Prime Minister Scott Morrison tells people to barbecue outside for New Year’s Eve

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has given a statement about New Year’s Eve after today’s emergency national cabinet meeting.

Scott Morrison has told people to exercise common sense on New Year’s Eve and host barbecues outside.

The Prime Minister was quizzed about what he would like organisers of parties and festivals to do to prevent a further spike of Omicron after emerging from a snap national cabinet meeting on Thursday.

He reiterated his position that people needed to use their own common sense and treat each other with respect.

“What I would like people to do tomorrow night is enjoy the evening. I would like them to be looking forward into 2022 and looking forward confidently,” he said.

“What I would like people to do tomorrow night is exercise common sense and follow all the normal precautions that we have been talking about.

Scott Morrison says barbecue outside for New Year’s. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“We have been living with this virus for two years and we understand a lot more about it than we previously did and how it is transferred.

“Enjoy a beautiful, hopefully, summer evening all around the country as we move from 2021 into 2022 with an economy which is performing more strongly than most advanced economies around the world.”

He then said he would be hosting a barbecue for his celebrations.

“If you are at home, have the barbecue outside. Don’t eat inside, that is what we are planning to do,” he said.

Australia’s chief medical officer Paul Kelly said people should wear masks if they could not social distance.

“Wearing masks … in a large crowd would be my advice to people that may be on the foreshore in (the) city for example,” he said.

“Other than that, enjoy the new year and let’s hope for a better 2022.”

Earlier, Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner cracked up laughing after being asked about his health advice for people keen for a New Year’s Eve kiss.

Mr Gunner gave the green light to pash people you know but said he was sticking to his pre-pandemic rules about smooching strangers.

“Be careful who you pash at midnight, you should know them, and if you know them, pash them,” he told reporters.

“But if you don’t know them, there’s probably a few things you’re going to maybe ask them about first.”