Lieutenant General John Frewen does not rule cash incentives to entice people to get vaccinated

The face of Australia’s vaccine rollout has left the door open to the idea of paying people to get vaccinated despite Scott Morrison’s objection.

The face of Australia’s vaccine rollout says he’s not ruling out the use of cash incentives to encourage people to get vaccinated later in the year.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Lieutenant General John Frewen said incentives could be rolled out later in the year to help shift hesitancy.

“I’ve said incentives is something we will consider, but right now Australians are coming forward,” he said.

“Demand is still exceeding supply right now, so the time for incentives I think may be later in the year when we're getting into some of the more hesitant sort of groups.

Cash for jabs remain a possibility for later in the year, according to Lieutenant General John Frewen. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“We will look at all positive alternatives. There is cash, there is the ideas of lotteries, all these things are being discussed.

“But what is resonating with people right now really is being able to get back to the sort of lifestyle we used to enjoy, international travel, not having to do quarantine, not having to go into lockdown and those sorts of things.
“Getting vaccinated is the right thing to do for individuals and for the nation.”

The comments from General Frewen come in stark contrast to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who on Tuesday branded Labor’s cash for jabs plan as an “insult”.

“This is a serious public health crisis, it is not a game show,” Mr Morrison said.

“If they do have hesitancy about vaccine, I am not going to pay them off.”

Labor had proposed providing individuals with a one-off cash incentive of $300 if they were vaccinated by December 1. The sweetener, the opposition said, would come at a $6bn cost but would help fast-track the vaccination process.

National cabinet on Friday endorsed an 80 per cent vaccination target to make lockdowns a thing of the past. Picture: Mark Stewart

National cabinet last week agreed to make lockdowns a thing of the past if 80 per cent of the adult population was vaccinated.

General Frewen on Wednesday argued it was “mathematically possible” to reach that target by the end of the year.

“Really, I think we will have everything in place to be able to get to those sorts of numbers by the end of the year, but public willingness to come forward is key.”

“I will make sure that everybody gets a dose by Christmas.”

Originally published as Lieutenant General John Frewen does not rule cash incentives to entice people to get vaccinated