Waleed Aly's heated COVID-19 debate cut short
The Project got very heated during a debate on COVID-19 in Tuesday night’s episode.
Producers cut off Waleed Aly while he was in the middle of a discussion with co-host Rachel Corbett about the vaccine.
Aly and Corbett got into a discussion about how far the “no jab no play” idea would go, as there is a large percentage of Australians not willing to get the vaccine.
“This is such a good idea for travel,” Corbett said.
“I don’t mind if it becomes something for everyday life. If you have to have the little tick in your passport to go to work.
“If you can’t have it, then you can still go into work because we don’t need to be 100% vaccinated but we need to be decent percentage.
“Some people might not be able to get the vaccination. The idea we can’t go into work if we haven’t got vaccinated, we’re in a pandemic.”
Aly disagreed, saying: “Hang on. I don’t want employers to have that much power over your decision,” he said.
“I feel like it’s sensible and let’s get the jab and get into work,” Corbett responded.
Aly didn’t back down though, saying: “There’s a difference between saying it’s sensible and encourage people to take a vaccine and a measure that could have all kinds of consequences down the track.”
“What about the consequences to another outbreak happening or a business closing down and all those kind of things?” Corbett countered.
“To me the consequences of an employer being able to dictate your health decisions is profound,” Aly responded.
“Imagine if they made rules like that about things you didn’t agree with, it would be frightening.”
Corbett fires back: “In this situation your business could shut down and that’s been a huge problem. If that could keep your business open, that’s reasonable?”
Aly got halfway through his reply but admitted producers told him to be quiet.
“I think that’s a fair point. I’m being told I have to shut up now,” he concluded.
Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout has officially kicked off after a second delivery of Pfizer vaccines arrived in the country on Tuesday.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said residents across 240 aged care homes will be vaccinated by the end of this week after the rollout began on Sunday.
“My advice is that we are on track and on schedule and in fact we may be able to beat that,” he said.
“The consistency of supply has been strong and heartening.”