by The Prime Minister believes getting 70 per cent of the Australian population fully vaccinated is “absolutely achievable”, but is being careful not to put any time frame on achieving that benchmark after significant criticism of delays in the vaccine rollout so far.
Key points:
- National Cabinet targets for easing COVID-19 restrictions are tied to vaccinations rates across Australia
- Seventy per cent of the population will need to be fully vaccinated for the nation to move into the next phase of reopening
- Lockdowns would then become far less common
Late on Friday, National Cabinet agreed to new targets for the easing of social restrictions that are directly tied to the take up of coronavirus vaccinations across the country.
Seventy per cent of the population will need to have had two doses of a vaccine before the nation moves into the next phase of reopening.
Lockdowns, such as what Sydney is currently experiencing, would become a far less common response to coronavirus outbreaks.
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Lockdown target of 80 per cent agreed
The Prime Minister says 70 per cent of eligible Australians will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for the country to begin reopening and returning to normal, and 80 per cent to end lockdowns.
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It would not be until 80 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated that further restrictions would be eased including travel restrictions for people who have had the shots.
The targets are based on modelling from The Doherty Institute.
“We didn’t sort of pluck this figure out of the air,” Mr Morrison told Nine Radio on Saturday.
“Of course we needed the target, but it needed to be one that actually was based on science and economics.
“So we knew if we could get to that mark, we could have a confidence that you wouldn’t then have to go back, like we’ve seen so many other countries do.”
Mr Morrison cited the so-called “Freedom Day” announcements made in places such as the United Kingdom. Originally scheduled for mid-June, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson delayed the easing of restrictions by a month.
“The day where we move forward is the day where we hit those targets the calendar won’t determine it, the vaccination rate will determine it,” Mr Morrison said.
“If I were to walk out here in Canberra this morning wearing nothing but my board shorts, I would freeze.
“But if I go out there with a big coat on, I’ll be fine that’s what getting to 70 per cent vaccination is.”
PM’s ‘COVID-normal’ plan
National Cabinet has revealed more details around Australia’s COVID-19 recovery plan.
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The federal opposition agreed the new benchmarks would give the population a goal to work towards, however Labor leader Anthony Albanese questioned why such a plan was only just being agreed to now.
“I’m amazed that it’s taken 18 months to come up with a figure of 70 per cent and then 80 per cent for further opening up,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Canberra.
“But now that it’s there, then we should listen to those experts.”
Read more about the vaccine rollout:
Mr Albanese said he was hopeful 70 per cent full vaccination could be reached by the end of the year, but criticised the lack of a deadline from National Cabinet.
“The government hasn’t set timelines and targets,” Mr Albanese said.
“It used to do that and it didn’t meet any of them.”
Read more about the spread of COVID-19 in Australia:
PM supports snap Queensland lockdown
Mr Morrison suggested the Queensland government’s decision to send 11 local government areas in the south-east of the state into a three-day lockdown was an appropriate response to six new infections linked to the delta strain of coronavirus.
“South Australia moved quick, they’re out of it. Victoria, moved quick, they’re out of it,” he said.
“In New South Wales, we’re living with a long lockdown.
“Once [Delta] gets going, it is very hard to get back in the box, as we’re seeing in New South Wales.”
Calls for bipartisan approach to combat anti-lockdown, anti-vax protests.
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