Facing increasing criticism over Australia’s vaccination rollout and current series of outbreaks, Scott Morrison shared a late-night message to commiserate with millions of anxious Australians and said he felt their frustration and fatigue.
Following an emergency meeting of the National Cabinet on Monday night, Mr Morrison came out with a series of new measures to jumpstart the rollout of vaccines and shore up the hotel quarantine system.
These measures included mandatory vaccines for all aged care workers and people involved in transporting airline workers, testing of returned travellers and their close contacts after quarantine, and the opening up of the AstraZeneca vaccine to anyone under 40 who requests it.
To the “tired, frustrated, and anxious” Australians – including millions currently in lockdown – Mr Morrison said, bluntly, that we have no other choice.
“I certainly understand [people’s] frustration when it comes to dealing with this pandemic. We’re very conscious of those great frustrations,” he said.
“The pandemic is still upon us. And I know when you’re maybe midway, maybe further through the course of this pandemic, we can grow tired and frustrated and anxious. I understand, but how should we go forward? Do we give into that?
“Or do we continue to show the same determination that we have showed, particularly over that first year in the pandemic and more? We were able to come through and Australia was able to achieve a result in saving lives like virtually no other country in the world.
“I’d be encouraging Australians to hang in there. We don’t have a choice. The pandemic is still upon us. It’s the pandemic, that’s the reason why these things are happening in places all over the world.”
