Anthony Albanese faces a wall of opposition to the withdrawal of pandemic assistance for workers forced to isolate with COVID-19, with big business joining premiers in pushing for renewed support ahead of Monday’s snap national cabinet talks on Australia’s escalating omicron wave.

Already facing Labor MPs breaking ranks and criticism from the Australian Medical Association, the Prime Minister was due to be briefed by Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly on the growing infections, after returning from the Pacific Islands Forum in Fiji on Friday night.