Australia PM Admits Covid Missteps as Polls Show Him Losing Vote

(Bloomberg) -- Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government hasn't “got everything right” in its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, while trumpeting the country's strong economy as he seeks to pull off another come-from-behind win in a national election due to be held within months.

At a speech before the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday, Morrison said he would “take his fair share of the criticism” over his Covid-19 policies. But when pressed on whether he would apologize, Morrison said he didn't believe that voters “expect perfection.” 

Recent polls show growing concerns over the Australian government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, as rising case numbers caused by the highly contagious omicron variant lead to testing shortages and food supply-chain issues across the country.

A survey by Newspoll released on Sunday showed the opposition Labor Party ahead 56% to 44%, with Morrison's approval rating falling to its lowest point since February 2020. The prime minister must call an election before the end of May under Australian law.

Morrison is seeking to make ground by hailing the strength of Australia's economy, including an unemployment rate of 4.2% -- the lowest since 2008. During his speech, Morrison announced an additional AUD$2 billion ($1.4 billion) toward creating more research jobs, with the aim of also providing support to the country's domestic manufacturing sector.

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The prime minister said the Australian economy had “bounced back strongly” from the Covid-19 pandemic and it would do the same again after the omicron variant. He added that more Australians were working now than before the pandemic began and he wanted to see unemployment fall further by the end of 2022. 

“I believe we can now achieve an unemployment with a three in front of it this year,” he said.

Australia's central bank on Tuesday scrapped its quantitative easing program following a jump in hiring and inflation, while saying it will remain “patient” as it monitors inflation trends. The Reserve Bank of Australia forecast economic growth of around 4.25% in 2022 and 2% in 2023, with the unemployment rate falling below 4% later this year.

Ahead of Morrison's speech, a small, vocal group of anti-vaccination protesters gathered in front of the National Press Club, blocking roads and chanting slogans against vaccination mandates, including “Leave our kids alone” and “We will not comply.

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Some of the demonstrators were part of a convoy of vehicles which arrived in Canberra on Monday and faced off with police in front of the entrance to Parliament House. Police also blocked off the front and back entrances to the National Press Club ahead of Morrison's speech.

Speaking on Tuesday, Morrison said it wasn't the government's place to force individuals or families to get the third dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. “I'm going to honor and respect their decisions,” he said. The opposition Labor party has roughly the same policy.

Morrison has faced criticism over shortages of rapid antigen tests and questions over whether the government should have acted sooner to order supplies. On Tuesday he said tackling the omicron variant had been different to previous versions of the virus. 

“The unprecedented surge in cases caused by omicron changed everything,” Morrison said. “It was like dealing with a completely different virus.”

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