Anthony Albanese says COVID-19 is not over, signing off on $760 million in new funding to help the states and territories deal with the pandemic.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The announcement was made after the prime minister chaired his first national cabinet meeting with state and territory leaders on Friday.
Meanwhile, more than 60 additional COVID-related deaths have so far been reported on Saturday, with NSW and Victoria contributing 54 between them.
Federal pandemic-related funding arrangements were set to expire in September but will now be extended by three months, Mr Albanese says.
"(The pandemic) clearly isn't over yet and it would be very brave to suggest you can make that projection," he told reporters following Friday's gathering.
There are about 3000 Australians in hospital as a result of the virus, he said, which was why the federal government had committed to extending support until December 31.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said with every hospital in Australia under pressure from COVID, the extra money was welcome.
Elsewhere, Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley says changes to the state's COVID-19 rules will come into effect next weekend.
Positive cases will be allowed to leave home to drive members of their household directly to work or education and masks will be scrapped at airports.
Three-dose vaccination mandates for workers will stay in vulnerable settings like aged care but lifted in other sectors like education, food distribution and quarantine accommodation.
Rules requiring others to work from home if not double-dosed will also be scrapped, although workplaces can still set their own vaccination policies.
Visitor caps at care facilities will be removed, with residents able to see as many people as they want as long as they return a negative rapid antigen test that day.
The prime minister and premiers also agreed on Friday to look at more extensive reform of the health system including connections between GPs and hospitals, as well as practical ways to get aged care residents and NDIS participants out of hospital and into a more appropriate setting.
Work is also under way on determining the final locations for Medicare Urgent Care Clinics promised at the federal election.
LATEST 24-HOUR COVID-19 DATA:
NSW: 8119 cases, 25 deaths, 1344 in hospital with 45 in ICU
Tas: 850 cases, one death, 31 in hospital with two in ICU
ACT: 865 cases, no deaths, 86 in hospital with two in ICU
Vic: 6601 cases, 29 deaths, 419 in hospital with 25 in ICU
Queensland: 4016 cases, eight deaths, 428 in hospital, eight in ICU
Australian Associated Press
