Hazzard: ‘We need to make sure we stay as one nation’

Health Minister Brad Hazzard says he hopes jurisdictions of Australia which have not been exposed to the virus “to any great degree" can get their vaccination rates up quickly so the whole of the country can open up "as soon as possible".

“What I hope is that we will be able to get the vaccination rates up in those jurisdictions in Australia that have not had the exposure to the virus to any great degree,” he said.

“But clearly that's more challenging because the communities have been lulled into a false sense of security.

"The aim here is to have a nation of Australia, one Australia.

"Obviously New South Wales has tried very hard right throughout this pandemic ... to not close our borders.

“We've tried to stay open to the rest of the community for the majority of the time and I think that reflects the fact that the NSW government feel strongly that we are one nation, and we need to try to and make sure that we stay as one nation.”

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