Scott Morrison calls on states to relax mandatory vaccine laws

The Prime Minister says people should be allowed “to get a cup of coffee in Brisbane” regardless of whether they’re vaccinated or not, prompting a fiery response from the Queensland government.

People should be allowed to “get a cup of coffee in Brisbane” regardless of whether they have received the Covid-19 jab or not, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said.

Mr Morrison, speaking in New South Wales, advocated for states to relax mandatory vaccine laws while condemning threats of violence coming from protesters in Victoria.

The Prime Minister said people should be allowed to “get a cup of coffee in Brisbane regardless of whether you’ve had a vaccine or not” once 80 per cent of the eligible population had been fully vaccinated.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has advocated for states to relax mandatory vaccine laws. Picture: Damian Shaw

“Our position on mandatory vaccines, for example, is in very specific circumstances,” he said.

“We aren’t in favour of mandatory vaccines imposed by the government.

“Businesses can make their own choices on the law but we aren’t about telling them, telling Australians what to do.

Scott Morrison has been back at it this morning undermining Queensland's strong health response.

Morrison would rather play to the anti-vax crowd than protect the lives of Queenslanders.#qldpol#auspol

— Cameron Dick (@camerondickqld) November 18, 2021

“Vaccines are only mandatory in cases where you have health workers working with vulnerable people.”

He said it was “time” for governments to step back and for people to “take their life back”.

Treasurer Cameron Dick seized on Mr Morrison’s coffee comments.

“The man who seeks to benefit from the strong health plans delivered by states including Queensland is now undermining those plans for his own political ends,” Mr Dick said.

“Scott Morrison might not hold a hose, but he’s pouring fuel on anti-vaccination flames.”

Mr Dick said the Prime Minister could not voice opposition to Covid-19 vaccination mandates while he also “withholds the child care rebate from the parents of unvaccinated children – because of his government’s mandate”.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles accused Mr Morrison of “undermining our vaccine rollout”, taking to Twitter to lash out at the Prime Minister.

“We want people in Brisbane to get a coffee too, we just don’t want them to get Covid while they’re doing it,” he said.

Mr Morrison’s comments come after hundreds of protesters gathered at Queensland government headquarters on 1 William St in the Brisbane CBD on Wednesday.

Over the last week, demonstrators in Victoria have shocked the public with threats to Premier Daniel Andrews and other MPs in response to the government’s proposed pandemic laws.

It included a man driving a makeshift gallows.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been criticised for bans on unvaccinated people attended venues such as cafes and restaurants. Picture: Dan Peled