Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he will tell premiers not to go into lockdown

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has revealed the advice he will give state premiers at an emergency national cabinet meeting.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he will advise premiers not to introduce heavy-handed restrictions or lockdowns ahead of an emergency national cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

With NSW and Victoria recording more than 4000 Covid cases combined on Tuesday, Mr Morrison said Australia needed to learn to live with the virus and declared “we’re not going back to lockdowns”.

“The states have the total authority when it comes to public health orders, the Commonwealth does not have the power to direct those state and territory governments,” he said.

“What I will be saying to them, and I know a number of premiers agree with this, is we have got to move to the next phase of how we live with this virus.

“The time for that heavy hand is behind us. We just need to live with this virus sensibly and practically.”

NSW broke its daily record with 3057 cases on Tuesday, while Victoria had a tally of 1245 infections.

Mr Morrison has called a snap emergency national cabinet meeting to discuss the rise of Omicron but said it was not time to go back to “shutting down people’s lives”.

“One of the key messages is yes, we’re going to need to continue to calibrate how we manage this virus and how we live with this virus in the face of Omicron,” he said.

“Of course that is necessary, but we’re not going back to lockdowns.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Bribie Island in Queensland. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Amid the soaring case numbers, there is a push from NSW and Victorian premiers to fast track the country’s booster program, which currently has a five-month wait between the second and third dose.

The nation's advisory body on vaccines – the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation – is constantly reviewing the gap.

Mr Morrison criticised states for slowing down their side of the vaccine rollout as boosters become more critical in being fully protected against Omicron.

State-run vaccine hubs have reduced from 957 in November to just 699 at present.

Comparatively, federal places have increased from 9271 to 9422 over the same period.

“We have seen 1.5 million booster shots now having been undertaken and we urge the states and territories to reopen the state vaccination clinics that have been wound down – more than 200 of them over the last couple of months,” Mr Morrison said.

“We need to get them open again.”

The Prime Minister also issued blunt advice to people wanting to spend Christmas with their families.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is urging states to reopen their vaccination hubs. NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

“Omicron is moving substantially among the younger population,” he said.

“They are at parties, nightclubs, hospitality venues.

“I would encourage them, particularly if you’re going to spend time at Christmas with older family members, you want to give that big night out a miss, particularly if you’re going to see one of your elderly relatives over Christmas.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has indicated he won’t tighten restrictions or introduce a mask mandate despite another record day of infections.

NSW and Victoria recorded more than 4000 Covid cases on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

“We are taking a balanced and proportionate response that is completely focused on keeping people safe while at the same time opening up our economy end ensuring that people are able to work and provide for their families,” he said.

Victorian Deputy Premier James Merlino has refused to rule out reintroducing more restrictions, such as mask mandates.

Remaining tight-lipped as to what restrictions were on the table, he said Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties would still go ahead.

“There’s no restrictions on getting together with loved ones with family and friends to celebrate Christmas, to celebrate New Year, to enjoy the summer. None of those things are changing,” he said.

“I’m not here to make any further announcements of what other mitigation measures we might put in place, but we’ll take the latest advice under the legislation.

“Mask wearing is a prudent, commonsense measure.”

Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton is pushing for tougher restrictions.

Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the country couldn’t afford another stuff up with vaccines at this critical time.

“The biggest risk to the recovery is another set of Morrison stuff ups on vaccines,” he said.

“The biggest risk to the economic recovery is Scott Morrison making the same mistakes he made on boosters as he made with the vaccine program earlier this year.”