Live breaking news: PM fires up in message to angry Aussies

Scott Morrison fired up in a late-night message to "tired, frustrated and anxious" Australians amid growing restlessness over Covid.

• NSW records 18 new cases

  , bringing the total number of infections in the state's outbreak to 130.

• Queensland records two new cases as new restrictions are introduced for parts of the state.

• Concerns are growing as multiple states and territories grapple with new virus cases.

In a late-night message to millions of anxious Australians, Scott Morrison said he felt their fatigue and frustration - as he faces increasing scrutiny over Australia's latest Covid debacle.

Coming under fire for a tediously slow vaccine roll-out and repeated failures in the hotel quarantine system - leading to mass outbreaks - he came out swinging with a raft of new measures on Monday night.

These included mandatory vaccinations for all aged care workers and people transporting airline workers,  post-quarantine testing for returned travellers and their close contacts, and the opening up of vaccines to more people.

He also had a message for "tired, frustrated and anxious" Australians - millions of whom are locked in their homes, and millions more who fear their state or city will be next.

Bluntly, he said we have no other choice.

"I certainly understand [people's] frustration when it comes to dealing with this pandemic. We're very conscious of those great frustrations," he said.

"The pandemic is still upon us. And I know when you're maybe midway, maybe further through the course of this pandemic, we can grow tired and frustrated and anxious. I understand that, but how should we go forward? Do we give into that?

"Or do we continue to show the same determination that we have showed, particularly over that first year in the pandemic and more? We were able to come through and Australia was able to achieve a result in saving lives and livelihoods like virtually no other country in the world.

"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 in places all around the world."

Here are today's other Covid-19 developments:

• NSW records 18 new cases, bringing the total number of infections in the state's outbreak to 130.
• Queensland records two new cases as new restrictions are introduced for parts of the state.
• Concerns are growing as multiple states and territories grapple with new virus cases.
• The NT government has extended Darwin's lockdown for 72 hours after recording another case today. 

 

RELATED: Poll: Has Australia lost the plot with covid?

Follow along for today's Covid-19 updates. You can find yesterday's blog here.