Senator FARRELL (South Australia—Minister for Trade and Tourism, Special Minister of State and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:01): I thank the senator for her question. I think we start any debate about the issue of COVID and what's happened in the past with an understanding of what your government failed to do when you were in— The PRESIDENT: Minister Farrell, resume your seat. Senator Ruston, a point of order? Senator Ruston: It is a point of order on relevance. I would ask you to draw the minister's attention to the fact that I was asking very specifically about advice received about the cessation of Operation COVID Shield and nothing else. The PRESIDENT: The minister has just started his answer. I will pay particular attention that he remains relevant to the question. Senator FARRELL: As I had started to answer the question, any debate about what's happened with COVID-19 in this country has to start right back where the opposition, which was the government at the time, failed the people of Australia. We saw it first of all with the issue of closure of the borders. The government was too slow to close the borders when the issue— The PRESIDENT: Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Ruston, a point of order? Senator Ruston: With the greatest amount of respect, a point of order on relevance: I would draw to your attention that the minister is not being even remotely relevant to my question. I would ask you if you could draw him to the substance, and only the substance, of my question. The PRESIDENT: I do believe that the minister is being relevant. He is talking about the COVID pandemic, which he is entitled to do as part of his response to your question. As you know, I can't direct him to answer the question but I can be cognisant of relevance, which I am. Please continue, Minister. Senator FARRELL: Thank you, President. The COVID shield will cease on 1 August 2022. From this time the functions of the National COVID Vaccine Taskforce will return to the arrangements within the Department of Health and Aged Care. The Coordinator-General of the COVID shield, General Frewen—who I had the good fortune to meet last night and congratulate on the role he has performed in this area—will return to his role as the Chief of Joint Capabilities in the Department of Defence. The Australian government has ensured that the national COVID-19 vaccination program is providing support for people in Australia who need to maintain their protection— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Ruston, first supplementary?