Border stoush before National Cabinet
The final National Cabinet of the year was meant to bring leaders into the same room for the first time but not everyone was happy with that plan.
SCOTT Morrison hopes a COVID vaccine can be rolled out earlier than March as National Cabinet is set for its first face-to-face meeting since being created in March.
The vaccine roll out is one of the key items for today’s (FRI) 32nd National Cabinet however Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s push to discuss the threat to coal jobs from the escalating trade war with China failed to make the agenda.
Ms Palaszczuk will instead have to raise the issue on the sidelines of the meeting including at a dinner at the Lodge schedule for last night (Thursday).
The only leader not at the dinner was Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan after he refused to travel to Canberra to avoid coming into contact with South Australian Premier Steven Marshall.
Mr McGowan said his decision was not a “snub” to National Cabinet but he had to stick to his state’s health policy which currently prohibits contact with South Australians.
Mr Marshall questioned the health advice as South Australia had no known cases in the state and had not recorded a new case in 12 days.
The stoush highlighted the only significant border barrier in the nation between SA and WA instead of showcasing the fact that COVID travel restrictions had finally ceased after successful suppression of the virus.
Mr Morrison said yesterday he hoped a vaccine might be able to get rolled out “a bit earlier” than the current March timetable.
He told 2GB radio the government was closely watching results from the United Kingdom where authorities this week started administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
“Here in Australia, we will have a front-row seat to how that goes and we’ll learn from that,” he said.
“But the health side of this is paramount and the Therapeutic Goods Administration, they must give its tick off.
“So there’s no shortcuts there.”
Other issues on National Cabinet agenda included an economic update from Treasury Secretary Stephen Kennedy, border management issues including emergency management and the three-step reopening and creating priorities for 2021.
The last National Cabinet of the year will also include the first meeting of the National Federation Reform Council, which is replacing the old Council of Australian Governments forum.
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