Ms Palaszczuk has been at the receiving end of a slew of backlash after she withdrew her support for the national reopening plan, declaring that opening Queensland’s borders would be too risky for unvaccinated children.When asked by Today show host Karl Stefanovic whether he supported Ms Palaszczuk’s comments, deputy Labor leader Richard Marles made it clear he did not.“I would be distancing myself from the comments of Annastacia is the honest answer,” Mr Marles said.“We need to be following the health advice when it comes to the impact and who we should be vaccinating when.”Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese also made it clear that he did not back Ms Palaszczuk’s rogue actions when he spoke to the media on Thursday. “I support the national plan,” Mr Albanese said firmly. “And what the national plan provides for is for a reduction in restrictions upon achieving the 70 per cent and 80 per cent full vaccination rates.” Stefanovic expressed shock at Mr Marles’ willingness to bag the Queensland Premier out. “You wouldn’t leave her out to dry, would you?” the Today show host asked.“I don’t want to see Australia in one extra day of lockdown than it needs to be,” Mr Marles replied. “I can’t believe I’m hearing this morning – that federal Labor is abandoning Annastacia Palaszczuk who is trying to keep Covid out of her state,” Stefanovic said. Mr Marles then quickly backtracked, attempting to soften the blow on the Queensland Premier.“It is not abandoning Annastacia,” he said. “I think you can understand state premiers standing up for their states. That’s what they’re elected to do, but at the end of the day we need a national interest here.”But not all federal Labor members have slighted Ms Palaszczuk for her actions.Speaking on the Today show after Mr Marles had left, Labor MP Ed Husic defended the Queensland Premier, insisting she had done nothing wrong.“I think she has done the right thing in putting the focus on the consequences of a hasty reopening up if vaccine rollouts have not been done thoroughly,” Mr Husic said.
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