Christmas pledge as NSW sets virus record
As NSW marked its worst day of COVID-19 case numbers, Scott Morrison said he would do everything in his power to ensure Australians can celebrate Christmas around the table.
NSW reported a record 356 new local cases of coronavirus and four deaths on Tuesday.
There were also 20 infections in Melbourne but it remains uncertain if lockdown will be extended beyond Thursday.
Queensland chalked up three new local cases, all linked.
The prime minister warned the nation was in a tough fight against the Delta strain of the virus as he thanked locked-down residents across Australia for their efforts.
"I want Australia to get to Christmas, but I want everybody around that table at Christmas time," he said.
Health Minister Greg Hunt declined to say whether the nation could get to the 70 per cent fully vaccinated mark by mid-November, as has been estimated as achievable by some experts.
The national strategy agreed by political leaders would see a range of restrictions lifted at this vaccination rate, with even greater freedoms at the 80 per cent mark.
The current rate sits at 23 per cent of over-16s.
"I won't put a day on it ... but I will say that what we are seeing is, at this point in time, more vaccinations occurring in July and August than we were anticipating and planning on," he said.
Sydney and surrounds are in lockdown until at least August 28, while the Hunter, Byron Bay, Armidale and Tamworth are enduring snap lockdowns.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the key to getting virus transmission in her state under control remained getting more people vaccinated and people complying with health orders.
"Policy positions that may have worked in the past aren't going to have effect with Delta, it's something we need to accept," the premier said on Tuesday.
"Short of not having authorised workers do what's necessary, it's really difficult to get to lower cases without that targeted vaccine strategy."
The rollout is just shy of 14 million doses so far, with 2.6 million delivered in the past fortnight.
Business leaders have pledged to help with the vaccine rollout but say clearer advice is needed on whether employees can be compelled to get a jab.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said some exemptions had been made through public health orders for aged care and quarantine staff.
But he pointed to workplace regulators' guidelines to inform individual businesses about whether mandating vaccines was reasonable.
The government's efforts are also being frustrated by its own members.
LNP MP George Christensen has been taken to task for attacking medical advisers as "dictatorial bureaucrats" and calling for an immediate opening up of states to "end this madness".
A Queensland LNP colleague Warren Entsch said elected members should be more careful with their views.
"It is very, very unhelpful and totally inappropriate," he told the ABC.
"I am glad to see that there is that unity across the political spectrum today when those views were soundly rejected."
Businesses have been given formal approval until March 31 next year to hold virtual meetings and use electronic communications to send meeting materials and execute documents.
And laws have passed making COVID-19 disaster payments tax-free.
