NSW residents will only be allowed to travel overseas when 80 per cent of the entire country is vaccinated, even if the state reaches its own target months beforehand.
Federal Trade and Tourism Minister Dan Tehan has insisted both state and national averages must reach the milestone before the country is reopened.
This is a blow for several states like NSW that are ahead of the national vaccination rate and expected to reach their 80 per cent target as early as late October.
Other states, such as Queensland, have lagged behind in their rollout with the target not expected to be reached until as late as December.
NSW residents will only be allowed to travel overseas when 80 per cent of the entire country is vaccinated even if the state reaches its own target months beforehand
It comes as a blow for several states, such as NSW, which are ahead of the national vaccination rate and expected to reach its target as early as the end of October
Tasmania leads the charge with 40.62 per cent of its population already fully vaccinated. The figure pushes the state ahead of the national average of 33.9 per cent.
Tasmania is expected to have fully vaccinated 80 per cent of its population by October 27.
The ACT is expected to hit the milestone at the same time with 40.44 per cent of residents already double-jabbed.
NSW is next in line with the state on track to hit the 80 per cent mark less than a week later on November 5, but it is likely to be up to two weeks earlier.
About 35.43 per cent of the state has been fully vaccinated.
Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory are the three slowest states to vaccinate their residents.
Western Australia won't hit its 80 per cent vaccination rate until November 21, the NT on November 26 and Queensland on December 10.
The slow uptake in vaccinations has prompted MPs to push for their states to reopen sooner than others.
Liberal MP for the northern beaches seat of Mackellar, Jason Falinski, argued it was unfair to expect NSW to wait for slowpoke states.
'To do anything else would be punishing the people of NSW,' he said. 'We have done so much of the heavy lifting.'
Federal Trade and Tourism Minister Dan Tehan has insisted that both state and national averages must reach the milestone before the country is reopened
Vaccination rates state by state
Federal Trade and Tourism Minister Dan Tehan has insisted that both state and national averages must reach 80 per cent vaccination rates before the country is reopened.
It comes as a blow for several states, such as NSW, that are ahead of the national vaccination rate which sits at 33.9 per cent.
Below is a list of the states and the percentage of residents (aged 16 and above) who have been fully jabbed:
ACT: 44.4 per cent
NSW: 35.43
NT: 36.65
QLD: 30.74
SA: 32.96
TAS: 40.62
VIC: 33.33
WA: 30.46
When states are expected to reach the 70 per cent target:
TAS: October 12
ACT: October 12
NSW: October 20
SA: November 2
VIC: November 2
NT: November 5
WA: November 4
QLD: November 11
When states are expected to reach the 80 per cent target:
TAS: October 27
ACT: October 27
NSW: November 5
SA: November 19
VIC: November 19
WA: November 21
NT: November 26
QLD: December 10
'What you're saying is even when we reach 80 per cent we won't have the full entitlements and freedoms that we deserve because other state governments haven't done the heavy lifting and shirked their responsibilities to the rest of the nation? That's not right.'
Liberal MP for Wentworth, Dave Sharma, joined the chorus and called for travel restrictions to be lifted for some states sooner.
'I'd prefer not to see a two-speed Australia but if other states want to take a more cautious approach I don't see why NSW needs to be held back by that,' he said.
Mr Tehan has stood firm on his decision and insisted that the country must reach the 80 per cent target before considering reopening.
'The commonwealth government wants all states and territories to adhere to the national plan as we will adhere to it,' he said.
He confirmed a travel bubble will be created between Australia and Singapore with flights expected to recommence by the end of the year.
'We'll be looking to build on and expand the bubbles consistent with the national plan once we hit that 80 per cent mark.'
The slow uptake in vaccinations has prompted members of parliament to push for their states to reopen sooner than others