Peter Dutton says there is no escaping Omicron’s spread in Australia

Australia is set to face a confronting rise in Omicron cases but a senior government minister warns the variant cannot be escaped.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton has called for calm despite foreshadowing a “confronting” battle with Omicron that Australia can’t escape.

As cases rise across the country, many have been forced into isolation and others have been left scrambling for a booster shot.

But speaking with Nine, Mr Dutton said Australia can no longer hide from the virus.

“It is confronting because they are big (case) numbers but this is what we have been preparing for,” Mr Dutton said.

Peter Dutton says Australia can no longer hide from Omicron. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“This is why we have asked people to get vaccinated … Because there is no hiding from this variant.

“But we can‘t lock down because there is no escaping from this … if we go into lockdown, we might as well be in lockdown for the next couple of years because we just won’t deal with it.

“We are in the best possible position to deal with it and we want people to reunite at Christmas and not to miss out on having another family Christmas together.”

Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles agreed, telling Nine that Australia can’t turn back now.

“I think we have crossed the Rubicon as a nation in terms of living with the virus,” he said.

The booster rollout has already faced concerns of supply shortages. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

“I think where it is all at now is making sure that we get the booster rollout happening and happening efficiently.”

But, AMA Vice President Dr Chris Moy cautioned there was still not yet enough evidence to categorically say Omicron is less severe than other variants.

“Although there have been these early reports, which are not clear, Omicron may be a milder condition, the sheer number of people who are infected … we still may end up with a large number of people in hospitals at the same time,” he told ABC’s Radio National.

So far, close to a million Australians have received a third shot of the Covid-19 vaccine.

But the emergence of the Omicron variant has reignited concerns about the effectiveness about the vaccine rollout after a decision to bring forward booster shots to five months led to a rush of people attempting to get a third shot.

Almost a million people have received their third shot. Picture Dean Martin

Speaking with Sky News on Thursday, vaccine rollout chief Lieutenant General John Frewen assured there was no issues with jab supply.

“We've been working really hard this week to get additional orders in place,” he said.

“It’s a huge logistical challenge, but the supply is there, we’ve just got to make sure it gets to the, to the right places.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia would be ready if the nation’s vaccine advisory recommends cutting the interval time by another month.

“We are every week reviewing that interval period with ATAGI for those booster shots and if they choose to take it forward to four months, well, we have a million vaccines right now in the distribution system, particularly in pharmacies, all around the country,” he told reporters on the Central Coast on Thursday.

Originally published as Peter Dutton says there is no escaping Omicron’s spread in Australia