PM takes jab at states on lockdown ease promise

The Prime Minister is holding state premiers to a promise that lockdowns would become less likely once double-dose vaccination rates hit 70 per cent.

The States “made a deal with Australians” to relax restrictions once vaccination rates hit 70 and 80 per cent, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said as he ramps up pressure on nervous Premiers to stick to the national cabinet plan.

Jabbed Aussies also will get more exemptions from restrictions than unvaccinated people, Mr Morrison said in a glimpse of what will come later this year.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has refused to say whether she will continue to run a zero-Covid strategy once a high proportion of the state is vaccinated., while Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the agreement was based on there being “very low rates” of transmission.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says premiers made “a deal with Australians” on easing restrictions once vaccination milestones were reached. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

Under a four phase strategy agreed to by national cabinet, lockdowns would become less likely once double-dose vaccination rates hit 70 per cent and become “highly-targeted only” once it reaches 80 per cent.

Mr Morrison said Australians had been doing there part by adhering to lockdowns, getting tested, isolating and getting vaccinated, so expected their governments to follow the plan.

“Our national plan is a deal with Australians,” he said.

“I’m committed to that plan. And premiers and chief ministers have signed up to that plan, but they haven’t signed up with me. They’ve signed up with the Australian people.

“I expect the national deal made with Australians by all leaders of this country that we‘ve said to Australians, you do your part, we’ll do ours.”

The Prime Minister indicated as the country opened up there would be exemptions for people who had been vaccinated.

“These will be exemptions, not additional rights … If you’re vaccinated, you are less likely to get the virus, transmit the virus,” he said.

“By getting vaccinated, you are less of a public health risk than someone who is not vaccinated.”

Deputy Premier Steven Miles says the national cabinet agreement was based on “very low” rates of transmission. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Mr Morrison said contact tracing and isolating would remain, even after vaccination rates hit 70 per cent, as unvaccinated people would remain highly vulnerable.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles on Friday said the modelling had shown that lockdowns were less likely when the vaccination rate reaches 70 per cent.

“The modelling is based on a number of assumptions that was done at a time when transmission in the community was very, very low,” Mr Miles said.

“That‘s not the case now and we can’t predict the future.

“We support the decision of national cabinet which says that if 70 per cent of the community are vaccinated and there is very low rates of transmission then lockdowns will be much, much less likely.”