Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles blasts Morrison government over vaccine criticism

The Palaszczuk government has blasted counterparts in Canberra who have condemned Queensland’s slow vaccine rollout.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles blasted the federal Health Minister over criticism levelled at the state regarding its vaccine numbers, which are the lowest in terms of the percentage of population jabbed of all jurisdictions.

“It’s incredible to see the nerve of Greg Hunt to call Queenslanders laggards when he knows full well how many vaccines he’s taking from us to give to NSW,” he said.

“We’ve supported that because we understand the situation in NSW, but it’s important the Commonwealth is honest and upfront about how many vaccines they are taking from Queenslanders to give to NSW.

“If we had those vaccines, then we would be higher up the league table that he and the Prime Minister and others point to, but more importantly, more Queenslanders would be protected.”

Mr Miles cited reports from the Commonwealth and said Queensland would get “less than our fair share” of jabs for the rest of the year.

“These reallocations can’t all be explained by the outbreak,” he said.

“If it was just because of the outbreak, then why would they be taking vaccines off Victoria as well to send to NSW?

“All we’re asking for here is some honesty and to stop criticising Queensland and Queenslanders for our vaccination rate, which is largely caused by the flow of vaccines into this state.”

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath echoed Mr Miles’ comments, telling the Prime Minister: “If you say we’re all in this together, mean it.”

And Annastacia Palaszczuk delivered her own furious and blunt warning.

“Don’t pick a fight when the other state is getting more vaccines,” she told reporters on Tuesday morning.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews joined the pile on, claiming NSW had been given a secret distribution of jabs on top of the extra doses allocated through national cabinet.

“I did not sign up and no Victorians signed up to a national plan to vaccinate Sydney, and whilst I have been very clear the extra allocations that were given to them — known and announced and aboveboard and clearly transparent — that was a good thing, we didn’t begrudge them that.

“Let’s be clear, we are not talking about those doses, we are talking about otherwise secret arrangements that are just not right.

“They need to stop and there needs to be additional supplies provided to Victoria and other states who have missed out.”

Mr Andrews referenced heavily criticised comments from the Prime Minister earlier on in the nation's vaccination rollout, telling reporters: ”Some don’t like to see this as a race but a race it surely is.”

“What I didn’t know was that premier Gladys Berejiklian is in a sprint while the rest of us are supposed to do some sort of egg and spoon thing.

“No, we want our fair share.

“These allocations, which are totally unfair and were under the table, need to stop and we need to get a make-good. We need to get those doses we didn’t get fast tracked to us.”