Prime Minister Scott Morrison slams Queensland’s planned restrictions for unvaccinated

Scott Morrison has taken aim at restrictions for unvaccinated people in Queensland. But he’s been slammed for trying to “claw” votes from “dangerous anti-vaxxers”.

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has taken aim at Queensland’s planned Covid-19 restrictions for the unvaccinated, saying they “should be able to go out and get a cup of coffee”.

However, some in the Canberra Press Gallery have publicly accused Mr Morrison of double standards due to his insistence members of the media must be vaccinated to attend his events.

It also prompted Deputy Premier Steven Miles to accuse Mr Morrison of “undermining Queensland and our vaccine rollout”.

Scott Morrison and Steven Miles have clashed over Queensland’s planned restrictions for the unvaccinated. Picture: News Corp Australia

“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 Miles said Mr Morrison was working to build support among “a coalition of anti-vaxxers” in hopes of re-election.

“He is so desperate to claw together a coalition of anti-vaxxers for his own political benefit that he is undermining confidence in our vaccine,” Mr Miles told Queensland parliament.

He said vaccinated Queenslanders should be rewarded for their efforts.

“They do not deserve to be undermined by a prime minister more interested in currying favour with coffee baron donors and lunatic backbenchers than the health and the jobs of Queenslanders,” Mr Miles said.

Once 80 per cent of eligible Queensland residents have received two doses of a coronavirus vaccine various restrictions are set to impact people who have not been double-jabbed.

Unvaccinated residents will be barred from hospitality venues such as hotels, pubs, clubs, taverns, bars, restaurants or cafes, Queensland Health states.

They will also be unable to attend outdoor entertainment activities such as sport at stadiums, theme parks or tourism experience like reef excursions, among other restrictions.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has repeatedly and fiercely defended Queensland’s tough Covid-19 restrictions. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

Mr Morrison said Australians have “kept their part of the deal”.

“As we get above 80 per cent (vaccination rate) in particular, which the scientific advice shows us and the research shows us, that means Australians can have their lives back,” he said.

“They should be able to go out and get a cup of coffee in Brisbane, when you’re over 80 per cent, regardless of whether you’ve had the vaccines or not.”

Mr Morrison, speaking in New South Wales, pushed for states to reel back Covid restrictions as vaccination rates climb in Queensland and across the country.

He said the Federal government only backed mandatory vaccinations for health workers.

“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.”

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

Mr Morrison said Australians have “done an amazing job” in the pandemic and it was time for governments to “step back” and for residents to “take their lives back”.

Schoolies given green light, no new Covid-19 cases

Earlier: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has confirmed Schoolies will go ahead on the Gold Coast as planned after two Covid-19 cases recorded in the city last week were contained.

Ms Palaszczuk provided a brief coronavirus update in Queensland parliament on Thursday morning.

Schoolies will go ahead on the Gold Coast this year.

She said no new cases had been recorded in the previous 24 hours.

Ms Palaszczuk said 83.21 per cent of eligible Queensland residents had received one dose of a Covid vaccine, while 71.6 per cent had been double-jabbed.

Ms Palaszczuk has said: “Schoolies is good to go.”

“This is great news for the 53,000 Queensland teenagers who are finishing school this week,” she said.

“Our Year 12s have completed their final two years under the shadow of Covid. They’ve learnt to adapt and simply get on with it, no matter what is thrown at them.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

“Congratulations to the Class of 2021. You made it.

“Queensland’s future is in good hands.”

In August last year, Ms Palaszczuk and then-chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young announced the cancellation of all organised Schoolies events for the year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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