Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk warns of ongoing restrictions and lockdowns after vaccination target

Annastacia Palaszczuk says while she still supports reopening Queensland once vaccination targets are reached, she has warned an explosion in Covid cases interstate has changed the goalposts. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has refused to be drawn on how Queensland will open up once vaccination rates hit 80 per cent, saying we’re in “uncharted territory”.

Ms Palaszczuk faced questions on the state’s apparent rogue approach to the Doherty plan after Prime Minister Scott Morrison insisted exploding case numbers in NSW do not change the vaccination milestones for easing restrictions and lockdowns but Deputy Premier Steven Miles wouldn’t guarantee Queensland would reopen its border at that point.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says its likely Queensland would still face limited and specified restrictions and lockdowns going forward. Picture: Dan Peled

Ms Palaszczuk said everyone was still aiming for the 70 to 80 per cent vaccination goal.

But national cabinet had also agreed the extra modelling needed to be done based on the current situation, she said.

“They have commissioned more research because the goalposts have changed. it was premised on there being 30 cases in the community and now there are thousands,” the Premier said of the Doherty research.

She said her goal was always to suppress the virus and so there would be some limited and specified restrictions and lockdowns going forward.

“This is a book that hasn’t been written, folks,” she said.

“This is uncharted territory.”

She said she “absolutely” still supported the 70 to 80 per cent vaccination targets and her government was doing everything it could to make it easier to get a jab to meet those thresholds.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is urging Premiers to open up once 70-80 per cent of people are vaccinated. Picture: Gary Ramage

“We know the fastest way out of this is through vaccinations,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said Delta was incredibly infectious, and the other concern was children.

“We have to get children vaccinated, especially in those high school years … because we know that it can be spread.”

“This is a big job,” she said.

Responding, Mr Morrison said Australians who had rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated understood they were doing so under a plan to reopen.

“Let’s just see what happens,” he said, adding “the task is not to delay”.

Originally published as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk warns of ongoing restrictions and lockdowns after vaccination target