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Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk fired up when asked whether the state’s borders would reopen with NSW and Victoria when an 80 per cent vaccination target was met.Credit:Matt Dennien

Eighty per cent,she said,meant different things to different states.

“At the moment,Queenslanders have more freedoms than what Victoria will have at 80 per cent and what New South Wales will have at 80 per cent,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“In Victoria,at 80 per cent,they will be allowed 30 people to visit for Christmas dinner. Here,Queenslanders can have 100 people over.”

Asked what freedoms Queenslanders would experience once the vaccination rate hits 80 per cent,Ms Palaszczuk said the national plan would actually take the state “backwards”,while the date that target would be reached depended on supply from the federal government.

“I don’t want that for Queensland,so we’re probably going to see a difference for Western Australia and Queensland because at the moment we have freedoms,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk did not answer a question about at what level of vaccination it would be safe to reopen the state’s borders.

She said the national plan had not been finalised and further Doherty Institute modelling would be put before the next national cabinet meeting.

“The Doherty modelling has not been released publicly ... but 80 per cent will mean different things to different states,” she said.

When asked whether she could give regional businesses more clarity about the reopening plan after national cabinet,the Premier snapped:“If we get a Delta outbreak here,we’ll be in lockdown and all businesses will be closed. Do you want that?

“I don’t understand this constant criticism of Queensland doing well,” she said.

“I will always stand up for this state. I am sick of being attacked for Queensland doing a great job and Queenslanders doing a great job.

“The hospitals in New South Wales are going to be overwhelmed next month. I don’t want that for Queensland.

“That is why we have tough border measures in place and that is why I want people to get vaccinated to protect our freedoms.

“Now,at 80 per cent vaccination rate — fully vaccinated — in New South Wales and Victoria are going to be[fewer] freedoms than what we enjoy currently right now.”

Ms Palaszczuk said a lot of the “constant criticism” was coming from Canberra.

“I’m just,frankly,sick of it. I’m sick of Queenslanders being attacked for doing the right thing,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk alsocast doubt on whether Queenslanders would be allowed to travel overseas before the end of the year,after federal Tourism Minister Dan Tehan said the international border would be reopened by Christmas “at the latest”.

But federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the national plan was very clear and simple,and all states and territories had signed up.

“[The national plan] is such an important road map for the nation and I welcome the fact that Victoria and NSW... have published,there are guides to what they will do at 70 and 80 per cent,” he said.

Among eligible Queenslanders,61.53 per cent have received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine,while 42.78 per cent are fully vaccinated.

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