National cabinet will meet in Sydney on Wednesday to discuss the pandemic, including mask rules on planes, following a peak in winter cases. “Since we last met there’s been, fortunately, a reduction in the number of Covid infections and the impact that it’s having,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. “We’ll have a discussion with all of the premiers because … we’re trying to get everyone on the same page so that there’s consistency in the regulations and the rules which are out there.”Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said it was also time for “serious consideration” of mask mandates on planes ending, if the health advice permits, given they weren’t required in other public settings. He also backed a push for workers to return to Melbourne’s CBD, saying it was crucial for small businesses and workplace culture. “Walking down Collins St and watching the activity there, it’s always been such a vibrant environment,” Mr Dutton said. “I want to see that vibe return, and we can only do that if workers are able to return back to work and it’s safe for them to do so.”He said Australia was moving into a phase where rules that were imposed at the height of the pandemic would start to unwind. “That is what the community expects and it’s what the premiers and the Prime Minister should deliver,” Mr Dutton said. Covid cases in Victoria this winter have fallen from a high of more than 14,000 new daily cases in mid-July to a seven-day average of less than 2800 this week, with epidemiologists confident the state has now passed this winter’s peak. Data from Covidlive shows the number of active cases has fallen every day in Victoria for the past 38 days, with the state last recording an increase on July 23 – when there were more than 71,000 active cases. On Tuesday, this number had dropped to less than 17,000. Hospitalisations, which began to steadily increase from June before reaching a winter high of more than 900 in July, have also fallen, with 337 Victorians in hospital with Covid on Tuesday.NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet on Tuesday remained firm on the need to reduce the Covid isolation period to five days, while Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he would welcome the change if supported by health advice.“The time is right for us to get fresh advice,” Mr Andrews said. “No one enjoys isolation, no one wants rules on any longer than they need them to be.” Both premiers also called for the $750 pandemic leave payment, due to end on September 30, to continue until Covid isolation is axed. National cabinet will also discuss skills shortages, including skills migration, ahead of the federal government’s jobs and skills summit on Thursday.
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