Scott Morrison thanks Australians for ‘phenomenal’ jab uptake, as NSW opens new chapter

Scott Morrison has commended Australians for rolling up their sleeves at among the highest rates in the world.

Scott Morrison says ‘the reopening of NSW ‘will be a moment to cherish’. Picture: Getty Images

Scott Morrison has praised Australians for their “phenomenal response” to the Covid-19 crisis by rolling up their sleeves to get vaccinated at among the highest rates in the world, as NSW edges closer to freedom when the state reopens on Monday.

The Prime Minister thanked the millions of Australians who have presented for vaccination, saying they should be “proud” of their achievement, with the 30 million doses administered pushing the vaccine coverage to 82.2 per cent single-dose and 61.9 per cent dose double-dose.

Mr Morrison said NSW was more than prepared to reopen with the state’s high vaccination rate – which sits at 73.5 per cent double-dose – ranking, along with the ACT, among the top 10 OECD countries in terms of vaccination coverage.

Australia has a first-dose vaccination rate higher than Germany and the US, as well as higher than the UK’s when it reopened.

“Freedoms for those in states that have been subject to lockdowns are very close, and all of those have been earned and hard won by those who went out, rolled up their sleeves and got their jab,” Mr Morrison said in a video released on Sunday.

“Tomorrow NSW will begin a new chapter. It will open up safely as part of our national plan. And stay safely open.

“This will be a moment to cherish for people right across New South Wales; reuniting with family and friends, having a beer with your mates at the pub, getting a haircut and going to the gym.

“All things that we once took for granted but that we now know are so important.”

Mr Morrison also commended the rest of the states and territories for their “amazing achievements”, including the ACT, which sits at 95 per cent first dose and 72.8 per cent double-dose vaccination, and Victoria, which is on 85.5 per cent single-dose and 58.6 per cent full vaccination rate.

“The phenomenal response from Australians to go and get vaccinated — as we’ve seen those vaccination rates rise right across country — means it’s now time that Australians are able to reclaim their lives,” he said.

“We’re beating Covid, and we’re taking our lives back.

“Whether you’re in locked-down Melbourne, or on the verge of once again opening up in Sydney or living life near normal in Perth, we all have cause for celebration today.”

Mr Morrison revealed he had been discussing bringing forward the reopening of international borders into NSW with Premier Dominic Perrottet.

“The NSW Premier and I have been discussing how we can accelerate our plan to open international travel when home quarantine is made available,” he said.

“Now, that would mean home quarantine for vaccinated Australians wishing to return home via Sydney and giving the option for international travel for vaccinated Australians to leave and return.”

Mr Morrison gave a special thanks to Victoria, where Melbourne has endured the longest lockdown in the world over the past 18 months, after Premier Daniel Andrews announced plans to allow vaccinated crowds back at the Melbourne Cup and Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Sunday.

“Victorians have sacrificed so much — more than any right across the country with the extent of lockdowns that they’ve had — so much during the course of this pandemic, and this must be very welcome news,” he said.

“But more importantly, for friends and family, it means they will soon be able to be reunited and share again so many of those lost moments that they’ve had in the past few years.”

He also applauded Tasmania, which despite having virtually no Covid-19 cases had almost reached 80 per cent first-dose vaccination, and Western Australia and Queensland, which were edging closer to the 70 per cent first dose mark.