Prime Minister Scott Morrison has pushed back against the idea of more COVID-19 lockdowns and government mask mandates, urging Australians to take "personal responsibility" as concern grows about the spread of the Omicron variant ahead of end-of-year festivities.
Mr Morrison weighed into the debate over mandatory face masks on Tuesday, following a statement from the nation's Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly on Monday urging all state and territory leaders to mandate masks in all indoor settings, citing rising case numbers for the new COVID-19 variant.
The PM said that while there is a "strong recommendation" to wear face masks in indoor settings, Australia must adopt a "culture of responsibility" that places the onus on individuals to choose to take protective actions as opposed to a "culture of control and mandates".
The ACT, however, went in a different direction and will make masks mandatory in indoor settings from midnight on Wednesday.
Mr Morrison said: "As a country, we have got to get past the heavy hand of government and we have got to treat Australians like adults and we all have our own responsibility in our communities and for our own health.
"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. But we're not going back to lockdowns. We're not going back to shutting down people's lives. We're going forward to live with this virus with common sense and responsibility."
Mr Morrison acknowledged there were still unknowns about the Omicron variant.
"We're in the very early phases of the Omicron variant and we need to understand it better and that's why booster shots are so important to protect people," he said.
"What we do know, though, is if you're double-dose vaccinated, even with Omicron, you're far better protected than if you're not vaccinated at all."
Australia's high levels of vaccination have "set us up to deal with this challenge but we have to do it with each of us taking our own personal responsibility", Mr Morrison said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Source: AAP
"None of us want to go back to lockdowns in the southern states ... and the way we avoid that is by ensuring that people practise responsible behaviours, because, you know, COVID is not going anywhere any time soon."
Victoria considers tightening mask rules
Victoria is considering tightening indoor mask mandates, but will not introduce sweeping restriction changes for Christmas gatherings and major events to stave off an Omicron case spike.
On Tuesday, acting premier James Merlino said Victoria would take Dr Kelly's advice on board before making a decision on reintroducing compulsory masks in hospitality and entertainment venues.
"Mask wearing is a prudent common-sense measure. It can be inconvenient but it's a small inconvenience for a significant public health benefit," Mr Merlino told reporters.
Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino speaks to media during a press conference. Source: AAP
"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."
There will also be no change in the unlimited crowd cap for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, despite fears it could become an Omicron superspreader event.
"The contract with people of Victoria [was] get vaccinated and that means an end to lockdown, it means enjoying events," he said.
In the absence of Premier Daniel Andrews, Mr Merlino will stand-in as the Victorian representative at Wednesday's "informal" virtual meeting of the national cabinet.
There, he will join South Australia in calling for the COVID-19 vaccine booster interval to be reduced for a second time, down from five months.
"I want it as short as possible," Mr Merlino said.
Victoria reported 1,245 new COVID-19 cases and six deaths on Tuesday, as testing sites continue to be inundated in the lead up to Christmas.
Testers processed 66,888 results in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning, while 14,483 people were vaccinated in state-run hubs.
At least 15 testing sites were temporarily closed at 9am after reaching capacity, including the Bourke Street walk-in and Albert Park drive-through.
On Monday night, Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp announced a testing site would open at Town Hall from 10am on Tuesday to January 24 in response to demand.
Mr Merlino said the state had also recently added sites in Dandenong, Berwick and Frankston, and extended opening hours after anticipating increased demand.
"I know there have been some sites where the queues are very long. I am asking for people's patience - I know this has been a very difficult time and it's quite an inconvenience," he said.
"But for the most part, across all of our 260 sites, we're getting through [tests] in 40 minutes on average, and we have expanded sites where we've got particular gaps in the southeast."
The surging demand, he said, has been fuelled by Victorians needing a negative test result to travel interstate to reunite with friends and family over Christmas.
Additional reporting by Rayane Tamer.
