The prime minister says a reintroduction of mask mandates wasn't on the table at the most recent national cabinet meeting amid concerns about an upcoming COVID-19 wave.
Anthony Albanese has resisted calls from the president of the Australian Medical Association to mandate masks indoors amid skyrocketing COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations.
Dr Omar Khorshid said the winter surge impacting hospitals has left many sick Australians without access to healthcare as more than 5000 beds nationwide are occupied with virus patients.