Qld lockdowns: Premier refuses to be drawn on vaccination goal

Queensland’s peak business body has slammed the uncertainty around lockdowns as the Premier refuses to be drawn. VOTE IN OUR POLLS

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has flagged the grim prospect of more crippling lockdowns, even when Covid-19 vaccination rates in Queensland hit 80 per cent.

But the state’s peak business body has slammed the uncertainty, saying businesses are being forced to make decisions based on a 24-hour news cycle and government directives that “change daily”.

Despite the national cabinet nominating a 70 per cent vaccination target for when restrictions can start to be rolled back, Ms Palaszczuk says the road map does not rule out more lockdowns in specific areas.

She also revealed that a vaccine passport, allowing Queenslanders who have had the jab to go about their everyday lives with more freedoms, was a possibility.

Queensland recorded only two new Covid-19 cases yesterday – one linked to Brisbane’s Indooroopilly cluster and the other in hotel quarantine. Both were isolated while infectious.

In contrast, NSW had another horror day with 456 cases and one more death, while Victoria had 24 cases.

While Queensland remains relatively Covid-free, Ms Palaszczuk admitted even an 80 per cent vaccination rate would not guarantee an end to lockdowns.

“There’s still discretion that lockdowns will be able to be done in specific areas,” she said.

“It (the national cabinet Covid recovery plan) doesn’t say we are not going to have lockdowns but that lockdowns will be minimised.”

Ms Palaszczuk said research by the Doherty Institute – which provided advice for the national cabinet’s way out of Covid – was based on Australia having very little Covid community transmission, which is ‘not the case any more’.

Queensland Chamber of Commerce and Industry executive Amanda Rohan

“That Doherty research starts from the premise that Australia is in a situation with very little Covid,” she said.

“That’s not the situation at the moment … we are not at 70 per cent or 80 per cent yet.”

National Cabinet’s four-phase Covid-19 recovery plan would see lockdowns become less likely when vaccination rates hit 70 per cent, while an 80 per cent level would result in only highly targeted lockdowns.

Queensland Chamber of Commerce and Industry executive Amanda Rohan said snap lockdowns were sapping confidence and forcing businesses to the wall.

“Every time there is a snap lockdown, businesses and consumer confidence takes a hit,” she said.

“Businesses across the state … are making decisions based on a 24-hour news cycle and they’re having to react every day to new advice and updates which change daily.

“This kind of reactive business economy isn’t sustainable long-term, and will mean some businesses won’t reopen or recover.”

Ms Rohan said businesses needed a clear, concise and accurate plan from National Cabinet.

“Without this certainty… the impacts snap lockdowns have on business confidence will continue to claim casualties in the form of small business closures,” she said.

Experts have said the Queensland Government’s decision to force all essential workers crossing the border to have had at least one vaccine jab could be the first step towards a vaccination passport system for everyday life.

Ms Palaszczuk said it was an issue for discussion at National Cabinet.

“We are seeing different parts of the world put in place different policies,” she said.

“We don’t have the final answer. I think we have to look at what’s happening around the world, what’s working, what’s not working, and come up with a solution that suits Australia.”