and at the level we had hoped for,*** which was ***the maximum Pfizer had indicated might be available,***” he said."

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/kevin-rudd-claims-of-helping-australia-receive-pfizer-covid19-vaccine-quashed/news-story/54fec7a0027f715afaba1038a525940b

 

[Tim Sheens]

Wow, seems that our approach to the Pfizer vaccine offer a year ago could have been even worse than I have read on elsewhere and the failure of our PM to hold a hose to make a call to fix the problem even more negligence on his part.

To read that a former PM in Kevin Rudd was called in by and accepted business leader's requests to intervene and arrange to expedite doses for our nation was disconcerting.

https://t.co/Rpn6NtzlNg?amp=1

"As a result, one very senior Australian businessman — whose identity is known to the ABC but who wishes to remain anonymous — held two meetings with senior Pfizer executives in late June, only to be rebuffed.

Senior Pfizer executives told the businessman that if Australia was to make a more serious effort, after its treatment at the hands of relatively junior bureaucrats, it would have to come from much higher up, expressing their astonishment that Prime Minister Scott Morrison had not directly spoken to the Pfizer chairman and chief executive Albert Bourla, as former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done on multiple occasions.

The executives suggested that, in the absence of Mr Morrison, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd — who was known to them because of his work in the United States as head of the New York-based Asia Society — may have some influence.

The network of businessmen contacted Mr Rudd and set up an introduction to Dr Bourla. A Zoom meeting was arranged on June 30. Mr Rudd sent a text a message to Mr Morrison to tell him he was going to make the call, making clear he would be representing himself as a concerned Australian and not in any way as an emissary from the government."


Not like Rudd to undertake a bit of political grandstanding in a public crisis.......is it?

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/kevin-rudd-claims-of-helping-australia-receive-pfizer-covid19-vaccine-quashed/news-story/54fec7a0027f715afaba1038a525940b

Still only saying that he was not involved in the "contractual" negotiations or arrangements and not denying the involvement in expediting the vaccines.


*“***All agreements*** and supply arrangements, **including dose planning** are **exclusively** made with the Federal Government, "*....Pfizer.

Pfizer statement couldnt be clearer nor is their decision to even make a statement. Disgusting grandstanding.

Of course they are, nobody has mentioned otherwise.

Doesn't mean there was any grandstanding, nor change that our PM made some 55 phone calls to secure Cormann an OECD position, but not one to Pfizer.


The Govt secured an additional 30M Pfizer jabs last week, as a result of the Health Minister doing his job.

Politics Thread ==============>

Do you have a link for this? I can't find anything on the 30m doses. Only thing I can see is that the UK have secured another 30m doses.


It is literally in the article that I posted and that you were commenting on,...that the Govt was doing nothing....Did you read it?

"The Morrison government has been criticised for the country’s slow vaccine rollout. Australia’s ***initial contract with Pfizer was for 10 million jabs***, signed in November 2020, ***this was until last week*** when the PM announced there would now be ***40 million administered by the end of the year***."

"A spokesman for Health Minister Greg Hunt told The Australian there was no evidence Mr Rudd’s meeting influenced the decision for the pharmaceutical giant to send more vaccines down under.

“The Minister has met with Pfizer Australia country head Anne Harris ***on multiple occasions*** with a view to the ***announcement Friday*** on the time ***frame achieved and at the level we had hoped for,*** which was ***the maximum Pfizer had indicated might be available,***” he said."

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/kevin-rudd-claims-of-helping-australia-receive-pfizer-covid19-vaccine-quashed/news-story/54fec7a0027f715afaba1038a525940b

You sure? Pretty sure this 40 million is old news from back at Easter or thereabouts when more were secured.

To my knowledge the recent talks with Pfizer were about bringing forward some of those.

 

[Tiger5150]

Wow, seems that our approach to the Pfizer vaccine offer a year ago could have been even worse than I have read on elsewhere and the failure of our PM to hold a hose to make a call to fix the problem even more negligence on his part.

To read that a former PM in Kevin Rudd was called in by and accepted business leader's requests to intervene and arrange to expedite doses for our nation was disconcerting.

https://t.co/Rpn6NtzlNg?amp=1

"As a result, one very senior Australian businessman — whose identity is known to the ABC but who wishes to remain anonymous — held two meetings with senior Pfizer executives in late June, only to be rebuffed.

Senior Pfizer executives told the businessman that if Australia was to make a more serious effort, after its treatment at the hands of relatively junior bureaucrats, it would have to come from much higher up, expressing their astonishment that Prime Minister Scott Morrison had not directly spoken to the Pfizer chairman and chief executive Albert Bourla, as former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done on multiple occasions.

The executives suggested that, in the absence of Mr Morrison, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd — who was known to them because of his work in the United States as head of the New York-based Asia Society — may have some influence.

The network of businessmen contacted Mr Rudd and set up an introduction to Dr Bourla. A Zoom meeting was arranged on June 30. Mr Rudd sent a text a message to Mr Morrison to tell him he was going to make the call, making clear he would be representing himself as a concerned Australian and not in any way as an emissary from the government."


Not like Rudd to undertake a bit of political grandstanding in a public crisis.......is it?

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/kevin-rudd-claims-of-helping-australia-receive-pfizer-covid19-vaccine-quashed/news-story/54fec7a0027f715afaba1038a525940b

Still only saying that he was not involved in the "contractual" negotiations or arrangements and not denying the involvement in expediting the vaccines.


*“***All agreements*** and supply arrangements, **including dose planning** are **exclusively** made with the Federal Government, "*....Pfizer.

Pfizer statement couldnt be clearer nor is their decision to even make a statement. Disgusting grandstanding.

Of course they are, nobody has mentioned otherwise.

Doesn't mean there was any grandstanding, nor change that our PM made some 55 phone calls to secure Cormann an OECD position, but not one to Pfizer.


The Govt secured an additional 30M Pfizer jabs last week, as a result of the Health Minister doing his job.

Politics Thread ==============>

Do you have a link for this? I can't find anything on the 30m doses. Only thing I can see is that the UK have secured another 30m doses.


It is literally in the article that I posted and that you were commenting on,...that the Govt was doing nothing....Did you read it?

"The Morrison government has been criticised for the country’s slow vaccine rollout. Australia’s ***initial contract with Pfizer was for 10 million jabs***, signed in November 2020, ***this was until last week*** when the PM announced there would now be ***40 million administered by the end of the year***."

"A spokesman for Health Minister Greg Hunt told The Australian there was no evidence Mr Rudd’s meeting influenced the decision for the pharmaceutical giant to send more vaccines down under.

“The Minister has met with Pfizer Australia country head Anne Harris ***on multiple occasions*** with a view to the ***announcement Friday*** on the time ***frame achieved and at the level we had hoped for,*** which was ***the maximum Pfizer had indicated might be available,***” he said."

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/kevin-rudd-claims-of-helping-australia-receive-pfizer-covid19-vaccine-quashed/news-story/54fec7a0027f715afaba1038a525940b

You sure? Pretty sure this 40 million is old news from back at Easter or thereabouts when more were secured.

To my knowledge the recent talks with Pfizer were about bringing forward some of those.

Mate all I can do is post the article which is dated 12/7/2021 which says that the 30M extra were agreed to last week.