Anthony Albanese agrees to meet state and territory leaders as calls grow to bring back Covid support

The confirmation came after a request from the Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, for an update on the health advice and Covid situation from the chief medical officer.

Several Labor MPs, including Dr Mike Freelander and Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah, had also called on the government to change course.

Union, business and medical groups also called for the Labor government to extend the Covid measures.

The shadow health minister, Anne Ruston, called on the government to share the health advice it was relying on.

Albanese placed the blame for the decision on the former Coalition government, but said his government would follow health advice on making any changes.