Premiers question AstraZeneca vaccine backflip and demand Morrison government lower international arrivals cap

Daniel Andrews and Annastacia Palaszczuk say hotel quarantine system is stretched as states raise concerns about opening access to jab to under-40s

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Premiers have demanded the Morrison government slow the pace of arrivals from overseas, and have queried a decision to allow people under 40 to have AstraZeneca jabs, as the emergence of the highly infectious Delta variant triggered lockdowns in Sydney, parts of Queensland, Perth and the Northern Territory.

After flagging a review of Australia's stretched hotel quarantine system during Monday night's national cabinet meeting, Daniel Andrews and Annastacia Palaszczuk on Tuesday publicly urged the Morrison government to lower the cap on international arrivals for the next three months.