NAB Chief Executive Ross McEwan had a simple response when asked on radio today what Australia needed to do to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Let’s get 90 per cent of the population vaccinated and give them freedom,” he said.

Mr McEwan and Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp spoke with 3AW radio host Neil Mitchell as Melbourne emerges from its fifth lockdown and Sydney Covid-19 cases continue to rise. 

The latest NAB research found 80 per cent of Australians were happy to get vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus, 10 per cent were open to the idea and 10 per cent were not.  

“First off let’s target the 80 per cent who do want to get the job done and get the vaccination into their arms,” said Mr McEwan. He added Australia should then work on the 10 per cent of the population who could be swung across, and “then let’s open this economy up because everybody’s had a chance”.   

Mr McEwan, who has already been vaccinated, said that NAB could open up its big buildings to vaccinate staff and family members. NAB staff are also given time off work to get vaccinated.  

Get a jab, give a jab

Mr McEwan said that today NAB was announcing a partnership with UNICEF so that every time a NAB employee got a vaccination NAB would pay it forward by fully vaccinating a person in need in our closest neighbouring countries including Fiji and Papua New Guinea. 

“Today we’re just announcing we’re backing in with UNICEF, and every time one of my staff get a vaccination, we’re going to give two vaccinations to places like Fiji and Papua New Guinea. They need help. Let’s get on and support some others,” Mr McEwan said. 

Councillor Capp, who has also been vaccinated, said it was important to have a target vaccination rate or date at which cities could stay open, and “the majority of people can get on with their lives and they can do that with certainty and a sense of positivity about the future”.