Anthony Albanese teases future end date for Covid rule

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has given a big hint on whether Australia is inching closer to ending a Covid-19 isolation rule.

Anthony Albanese has flagged the future of the mandatory isolation period will be on the cards when national cabinet meets later this month.

Leaders met on Wednesday to discuss the future of the $540 pandemic leave pay that was due to expire in the coming weeks.

The Prime Minister confirmed it would remain in place until leaders agreed to scrap mandatory quarantine, hinting the decision could come as soon as September 30.

“We will take advice at that time,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Sydney.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has long argued for the isolation period to be scrapped and on Wednesday reiterated the change should happen “as soon as possible”.

The NSW Premier will continue to push for the rule to be scrapped. Picture: Gaye Gerard

“I've made it very clear, my view is we need to move to a system, moving away from public health orders and ultimately moving to a position of respect,” he said on Wednesday.

“We can't have state government public health orders in place for perpetuity.”

But he has a long way to go to convince his counterparts, such as Daniel Andrews, who have raised concerns about the pressure it would heap onto hospitals and healthcare workers.

Last week, the mandatory isolation period was slashed from seven days to five for everyday Australians.

Symptomatic patients have been directed to stay at home, but workers in high-risk settings will have to quarantine for tseven days.

Pandemic leave pay, which the government had been under pressure from the states to extend, was also cut from $750 to $540 to reflect the changes.

National cabinet is due to meet again on September 30. Picture: Gaye Gerard

But Australians will only be able to access three payments over six months, outside of “extraordinary circumstances”, Mr Albanese confirmed .

Since the start of the pandemic, more than $2.2bn has been paid out to workers without sick leave.

Leaders were also briefed by chief medical officer Paul Kelly on the number of Covid cases in aged care and the ongoing monkeypox situation.

“There have been some 130 cases in Australia (and) the numbers are reducing internationally,” Mr Albanese said.

Originally published as Anthony Albanese teases future end date for Covid rule