Coalition acknowledges targeted lockdowns may still happen once vaccination rate exceeds 70%

Simon Birmingham moves to reassure Australians the government will not walk away from them' following Josh Frydenberg comments

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The federal finance minister, Simon Birmingham, has acknowledged that targeted lockdowns could still happen once 70% to 80% of adults are vaccinated, and has moved to reassure Australians we are not about to walk away from them" in terms of providing ongoing hardship assistance.

Birmingham's more nuanced tone on Wednesday followed recent declarations from the treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, that the Morrison government could withdraw economic support if state premiers failed to phase out lockdowns once vaccination rates exceeded 70% of Australians over the age of 16.