The ACT chief minister wants today's meeting of National Cabinet to put an end to the debate around opening up the country at 70 per cent COVID-19 vaccination.
Andrew Barr said it was time the nation's leaders recognised that the revised Doherty Institute modelling suggested opening up the nation with only 70 per cent of the eligible population vaccinated could lead to thousands of cases.
"That points to an uncontrollable outbreak," he said.
READ MORE: NSW records 1431 new cases of COVID-19 but peak still to come
Adhering to the national plan but acknowledging the data no longer supported "anything crazy happening at 70 per cent" would be a good outcome of today's meeting, he said.
"A clear outcome out of today ought to be to end the 70 per cent debate and turn that into the 80 per cent debate.
"Once Australia gets to 80 per cent it's a much safer position than 70 per cent, but going beyond 80 per cent is even safer."
The ACT today recorded 18 new cases, 15 of which were in the community while infectious.
Five cases have not been linked to a known source.
Mr Barr also announced today the additional Pfizer vaccine doses the ACT was due to receive from the Singapore shipment would be used to vaccinate Year 12 students before their exams in mid-October.
