Queensland Premier calls for extra national cabinet meeting amid third Covid wave

Annastacia Palaszczuk has continued her push for an extra national cabinet meeting amid a worsening third Covid-19 wave, taking to breakfast television to make the call.

Premier Annastacia Palasczuk has again pushed for national cabinet to be reconvened amid rising covid cases.

It comes even as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office yesterday said it was sticking to the existing schedule of meetings.

“We are seeing this huge pressure on our hospitals, we are seeing cases rise and we have got this double hit at the moment with influenza and people with Covid,” Ms Palasczuk told Sunrise on Thursday morning.

Ms Palasczuk said she wanted all states to be on “one page” and to get some clarity on whether this is going to be “a short sharp wave” or whether there will be “another wave in September”.

“We just need an update,” she said.

Ms Palasczuk also encouraged older Queenslanders to wear masks when out in the community.

“Sadly people ending up in hospitals tend to be over 65 and those who are dying are over 70,” she said.

The next meeting is not scheduled until October, just before the federal budget.

Meanwhile the federal government is standing its ground on withdrawing Covid-19 support payments and other assistance, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers saying there was “no room” in the already battered budget.

Queensland’s worsening Covid-19 wave, the third of the year, has put the health system under significant strain with 859 people in hospital for the virus on Wednesday.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Tara Croser.

Ms Palaszczuk said the government had “always expected” another pandemic peak during winter but warned another peak in September was possible.

“I think it’s going to get to the stage in the next two or three weeks we may have to have a national cabinet meeting,” she said.

“I’ve already put it out there to the Prime Minister that I think it would be a good idea to get an update from the chief (medical) officer, if these cases continue to do this upward trend.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is currently in Fiji for the Pacific Island Forum, but in a statement a spokeswoman from his office said national cabinet would meet again “prior to the federal budget” in October.

This is in line with the dates outlined during the first meeting of national cabinet under Mr Albanese three weeks ago, when it was decided the first ministers would get together at least four times a year “or as necessary”.

“Between meetings of national cabinet, Ministers and officials from all jurisdictions are continuing to work closely on the ongoing response to Covid-19 and other national priorities,” the spokeswoman said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: Gaye Gerard

On Wednesday the federal government also defended its decision to halt the $750-a-week pandemic leave payment and cease the subsidised rapid antigen test program at the end of July.

The decisions have sparked significant pushback from trade unions and also peak health bodies.

The RACGP has warned ending the RATs subsidy would make it more difficult to limit community transmission of Covid-19.

Acting Prime Minister and Treasurer Jim Chalmers said there was “no room” in the federal budget to keep Covid-19 supports going.

“The Covid support payments were designed by our predecessors to end at a certain point and to restart them would cost a considerable amount of money,” Dr Chalmers said.

“What we have tried to be is upfront about the challenges that we face in the Budget.

“Unfortunately, there is not room in the Budget for every good idea or to extend every program, even good ones, indefinitely.”