The Latest Breaking News from Scott Morrison

Australia threw out an invitation to backpackers on Wednesday, seeking reinforcements for a workforce crippled by an Omicron COVID-19 outbreak as the country's health system creaks under the pandemic's strain with more deaths predicted in weeks ahead.

Visa application fees for backpackers and international students will be covered by the federal government in an attempt to address the workforce crisis.

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Scott Morrison has urged businesses not to enforce rules requiring employees to return daily negative rapid tests, saying it would further hit supplies.

Rogue Coalition backbencher George Christensen has stoked further outrage by saying parents should not get their children immunised against COVID.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison releases a statement saying he "strongly disagrees" with the Dawson MP's comments urging parents not to vaccinate their children, saying people should disregard Mr Christensen's "dangerous messages in relation to vaccines".

Prime minister, who has denied it’s hypocritical to deport Novak Djokovic while government MPs spread misinformation, says Covid vaccinations ‘save lives’

In the first national poll of the new year, a Resolve survey for the Nine newspapers, Labor had 35% of the primary vote (up three percentage points since November), the Coalition 34% (down five), the Greens 11% (steady), One Nation 3% (steady) and independents 11% (up two).

The Queensland health minister says it is "absolutely appalling" that federal government ads are spruiking free rapid antigen tests at state clinics.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's approval ratings slid after his handling of the Omicron-driven coronavirus outbreak fuelled a backlash, a widely watched poll showed on Tuesday, putting opposition Labor into a leading position months away from a federal election.

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