Scott Morrison urges states to stick to deal on Covid-19 lockdowns

Scott Morrison has warned state and territory leaders not to breach a compact with Australians by locking down after vaccination rates reach 80 per cent.

Scott Morrison in Canberra on Friday. Picture: Getty Images

Scott Morrison has warned state and territory leaders not to breach a compact with Australians by locking down after vaccination rates reach 80 per cent, as he ­attempts to salvage the nation’s four-step pandemic recovery plan amid open division within the ­national cabinet.

The Prime Minister said the ­national plan, which would terminate lockdowns once vaccination rates hit 80 per cent, was a “deal with Australians” to encourage take-up of the jab.

“You’re taking the instructions. You’re making the sacrifices. You’re getting tested. You’re isolating. You’re getting vaccinated,” Mr Morrison said. “And the ­national plan is a deal with Australians, which says when we achieve those marks of 70 per cent and 80 per cent, there’ll be changes. And I’m committed to that plan.

“And premiers and chief ministers have signed up to that plan, but they haven’t signed up with me. They’ve signed up with the Australian people.”

There have been 16.5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines administered in Australia, including 1.7 million over the past week.

With NSW and Victoria facing tougher lockdowns, Josh Frydenberg cautioned leaders not to ­expect ongoing federal economic support from once their populations reached the 70-80 per cent vaccination threshold.

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has reserved the right to continue lockdowns when the vaccination rates are above 80 per cent, while other leaders have given conflicting advice on the path out of Covid.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was examining minimal easings of restrictions for September, but that these and further freedoms for October would be outlined next week.

Asked how people would be able to prove their vaccinated ­status – in the event that vaccinated people were given greater freedoms – Ms Berejiklian said her government was developing technology to make it possible. “At the moment you can go through Medicare and verify that you’ve been vaccinated – but NSW is also working on an easy-to-use feature which will be linked into QR codes.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the “game-changing” vaccination rate was 80 per cent, at which point he was willing to ease restrictions. “Every leader in the country, regardless of what political party they’re from, is committed to that national plan,” he said.

He said letting the virus rip was not an option and said the “narrative” that Australians could live with the virus was unhelpful.

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the need for lockdowns was “less likely” when 70 to 80 per cent of the population was vaccinated, but could not rule them out completely.

“The modelling is based on a number of assumptions. It was done at a time when transmission in the community was very, very low and that is not the case now,” he said. “We cannot predict the future.”

Mr Andrews and ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr criticised Mr Morrison for his surprise ­announcement on Thursday that Pfizer vaccines would be available for people aged 16-39 at the end of August. “I wouldn’t be banking on anything being here in two weeks, like I haven’t seen that stock,” Mr ­Andrews said. “Is it even here?”

Mr Morrison said he was awaiting interim advice on opening the vaccination program for 12 to 16-year-olds.

Opposition health spokesman Mark Butler called on Mr Morrison to “set a clear case number ­target for when restrictions are lifted”. “The Doherty Institute modelling does not assume restrictions can be lifted in the way they outline if case numbers are still in the hundreds,” Mr Butler said.

“So what is that number?”

Additional reporting: Yoni Bashan