Scott Morrison leaves the Lodge after spending two weeks in quarantine in Canberra (Image: Lukas Coch/AAP)

Prime Minister Scott Morrison came out of hotel quarantine and into the fire. State and territory premiers, along with many Australians forced into lockdown, are furious at the government’s bungling of the vaccine rollout and Morrison’s wishy-washy messaging around access to the AstraZeneca vaccine. Half of Australia’s population is living under a lockdown order.

Premiers went into the national cabinet meeting with harsh demands around vaccination goals and international arrival caps, calling for new targets to address the COVID-19 outbreaks.

But the meeting — on the surface, at least — seems to have appeased several premiers. ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr tweeted that there was an “outbreak of peace and harmony in the federation”, while SA Premier Steven Marshall called the meeting “excellent” and “respectful”.

So what was decided?

A new pathway out

Morrison said Australia will transition from a suppression model to one that will manage COVID as an infectious disease preventing serious illness following mass vaccinations.

Following modelling by the Doherty Institute, Morrison said a four-phase pathway is being modelled. Each phase will be triggered by a percentage of vaccinations reached, with percentages yet to be determined

Phase one — the phase we’re in — will continue to focus on suppression of the virus with reduced arrival caps. The government will also trial with states seven-day home quarantine options for returning vaccinated travellers.

Phase two would lead to higher levels of international arrivals, lockdowns to occur only in extreme circumstances, capped arrivals of student and economic visa holders.

Phase three, the consolidation phase, would lead to managing the virus consistent with other infectious diseases like the flu, and would again increase traveller caps, uncapped arrivals for vaccinated travellers, and allow unrestricted travel between agreed countries.

Phase four is when life returns to normal with uncapped arrivals.

International arrivals to be capped

Following the demands of Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Victorian Premier Dan Andrews, and Marshall, national cabinet agreed to reduce international arrivals, with Andrews and Palaszczuk demanding they stay capped until vaccines are made readily available.

Current international arrivals will be capped by 50% in response to the Delta strain of the virus, though the federal government will increase international repatriations and quarantine returned Australians in Darwin’s Howard Springs facility.

But NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, who has been against further caps, said this wouldn’t guarantee outbreaks wouldn’t happen. NSW has been housing most returned travellers in quarantine.

“I am disappointed that every state hasn’t done its fair share but I appreciate and have to respect the decision of the national cabinet,” she said. “My heart goes out to thousands of Australians who have to wait longer to come home.”

WA Premier Mark McGowan pointed to the number of Australians who had flown abroad and returned more than once — many travelling abroad for mining work — as reason for reducing the arrival cap, while Marshall and Palaszczuk said their hotel quarantine placements had reached capacity with interstate travellers returning home.

McGowan also called for extra income support to people who had been affected by lockdowns that did not extend beyond a week; Morrison highlighted the government’s $5.7 billion grant to states and territories to deal with COVID.

“Let there be no suggestion the Commonwealth is not sharing the load here,” he said.

What about vaccines?

While other premiers previously said lockdowns will stop when people are vaccinated, Berejiklian stressed in NSW lockdowns were a last resort.

“Making the vaccination available to people is the key to our freedom, absolutely, and NSW has been extremely vocal about that for many, many months,” she said.

Morrison said once Australia was vaccinated, we would be able to live differently.

Today Australia will hit 8 million vaccine doses administered.

“We get this done, Australia, and you can see what is on the other side,” he said.