Scott Morrison to continue COVID-normal Christmas push

Momentum is growing for state borders to reopen for a COVID-normal Christmas, with Victoria now boasting fewer active virus cases than any state except Tasmania.

A national contact tracing system is expected to be locked in by the national cabinet on Friday as Scott Morrison continues his push to reach COVID-normal by Christmas.

With Victoria now having fewer active cases than any state except Tasmania, momentum is growing for state borders to reopen.

All states except Western Australia have tentatively agreed to reopen by Christmas, with Friday’s meeting to finalise a framework to guide common restrictions on gatherings, travel and business operations.

The national cabinet will receive Chief Scientist Alan Finkel’s final report on how the states and territories can improve their capacity to test, trace and isolate COVID-19.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: Getty

Dr Finkel, who was also called in to help fix problems with Victoria’s contact tracing system, has been working on plans for a national approach to tracing.

This would include a national standing surge capacity to trace close contacts in an outbreak, transparent data exchange between states, and recommendations to streamline outbreak management protocols.

Friday’s meeting will also seek to progress the national rollout policy for COVID-19 vaccinations, after good news this week about the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine.

Australia has ordered 10 million doses — which will cover five million people who will each need two jabs — and it is expected to be available by March.

First priority will be given to the elderly, as well as essential workers in healthcare and potentially other industries.

The national cabinet is also expected to consider the caps placed on international arrivals, and whether the hotel quarantine system could be adapted to enable some arriving travellers to quarantine at home.

There are now just three active coronavirus cases in Victoria, compared to 24 in New South Wales, 10 in Queensland, 17 in South Australia and 14 in Western Australia.

The Northern Territory has eight active cases, with none in Tasmania and the ACT.

While the Victoria-NSW border will reopen on November 23, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian reacted angrily this week to suggestions from Queensland that it could reopen to Victorians before Sydney residents.

The Queensland government is determined to see 28 consecutive days without mystery cases to ease border restrictions.

“I think it is unjustified and I think it is spiteful,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“NSW has demonstrated you can manage the pandemic by keeping the community safe but also by keeping people in jobs and keeping people mobile and relatively free in a COVID-safe way.”

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