Senator COLBECK (Tasmania—Minister for Sport and Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) (14:00): I thank Senator Wong for the question. I advise the Senate that the health minister received today, 17 June, advice from ATAGI that indicated that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the preferred vaccine for those under 60 years of age: The recommendation is revised due to a higher risk and observed severity of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) related to the use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine observed in Australia in the 50-59 year old age group than reported internationally and initially estimated in Australia. Senator Wong interjecting— Senator COLBECK: I am reading from the ATAGI advice that was received today. Senator Wong: I asked you whether this is the first time that you have been advised this. Senator COLBECK: I'm saying that we received this advice today, Senator: For those aged 60 years and above, the individual benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine are greater than in younger people. The PRESIDENT: Order, Senator Colbeck. I have Senator Wong on a point of order. Senator Wong: I thank the minister for reading out what is on the public record. The question we actually asked was whether or not this was the first time the government had been advised in any form that the AstraZeneca vaccine was not the preferred COVID-19 vaccine for those Australians under the age of 60. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, I've allowed you to restate and reemphasise the question. While the minister is specifically talking about such advice—and he did talk about the day on which it was received—to instruct him any more strictly would go to how to answer a question, which I cannot do. If the minister is sticking to the advice and the timing of it, then I believe that is directly relevant. Senator COLBECK: My understanding, my advice, is that this advice was received and decided at a meeting of ATAGI this morning. So we received this advice today. We have at all times, through the duration of this pandemic, followed the health advice and we've taken action once we have received that advice. This correspondence came to the health minister from ATAGI today. As I understand it, very soon after that advice being received, the minister made his public statements with respect to that advice. The PRESIDENT: Senator Wong, a supplementary question.