Queensland government blasts Scott Morrison over ‘pile-on’

The Palaszczuk government has ramped up hostilities with the Prime Minister just hours before national cabinet, accusing Scott Morrison of focusing on his own re-election rather than the health crisis plaguing Australia.

Queensland deputy premier Steven Miles blasted his federal counterparts as the Sunshine State refuses to fall in line on an agreement to open borders once a desired vaccine threshold is reached.

“Yesterday Scott Morrison had six members of his team out attacking Queensland, our border restrictions and our Premier,” the state’s provocateur-in-chief told reporters on Friday morning.

“We haven’t seen a pile-on like that since before the state election last year.

“Not one of them mentioned the outbreak in Sydney — it’s as though Queenslanders are somehow responsible for the NSW outbreak.”

Mr Miles accused the Prime Minister of abandoning responsibility for outbreaks soaring in Australia’s two most populated states and was instead focused on his own re-election.

“It’s clear the Prime Minister has both his eyes on his own election, and no eyes on the outbreak ripping through Sydney right now,” the deputy premier said.

The Palaszczuk government and federal counterparts exchanged bitter barbs on Thursday after Annastacia Palaszczuk declared modelling from the Doherty Institute revealed more than 2000 deaths would occur every month if borders open at 70 per cent vaccination coverage.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the Premier “selectively misusing the Doherty modelling breaches good faith and damages public confidence”.

But Mr Miles defended the claims and urged Queenslanders to ignore communications from federal health politicians.

“Don’t let the LNP convince you that the Doherty Institute modelling says something that it does not,” the deputy premier said.

“Don’t fall for Scott Morrison’s marketing tactics.

“This is much more complex than a number and a simple three-word slogan.

“To Queenslanders I say this: We’ve been here before — every time our premier has followed health advice and is determined to keep Queenslanders safe.”