Scott Morrison has revealed the federal government will be sticking to a plan to reopen the country when up to 80 per cent of the eligible population is vaccinated.
The Australian Prime Minister has been dismayed at seeing millions of Aussies endure lengthy lockdowns and he's hoping their reopening plan will prevent more stay-at-home orders being introduced.
While speaking from Canberra, Mr Morrison said: "Our goal must be to help people overcome those fears and not give in to them, because this cannot go on forever.
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"This is not a sustainable way to live in this country, without those freedoms that we all cherish.
"We understand, all sensible Australians understand, that there's had to be restrictions, there's had to be curtailment of what we can do during the course of a global pandemic.
"The virus doesn't respect ideologies, it doesn't respect any of these things.
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"It's just a virus, and we have to deal with it, and Australians get that. But equally, they also know there has to be a plan out, there is a plan out, and we need to move forward with that plan."
It's believed the community will largely be safer when the eligible population hits that all-important 80 per cent target, which is due to be reached by the end of the year if vaccination rates continue.
The Prime Minister warned everyone that large numbers of daily cases are expected once we reopen, however we can't afford to keep locking down.
He said states and territories need to be prepared to live with the virus and not aim for a zero-case scenario.
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"Once you get to 70 per cent of your country that is eligible for the vaccine and 80 per cent, the plan sets out that we have to move forward, we cannot hold back," he said.
"We must adjust our mindset. Cases will not be the issue ... dealing with serious illness, hospitalisation, ICU capabilities, our ability to respond in those circumstances, that will be our goal."
Western Australia's Premier, Mark McGowan, suggested his state would lockdown if he felt necessary and the Prime Minister was asked whether states would be able to deviate from the national plan.
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"It puzzles me why anyone would want to go against a plan that has been so carefully prepared base on that advice," he said.
"I think the greater concern in that environment would be that lockdowns would be being applied. That is the greater risk to people in that scenario."
He held off committing to a specific day when the country will be reopened so we will have to watch the vaccination rate to see how the country is tracking.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Australia