National cabinet crisis talks: Vaccination for aged care workers now compulsory, quarantine controls to tighten

Australia has mandated Covid vaccinations for aged care workers and given GPs indemnity to administer AstraZeneca jabs to under 60s.

Australia has mandated Covid vaccinations for aged care workers and given GPs indemnity to administer AstraZeneca jabs to anyone under 60, under new pandemic directives agreed to at national cabinet crisis talks this evening.

State and territory leaders met with Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday to discuss new measures to combat the spread of the highly infectious Delta strain currently plaguing large swathes of the world, including multiple Australian jurisdictions.

All aged care workers must have their first jab by mid-September.

Mr Morrison said the decision to mandate vaccination was not taken lightly.

“Imposing on a person the requirement to have a vaccine or not be able to work in a particular sector is something that no government would do lightly,” he said.

“We have been considering this matter for some time now based on the best possible medical advice.

“This is a serious situation we’re confronting and as always we’re doing it together.”

National cabinet also agreed to mandating vaccination and testing of all quarantine workers, including those in transport, and their household contacts.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says anyone under 60 who wants the AstraZeneca jab can ask their GP. Picture: David Caird-Pool/Getty Images

There will be also be bans on accommodating international quarantine arrivals - including highly infectious and high-risk people - next to lower-risk domestic arrivals.

Mr Morrison said the leaders also agreed to give GPs indemnity to give AstraZeneca vaccines to anyone under 60 who wanted access to the jab.

“The ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation) advice does not preclude a person under 60 from getting the AstraZeneca vaccines,” Mr Morrison said.

“If you wish to get the AstraZeneca vaccine, we would encourage you to go have a discussion with your GP.”

National cabinet has also agreed to mandate testing of travellers two to three days after they have left hotel quarantine.

Mr Morrison defended the pace of Australia’s rollout, saying that in the UK, “I think 18,000 was their most recent daily cases with a population that is 81 per cent vaccinated on their first dose”. Picture: Adam Taylor/PMO

It comes after new cases were reported in Queensland, the Northern Territory, NSW and Western Australia, prompting fears of another, more infectious outbreak.

Parts of the NT have entered a 48-hour lockdown after five new cases were linked to a worker at a mine in Central Australia.

WA and Queensland have also tightened restrictions after reporting new cases, while Greater Sydney began a two-week lockdown from 6pm on Saturday.

Mr Morrison said the issue of fly in fly out mine workers would be addressed.

“The sector has responded well during the pandemic on the way they have run their facilities,” he said.

“We will sit down with them to make sure we have those processes as strong as they possibly can be and the AHPPC (Australian Health Protection Principal Committee) come back and make any further recommendations they think are necessary.”

In response to questions about whether Australia would be able to open up further and live more normally in the future, Mr Morrison said the current focus was to prevent serious illness and fatalities.

“You’re in a position where largely you’re seeking to suppress it in the same way you try and prevent people from getting the flu each year - we’re nowhere near that point at this stage,” he said.

“I‘d be encouraging Australians to hang in there. We don’t have a choice. The pandemic is still upon us. It’s the pandemic, that’s the reason why these things are happening and happening not just in Australia but in all places around the world.”