Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk clashes with reporters over plans to reopen Queensland

The Premier has clashed with reporters as she was grilled over her refusal to commit to reopening Queensland with the rest of the nation. It comes after no new local Covid cases overnight. WATCH THE VIDEO

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has clashed with reporters in a fiery press conference today as she was grilled over her refusal to commit to reopening Queensland with the rest of the nation.

It comes after Queensland recorded no new cases of Covid in the community, but three cases were recorded in hotel quarantine.

Ms Palaszczuk was responding to the questions over comments she made on Tuesday where she said Queensland’s reopening was not guaranteed at 80 per cent vaccination rate. 

That is the vaccination rate outlined in the national plan, but Ms Palaszczuk said she wanted rates to “unite across the state” as to provide “greater comfort if we have further outbreaks”.

“We’re not necessarily following the national plan then?” a reporter asked.

Ms Palaszczuk snapped back: “”Don’t put words in my mouth – that’s not exactly what I was saying”

“I said very clearly we are in stage A of the national plan – we are following the national plan.

“Part of that national plan is booster shots so ask the Prime Minister what the plan is for the booster shots.

“Don’t just cherry pick parts of the national plan when you’re not cherry picking other parts of the national plan.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Dan Peled

Asked if she was concerned that four North Queensland hospitals issued ”code yellow” capacity alarms on Tuesday, Ms Palaszczuk said pressures were being felt on hospitals across Australia.”

This is not a unique problem in Queensland,” she said.”

Nearly every other premier raises this at national cabinet – this is an issue of national concern.”

Ms Palaszczuk was then asked “So you’re not concerned about the four Queensland hospitals”.

“These are pressures on hospitals across the nation,” the Premier replied.”

You’re the Queensland Premier,” the reporter responded.

Ms Palaszczuk, visibly annoyed, replied: “Of course I’m concerned. Don’t mix these messages up please. These are pressures being experienced across the nation and with Delta you add further pressures and that is why we’re working very proactively with hospitals and our health system.

“But you also have to take into account what the AMA (Australian Medical Association) is saying.”

Ms Palaszczuk said she wanted more people to be getting vaccinated, warning “Delta will come here”.

“We have walk-ins so there is no excuse,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk specifically called on Beaudesert, Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast to improve their vaccination rates.

She said it was vital Queensland’s vaccination rates were up before a Delta outbreak hits.

Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young also urged people to come forward and get vaccinated.

“We will see Delta variant come in and it won’t be able to be controlled,” she said.

“The only control is … people getting vaccinated.”

Minister for Health Yvette D’Ath said the check-in app has now been updated and “it’s never been easier to get vaccinated”

Ms D’Ath said even if people are not concerned about their own health they should get vaccinated for “our health workers”

“There is one thing you can do to protect our state and that is to get vaccinated”

“The guarantee that we got from the federal government was that even if we needed to suspend elective surgeries we would still get funding”

“We are just asking for that guarantee to continue because we are still seeing fluctuations in our hospitals”

“We will learn to live with Covid but what we don’t want is the pandemic of the unvaccinated”

“As far as code yellows – NSW have had code blacks”

“Every health minister has now signed three letters to the commonwealth – we need their support”

Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said 11 people were turned around at Qld airports yesterday and 80 put into hotel quarantine.

He reminded those in home quarantine to comply with restrictions.

One woman was arrested yesterday over her refusal to do so, she was eventually put into hotel quarantine in the city.

It comes after two new local Covid cases on Tuesday – a three-year-old girl linked to the Brisbane aviation cluster and a 19-year-old woman who had travelled from Melbourne.

It comes as chief health officer Jeannette Young said more than 2 million Queenslanders are now double vaccinated, which was limiting the spread of the virus as it reduces the risk of passing it on to 25 per cent.

Ms Palaszczuk is expected to comment on an ongoing feud between the Queensland and federal governments over public hospital funding.

On Tuesday, Queensland’s borders has reached new extremes, amid accusations of extortion, unfair treatment and politicians “desperate for a fight”.

Meanwhile, four of northern Queensland’s biggest hospitals issued “code yellow” alarms as they reached capacity and were forced to turn away patients, in a move labelled “unprecedented”.