Both the AMA and the RACGP are hoping a legal hole in the country’s pandemic response will finally be filled: the lack of a nationwide vaccination mandate covering all GP practices and their staff.

They want leaders at the National Cabinet meeting tomorrow to provide the mandate, which will offer legal protection from unfair dismissal claims should the employment of those staff refusing vaccinations need to be terminated.

So far, Victoria has issued public health orders that all GP staff are fully vaccinated by 15 December. WA has given 1 January. And in SA, staff must have received a first dose by 8 November.

But NSW has not issued mandates for GP staff and neither has Queensland. Both states have mandated vaccination for staff in the public health system.