Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has assured that people with a heightened risk of COVID will still be able to get PCR tests for free.
Under changes to the national plan to deal with COVID-19, a referral from a medical or nurse practitioner will be needed in order for patients to receive a free PCR test at locations that aren't run by a state or territory government.
State or territory-operated PCR clinics will be able to accept patients without referrals, with the government extending 50-50 funding arrangements for jurisdictions choosing to keep the clinics running.