Queensland might not reopen to Australia until it reaches 90 per cent vaccination rate

Queensland’s reopening to the rest of the country could be delayed, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk refusing to commit to the 80 per cent double vaccination rate threshold flagged by NSW and Victoria in their road maps.

Queensland may not reopen to the rest of Australia until it gets to a 90 per cent vaccination rate.

Despite NSW and Victoria outlining a road map to opening up based on an 80 per cent double vaccination rate, Queensland is yet to commit to any blueprint going forward.

The state’s population is on track to hit the 80 per cent double jab mark no later than December 5, giving hope for a more normal Christmas period.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is understood to be considering the 90 per cent vaccination rate as the new threshold. House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

But now some Labor insiders are claiming that a 90 per cent threshold is being weighed up.

Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young last week publicly said that she would like to see 90 per cent of Queenslanders vaccinated.

Tasmania’s director of public health has publicly indicated he would like a 90 per cent vaccination rate in his state before its borders were fully opened the rest of the country.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was too early to speculate on the 90 per cent target.

“We are waiting on updates – Doherty institute modelling – in two weeks before we can make those decisions,” she said

As well as Dr Young’s caution, politics is driving a shift in thinking to a higher threshold – with Labor polling finding Queenslanders do not want the borders if it means a mass Delta variant outbreak, like has happened in NSW and Victoria.

The polling makes two key findings. The first is that Queenslanders are angry at the so-called exemptions unit, which is regarded as “heartless’’, for refusing to allow Queenslanders back into the Sunshine State, but it gives special treatment to the wives and girlfriends of footballers.

The key finding, however, is that Queenslanders love their liberty and freedoms, and the fact that coronavirus is under control and that is a key driver in the Palaszczuk Government’s thinking.

Tourism industry leaders are incensed at the prospect of Queensland being closed for the Christmas-New Year holidays.

Originally published as Queensland might not reopen to Australia until it reaches 90 per cent vaccination rate