Scott Morrison has hinted at new potential rules for people flying into Australia in the post-pandemic world.
The Prime Minister says anyone, visitor or resident, who comes to the country without proof of a coronavirus vaccine could be forced to pay for hotel quarantine themselves.
While the finer details haven't been ironed out yet, it's hoped the plan will encourage people to get the Covid-19 vaccine when it becomes available.
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Speaking to Melbourne's Kiss FM radio, Mr Morrison said: "We're obviously working through those issues now, but look, where people have the choice of two weeks of quarantine or being vaccinated, I think that will be an incentive, unless there's a genuine medical reason why.
"We've got a lot of those issues to work through and so do all the other countries.
Health Minister Greg Hunt added that this is just a plan at the moment and they hope to have more details soon.
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"So there's been no final decision, but we've been clear, and I've given guidance previously that we would expect that people coming to Australia while Covid-19 is a significant disease in the world will either be vaccinated or they will isolate. That's early guidance,'' he said.
"The likely course of events during 2021 is if somebody comes to Australia and a vaccine is widely available, either they'll be vaccinated with verification or they'll have to quarantine."
Anyone who has flown into Australia in recent months will know that not only can hotel quarantine be a tough two weeks, it comes with a very hefty price tag that runs into the thousands of dollars.
The government has signalled that if you can show proof of being vaccinated then you won't have to quarantine or even self-isolate at home for two weeks.
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But Qantas has become the first airline to make it mandatory to enforce a non-negotiable 'No Jab, No Fly' policy. Boss Alan Joyce expects other companies to follow suit.
There are several vaccine candidates on offer at the moment and the government has put in requests for millions of doses when they're found to be safe and effective.
It's hoped the vaccines will be ready by early next year and Greg Hunt expects the majority of Australians will be vaccinated by the end of 2021.
However, a recent poll revealed only 58 per cent of Aussies would definitely be getting the jab when it becomes available. There is still a lot of concern and worry about the potential side effects of the vaccine, despite lengthy and numerous trials showing there to be no ill effects.
Featured Image Credit: PA