Covid-19 Australia: Health Minister Greg Hunt admits lockdowns could remain even if we hit vaccination target

Health Minister Greg Hunt has conceded lockdowns could still occur even if the nation hits a key vaccination target.

Australia could still be faced with lockdowns when the country reaches the 70 per cent vaccination target set by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the Health Minister has conceded.

Earlier this month, national cabinet backed the vaccination target in order to move to the next phase of reopening. Under phase B of the national plan, Australians would be rewarded with greater freedoms, but the detail has yet to be worked out.

Speaking with Nine’s Today on Tuesday, Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australians could still expect to face lockdowns despite higher vaccination rates.

“The Doherty modelling has indicated if we have 70 per cent of full vaccination in Australia, the need for lockdowns is less, but it's not an absolute end to them,” he said.

Australia must reach a nationwide vaccination target of 70 per cent before we can consider opening up. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

The honest admission comes as the government faces pushback from the business community over its position on workplace vaccination.

Mr Morrison on Monday ruled out the government offering an indemnity to employers who vaccinated their workforce.

“The vaccination service is free and it is not mandatory. That’s an important principle. We are not going to seek to impose a mandatory vaccination program by the government by stealth,” Mr Morrison said.

He previously said employees could make a “reasonable” directive to staff to get vaccinated, but any decision to do so must remain consistent with legislation.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday ruled out an indemnity to employers who vaccinated their workforce. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“We do not have a mandatory vaccination policy in this country,” he told reporters following national cabinet on Friday.

“We do not have that. We’re not proposing to have that. That is not changing, but an employer may make a reasonable directive to staff, and if they do so, they will have to stay consistent with the law and particularly in dealing with a situation where an employee may be in direct contact, potentially become infected and acquire the virus.”

Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox warned the government’s inaction left businesses out on a lurch.

“It leaves employers in a very difficult position where they know if they take an action towards mandating or requiring vaccines from customers and the like then they will inevitably be open to legal challenge, either through Fair Work or through the courts,” he told ABC’s RN.

“Businesses would much rather prefer that the government give the directive through a public health order which allows businesses, where appropriate, to mandate vaccines. It would make it much simpler.”

Business has pushed back on the government’s refusal to mandate vaccines. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Mr Hunt on Tuesday defended the government’s position, telling Sunrise such a mandate is not “something to be done lightly”.

“We have set out, nationally, that the position is that vaccination other than in exceptional circumstances is a voluntary process,” he said.

“In certain workplaces, where either the worker or their clients are at risk and considered to be vulnerable, then in that situation it is regarded as being a reasonable direction.

“It is something which is not done lightly to mandate because it is so important to have the confidence of the public.”