Recently, I asked the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Gallagher, about the Therapeutic Goods Administration's (TGA) process for approving the COVID-19 vaccines. Specifically, I asked whether the TGA simply took Pfizer's word that their investigative process was thorough without checking back to the source material and in particular patient records.

Recently, I asked the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Gallagher, about the Therapeutic Goods Administration's (TGA) process for approving the COVID-19 vaccines. Specifically, I asked whether the TGA simply took Pfizer's word that their investigative process was thorough without checking back to the source material and in particular patient records. 

The response I received from the Minister was unsatisfactory (collective gasp of surprise??). The Minister spoke about the success of the vaccination program and the role of the TGA, with no reference to the facts or data, which clearly paints an entirely different picture. 

I find it troubling that the Minister was unable to confirm whether the US FDA checked the Pfizer analysis of patient data back to the actual patient data. It raises serious questions about the TGA's process for approving vaccines and the government's commitment to transparency and accountability. 

Under Questioning at February Senate Estimates, the TGA admitted they have never analysed the patient level data from Pfizer’s clinical trials. In fact, FOI documents show they don’t even possess the records. They just assumed the American FDA had done the work in properly analysing the patient level data and we never analysed it here in Australia. 

Anthony Albanese’s campaign at the election was based on transparency. The Minister’s answers to my question show anything but transparency.  

Furthermore, the Minister's dismissive response to my second supplementary question was disappointing. Instead of addressing the issue, she simply stated that she had faith in the TGA's rigorous examination process. However, independent leading virologists have published a peer-reviewed paper that shows 400,000 patient records prove the vaccine was unsafe and should not have been approved. 

This is a serious matter that demands a thorough investigation. Did our bureaucrats approve a dangerous product because they trusted Pfizer and fail to act in Australia's best interests? We need answers, and we need them now. 

As a Senator, it is my responsibility to hold the government accountable and ensure that the best interests of Australians are always put first. I will not stop asking these tough questions until we have the answers we need. The safety and wellbeing of Australians must always come first, and we must never compromise on that.