National cabinet meeting to decide whether states stick to roadmap out of Covid-19 restrictions
A highly-charged meeting of national cabinet will decide whether the states stick to the roadmap out of border closures and Covid restrictions, with leaders on both sides yet to commit to opening up once 80 per cent of the population is vaccinated.
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Vaccinated Queenslanders should no longer be locked out of visiting aged care residents and the Covid-19 jab should be made mandatory for all health care staff, under advice set to be handed down by Australia’s top government doctors.
The advice is expected to be handed to state and territory leaders on Friday by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), at what is set to be a highly-charged 56th meeting of national cabinet.
Despite agreeing to the national roadmap out of Covid-19, state and territory leaders are split on whether they will stick to it.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is yet to confirm if she will reopen the states borders once 80 per cent of the population is vaccinated – and she isn’t alone.
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein this week flagged the island state may not reopen to the majority of the country until 90 per cent of the adult population is vaccinated, deeming an early reopening too risky.
Ms Palaszczuk refused to say if Queensland’s course could be similar to that of Tasmania’s saying those discussions would be had at national cabinet.
“I’ll have those discussions at national cabinet where every state and territory can put their views to the Prime Minister,” she said.
The meeting is also set against the backdrop of Queensland dealing with four separate clusters and Victoria recording its highest ever day of infections.
It’s understood interim Doherty Institute modelling that focuses on how to best manage high-risk groups, including Indigenous Australians and other cohorts such as schools as the country reopens was handed to leaders ahead of the meeting — something Ms Palaszczuk had requested.
National cabinet is set to be briefed on AHPPC advice that includes allowing vaccinated people to visit residents in aged care homes, similar to what has already been flagged in New South Wales once 70 per cent of the population has received both doses.
The AHPPC will also recommend mandatory vaccination for health care workers — something Queensland has already put in place.
National cabinet will also discuss the health system capacity that each jurisdiction will need under the reopening plan, with initial data presented on September 17 “alarming” some leaders, including the ACT’s Andrew Barr.
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