PM Scott Morrison following meeting of PM and Premiers says they've asked medical experts to outline thresholds required to allow vaccinated Australians to travel without going into hotel quarantine by either doing home quarantine or not at all.
#StrandedAussies

Morrison says this isn't happening today. He specifically mentioned vaccinating the vulnerable (vs population) as one potential benchmark although this is all subject to advice.

He says Singapore is the next likely travel bubble with Australia but this is also some time away.

But he says the message from the national cabinet following their meeting today is that they want to see Australia reopening safely.

#StrandedAussies

So Australians already vaccinated in UK, US, Israel, China, UAE etc could be well-poised to become among the first to get home for the first time in years without having to pay $3000 to be locked up for two weeks.

But huge IFs here.

And Morrison says the goal is for Australia to treat Covid-19 like the flu, where it can be present but doesn't require mass lockdowns.

'But we're not at that point yet and I think we will soon be.'

(Just last month Brisbane locked down over a single case).

ie. "soon" doing a lot of heavy lifting here.

Meanwhile, words v deeds:

The national cabinet today agreed to continue the restrictions on the number of Australians and foreigners with exemptions who can enter the country until at least mid-June.

PM Morrison on if Australians can hope to be vaccinated by Xmas: 'We're not in a position to reconfirm a timetable.'

* 20 million more Pfizer doses have been ordered but they won't arrive until the end of 2021

* The previous goal of first dose to all by October completely deal

Morrison says the key data Aust lack in order to allow travel for the vaccinated is the effect of the vaccines on transmission.

Paul Kelly 'there's positive signs...but that isn't completely known'.

Chief Med officer also cites variants and length of protection offered by jabs.

Prof Paul Kelly says it's important not to 'rush' the reopening of Australia's international borders because the internal borders remain open.

And that's the prevailing attitude in Australia towards those affected by the international border closure, sadly.

By substituting 'rush' for 'better management' health officials and govt are able to abscond their duties to citizens overseas, families who live apart and those who depend on the border for their livelihoods.

Because as long as everything is okay at home (ie, internal borders) it's easy to not give any cares about those abroad.

It's such a revealing insight into Australia's character.