...see this is what I've been saying. Scomo is not at all sincere in saying there is no alternative to lockdowns (at the moment), and he is merely using consultants (or health advice) to shield him from blame should the preferred course of action backfire...if Doherty Institute indicates it takes 80pc vaccination to exclude lockdowns, he will not accept their independent advice but will try to negotiate for a lower number ....because he will be too concern about the prospect of a double dip recession putting his electoral chances in grave danger.
...but if only NSW could see the success of Victoria, Qld and SA in managing outbreaks and learn to emulate a thing or two about how to do proper lockdowns, then we would not even have to contemplate aiming for a lower %vaccination. Because we would not be having a raging pandemic out of control.
..so much for convincing us that the Govt will take guidance from Doherty Institute...no, only if it meets their agenda.
...NSW and the Fed Govt is about to wave the white flag and join BJ in his approach. But am sure the other states would have none of it. ‘Big departure’: PM to weigh Treasury, health advice on reopening Phillip CooreyPolitical editor
Jul 29, 2021 – 6.23pm
Expert scientific advice on the vaccination rate that will determine when the nation can begin living with COVID-19 cases in the community will be tempered by Treasury advice about the economic cost of maintaining restrictions, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says.
With the national cabinet to examine on Friday the advice from the Doherty Institute about the vaccination rates that will enable society to reopen, Mr Morrison indicated that if those rates were deemed too high or unachievable, economic factors would have to be taken into account.
The Prime Minister won’t just rely on health advice to determine reopening.
As the national cabinet prepared to meet, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian began to concede her government may not be able to stamp out the outbreak that has crippled Greater Sydney and could instead reopen when vaccination rates improved.
“High rates of vaccination will be part of the road to freedom,” she said.
“Whilst we’re going through a very difficult time in NSW, let’s think about a period of time when potentially, if we live more free than any other state, because our vaccination rates are higher.
“Not only does vaccination reduce you going into hospital, the chances of you going into hospital, but it also reduces how infectious you are and how much you convey the virus to others.”
As NSW recorded a record 239 cases in 24 hours on Thursday, of which at least 66 were infectious for their entire time in the community, a source said confidence was waning inside the NSW government about reducing the community case numbers to zero.
If so, there would come a time when a decision would have to be made whether to keep people locked in their homes and destroy the economy, or start living with the virus. Vaccination rates were key to that, the source said.
Commissioned by the National Cabinet in early July, it was handed to the state and territory leaders late Thursday. It contains a range of vaccine thresholds and the health risks involved with each.
Treasury has also provided advice on the economic risks involved with each vaccine threshhold and a final decision will be made after taking both into account.
“It’s a big departure from relying solely on the health advice,” said a federal government source. ‘I won’t be pulling it out of the air’
Mr Morrison said it was unlikely the final decision would be made on Friday but the national cabinet would keep meeting until there was agreement.
“If we don’t get there in one meeting, we’ll keep meeting until we work out what those rates are,” he said.
“There’ll be a straight answer on that. But I won’t be making it up, I won’t be pulling it out of the air.
“We’re doing this scientifically on the basis of that very good modelling, which is informing us. But that’s also drawing on the economic modelling of the costs of lockdowns and the costs of providing support and compared to the alternatives.”
The troubled vaccine rollout has also proved a major political headache for the Morrison government with it bearing the brunt of the blame each time a state or region goes into lockdown.
“I do point the finger, as do many Australians, at Mr Morrison, for failing to do his job,” said Labor frontbencher Penny Wong.
“It’s an odd combination of both arrogance and incompetence that seems to have led him to this point where he doesn’t think he has to be accountable.”
Mr Morrison said ground was rapidly being recovered.
Commonwealth data released Thursday shows 201,470 vaccine doses were administered on Wednesday, the first time jabs exceeded 200,000. A total of 11.8 million doses have now been given out, with 17.73 per cent of the population now fully vaccinated.
In NSW, 39.5 per cent of the population has had one jab and 17.6 per cent have had both.
Mr Morrison said if the current rate of vaccinations was maintained, the goal of everybody who wanted one receiving at least one jab by Christmas would be achieved.
“You can certainly make up ground on this vaccination program, as we have each and every month,” he said.
“What a ridiculous position is that when you are going to put health staff at risk and when you get sick, you are going to expect to come into hospital and get paid for by taxpayers.
“It is time for those who actually think that way to wake up, including commentators who actually don’t base their commentary on logic whatsoever.”
