State and territories should not expect extra health funding from the cash strapped Albanese government before 2025, as Mark Butler warns the current 50:50 COVID-19 spending deal won’t be extended beyond Christmas.

Promising improved relations with state counterparts, the newly appointed health minister said take-up of vaccine booster shots remains too low in Australia. He expects business to continue to face workforce pressures amid high daily COVID-19 infection rates, deaths and the spread of winter influenza.