Scott Morrison critical of vaccine rollout as Queensland lags behind rest of Australia

The Prime Minister says Queenslanders needed to show some more urgency when it comes to the Covid vaccine rollout, warning “Delta can still strike”.

A sense of urgency is needed to get Queenslanders vaccinated, as the state lags behind much of the rest of the country, to open up the nation and allow people to reconnect across the nation again, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says.

He also warned businesses would have the right to deny entry to people who were not vaccinated to protect their staff.

Scott Morrison said Queensland is lagging behind on vaccination rates, but says there is a sense of urgency that is necessary.

“Delta can strike Queensland and WA,” he told 2GB.

“The powers of the state government are not more powerful than the Delta strain of the virus and they’re not more powerful than the vaccine.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Queensland needs to show a sense of urgency when it comes to the vaccine rollout. Picture: Rohan Thomson

He said low case numbers in Queensland meant that people did not feel the same compulsion to get the jab as states like NSW and Victoria, but easing of restrictions from 70 per cent and 80 per cent vaccination rates will give added incentive.

“This will actually encourage those vaccination rates,” he said.

“The national plan improves the health and safety of the whole country.

“The national plan provides the incentives that say, if you get vaccinated then you’re able to open up the country. People can go back to connecting with each other all across the country.

“In a state like Queensland in particular where you have so much that depends on the tourism industry … getting vaccinated, getting the plan going, is the best plan to get Queensland moving.”

He said it was not the time to withdraw from the national plan, which had been months in the making and took into consideration the expected rise in case numbers as it occurred.

“Living with the virus will be different. It’s not going anywhere, you can’t eradicate it,” Mr Morrison said.

He said a business, under property law, has the ability to say no you can’t come in.

“That’s a legitimate thing for them to do. They’re doing that to protect their own workers, to protect their other clients.

“It’s got nothing to do with ideology, or these issues around liberty.

“We all believe in freedom, but we also believe in people being health.

“And the simple fact is, if you’re not vaccinated you present a greater health risk to yourself, to your family, to your community and others about you.”