Covid Qld: ‘I was relentlessly attacked’: Premier demands apology from Hunt

A vindicated Annastacia Palaszczuk has unleashed a spray on the Federal Government, demanding an apology for being ‘relentlessly attacked’ over her Covid response. VOTE IN THE POLL

Annastacia Palaszczuk has demanded an apology from Health Minister Greg Hunt, declaring she has been vindicated by his decision to call for analysis into how vaccinations affect children.

The Premier said she had been “attacked relentlessly” by the Commonwealth after demanding an investigation into the risks for kids aged under 12 when borders reopen and Covid spreads through the community.

“I raised very clearly that there was an issue and we needed a plan for young children between the ages of five and 11 who weren’t vaccinated - what was the plan for them,” she said.

“I was attacked relentlessly by the federal government and today and yesterday we hear that Greg Hunt is now speaking with the Therapeutic Goods Administration to run analysis of the trials of five to 11s which Pfizer has been conducting.

“I will not be criticised for no reason and then for the federal government to pick up on what I’ve been saying... I would like an apology from Greg Hunt, I think it is very disappointing.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she was relentlessly attacked. Photo: Dan Peled

Mr Hunt on Tuesday wrote to Pfizer’s Australian managing director Anna Harris “inviting” the pharmaceutical company to seek approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration for the jab to be used in children aged five to 11 at the “earliest possible time”.

This came after first results from Pfizer clinical trials in children aged five to 11, using a much lower dose than what is given to adults, showed promising results.

Ms Palaszczuk, who was accused of reneging on a national cabinet agreement to lift lockdowns and ease border restrictions after vaccinations reached 80 per cent, said the Commonwealth had finally caught up.

“To be attacked relentlessly, I think now Queenslanders should feel vindicated that the federal government has looked to the international research and is now doing something about it,” she said.

Her comments came as Queensland recorded one community case of Covid-19, in home quarantine and posing no risk to the community.

She said the state’s vaccination rate had reached 42.35 per cent of people with double doses.

Treasurer Cameron Dick joined the stinging spray, slamming Covid critics by saying it ‘wasn’t by accident’ the state wasn’t in a similar situation to Covid-ravaged NSW and Victoria.

Jumping to Ms Palaszczuk’s defence, Mr Dick said Queensland had escaped uncontrolled outbreaks thanks to the Premier’s leadership despite copping criticism from across the country for her health response to Covid, particularly from Mr Hunt and other Morrison Government ministers.

“A few weeks ago, the Premier made very sensible, reasonable comments about how we were going to protect the most vulnerable in the community (children under 12) and copped criticism from across the country,” Mr Dick said.

“How long does Queensland have to get it right for the rest of the country to listen?

“When you get it wrong you see the disaster that Delta delivers: Lawlessness and rioting in the country’s second largest city, Melbourne.”

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick. Photo: Dan Peled

Ms Palaszczuk said there were two things preventing Queensland from having a situation like NSW, and Victoria and that was strong closed borders and getting vaccinated.

She said she rejected assertions made by the Queensland Human Rights Commissioner that the exemptions unit processes were unfair and favoured celebrities.

In a rare public spray, Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall – who has fielded more than 100 complaints from people about hotel quarantine since the pandemic began – said decisions were too often being made that weren’t proportionate to the actual risk.

“Well I reject that, I completely reject that,” Ms Palaszczuk said in response.

Addressing issues over the state’s tough border policy, Ms Palaszczuk reiterated that the reason Queensland has an exemptions unit is because of the thousands of cases happening in NSW and Victoria.

She said she understood how difficult hotel quarantine was for people but it was necessary to protect the state.

“I have done hotel quarantine myself, it’s tough, but it has to be done,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Meanwhile, walk-ins vaccinations will be allowed at Caboolture, Doomben Kippa Ring and the Brisbane Convention Centre.

Ms Palaszczuk said there would be another super Pfizer weekend in weeks to come.

Ms Palaszczuk said it was distressing to see the violent protests in Victoria.

She appreciated that the past two years had been very difficult for people but she echoed Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ calls for peace and calmness.