Cash payments for vaccines 'insult to Australians', PM says

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has slammed the Opposition's proposal to lure Australians into getting fully vaccinated by offering cash handouts.

"This is a bad idea," Mr Morrison said during Question Time today.

"The Leader of the Opposition's proposal is a vote of no confidence and an insult to Australians.

"Suggesting they won't get vaccinated unless you dole out the cash … that is an insult.

"That is an insult to every Australian, those 80 per cent of older Australians who have turned up and rolled up their sleeves – they didn't need the cash."

Earlier, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese told Today the $300 handouts would help increase Australia's vaccination uptake.

"This is something that we need to do," Mr Albanese said.

"We need to get our vaccination rates up; we are running last in the developed world.

"This would be good for our health, but also would provide a much-needed stimulus at a time when workers and small businesses are really struggling to get by."

The stimulus would cost around $6 billion and includes back-paying Australian's who have already had two jabs.

Currently 15.3 per cent of Australians are fully vaccinated.