Palaszczuk government yet to commit to opening state at 80 per cent vaccination rate

The Palaszczuk government is refusing to commit to opening the state without further lockdowns at an 80 per cent vaccination rate, saying it is yet to receive the latest Doherty Institute modelling.

The Palaszczuk government is still refusing to commit to opening the state without further lockdowns at an 80 per cent vaccination rate, saying it is yet to receive the latest Doherty Institute modelling that was discussed at National Cabinet.

Senior Cabinet Minister Grace Grace on Saturday said the state government wanted to have “a look” at the new modelling and determine what it meant for Queensland.

The Doherty Institute reiterated to National Cabinet on Friday that it would be safe to reopen the country once 80 per cent of over-16s are fully vaccinated – regardless of case numbers.

In a one-line statement, a spokesman for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Saturday said the state government was yet to receive the paper and that it “looks forward to further discussions next week”.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at a media conference in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

He would not say if Queensland would no longer have lockdowns at an 80 per cent vaccination rate, or what changes would be made once 70 to 80 per cent of Queenslanders had received their jab.

It comes after the Premier last week wouldn’t rule out pulling out of the Doherty Institute plan until she saw the new modelling.

Ms Grace said it was appropriate that Queensland “has a look” at the remodelling to determine what it meant for the Sunshine State.

“I understand the Prime Minister also made comments that hospital capacity and workforce needs are also needing to be further looked at,” the Minister said.

“And I believe that will be available at the next meeting of the National Cabinet.

“Of course we will consider that modelling.”

Education Minister Grace Grace. Picture: Tara Croser.

Asked how long Queensland would take to consider the new modelling before making a call on it, Ms Grace said: “I think that’s up to the National Cabinet discussions and up to the Premier and us to discuss”.

“I’m sure that once we land on a position, that will be made known,” she said.

Before Friday’s National Cabinet meeting, Ms Palaszczuk had insisted that she would want to take the advice of the state’s chief health officer and discuss the modelling with senior Cabinet Ministers before making a decision on it.

National Cabinet was told that at a 70 per cent to 80 per cent vaccination rate, measures such as mask wearing, restrictions and contact tracing would still be needed.

Meanwhile, Queensland recorded no new community acquired Covid cases on Saturday, but there were four cases detected in hotel quarantine from overseas arrivals.

In locked down NSW, locally acquired case numbers surged by 1035, while in Victoria there were 64 new cases recorded.