Anthony Albanese and Dominic Perrottet both want to loosen the despised Covid regulations, despite their differences in specifics; the NSW premier has called for the necessary isolation time to be eliminated totally only days after the PM decreased it.
‘I believe we need to move away from public health orders, we need to move … to a system in which we’ll respect each other – if you’re sick you stay at home, if you’re not sick go to work,’ he said.
‘The state should not be enforcing these orders at this time in the pandemic.’
As of next Friday, the mandated isolation period for COVID-positive patients will be reduced from seven to five days, as agreed with earlier this week by the national cabinet.
The premier of NSW has been outspoken in asking for the decrease, but he told Sky News that the isolation time should be completely eliminated “as quickly as feasible.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the shortening to five days isolation was a necessary decision, despite concern from health experts about the move.
State and national leaders are setting their sights on mandatory isolation rules as they slowly start to scrap lasting lockdown restrictions (Pictured: People in masks in Melbourne, July 2022)
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet (pictured) said he doesn’t believe people should have to stay home with Covid if they don’t feel sick
Mr Albanese said people should be able to return to work if they don’t feel sick after the five-day period.
‘It is, on the balance of where we’re at, a necessary change to take place and one that was supported by all states and territories,’ he told ABC TV on Friday.
The Australian Medical Association, however, has urged the prime minister to make public the medical advice given to the national cabinet to support the adjustments to the isolation time.
President of the group Steve Robson pleaded with the authorities to refrain from treating the virus similarly to other contagious illnesses.
PM Anthony Albanese (pictured) has already removed the two days from the isolation period, concerning health experts
Professor Robson said the association had not been consulted ahead of the announcement, and that doctors were ‘scratching their heads on what this advice is’.
However, the prime minister said the release of health advice would be a matter for the states.
‘The chief health officers in every state are responsible for their respective advices, so that’s a matter for the state governments as to whether that happens or not,’ he said.
The prime minister said it was important that mandated restrictions be reviewed and gradually eased over time as more people are vaccinated.
Education Minister Jason Clare told the Seven Network the move to lower isolation times was the right decision.
‘Most Aussies would say this is the right call at this time in the pandemic, it’s been going for about 2.5 years,’ he said.
However, deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley said the health advice needed to be published.
‘While instinctively it feels like a good thing, what’s wrong with explaining the detail of the health advice so everyone can have the same level of reassurance?’ she told the Seven Network.
She said Mr Albanese had promised to be more transparent in terms of national cabinet.
The changes in isolation rules will also coincide with an end to mask mandates on domestic flights.
Western Australia will also remove the mandatory mask rules for public transport from next Friday, but will still remain in effect in high-risk settings such as hospitals.