“General practitioners have a proven track record with flu vaccination of older Australians and those living with chronic disease, who will make up the bulk of the phase 1B rollout,” Dr Khorshid said in a statement.

“It is very pleasing to see the majority of GPs putting up their hands to participate in this critical national program.

“General practice is highly accessible for people and has helped Australia achieve some of the highest rates of vaccination in the world.”

The staged commencement of general practices will be complemented by GP-led respiratory clinics and Aboriginal community-controlled health services.

The AMA said more than 130 respiratory clinics and over 300 Aboriginal community controlled health service sites will support the phase 1b rollout.

AstraZeneca and Pfizer doses from overseas are being given to frontline health and hotel quarantine workers, as well as aged and disability care residents and staff, as part of phase 1a.

Almost 74,000 people in Australia have received their first vaccine dose so far.

As the vaccine rollout continues across Australia, more than 40,000 of the country’s residents remain overseas and are trying to return.

Australia’s economy grows 3.1 per cent in the past three months as COVID recovery continues

Australia’s economy has grown 3.1 per cent in the December quarter as the nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows the nation’s gross domestic product – or GDP – lifted 3.1 per cent.

It’s the second quarter in a row that Australia has recorded a positive increase in GDP.

This is the first time in the over 60-year history of the National Accounts that GDP has grown by more than 3.0 per cent in two consecutive quarters.

Head of National Accounts at the ABS, Michael Smedes, said despite the positive growth the overall numbers are still catching up to those seen prior to the pandemic.

“The economy has continued to recover with activity increasing 3.1 per cent in the December quarter following the 3.4 per cent rise in September quarter,” Mr Smedes said.

“However, despite the two consecutive quarters of strong growth, economic activity remained 1.1 per cent lower than recorded in the 2019 December quarter.”

Household spending increased 4.3 per cent as COVID-19 restrictions continued to ease.

Victoria recorded the strongest increase in household spending after strict lockdown restrictions were lifted.

Despite growing at 10.4 per cent for the quarter, household spending in Victoria was 7.2 per cent below its pre-COVID level.

“Household spending for the rest of Australia, excluding Victoria, was 1.1 per cent lower than pre-COVID levels,” Mr Smedes said.

Australia records biggest monthly trade surplus ever as household spending drives growth

Treasurer predicts rising confidence from Covid vaccine rollout as national accounts set growth record over consecutive quarters

Australia recorded the biggest monthly trade surplus in history as the economy continued to rack up records in a marked rebound from last year’s deep recession.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics said the trade balance of goods and services was a record $10.1bn in January and was up more than $3bn compared with December.

This was the result of a 6% jump in exports, while imports declined 2%.

Economists had forecast a surplus of around $6bn based on preliminary data released last month, with export earnings rising on higher commodity prices, in particular those for iron ore on strong demand from China.

Retail spending also rose by 0.5% in January to $30.5bn, a shade below the 0.6% increase reported in earlier preliminary data.

Even so, annual retail sales were up by a huge 10.6%.

Household spending was a key driver of the strong December quarter economic growth result reported on Wednesday.

“It’s households … that are out there spending because they’ve got confidence in the economy,” the treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, told the Nine Network on Thursday.

“As the vaccine rolls out, I think we will see more confidence across the economy.”

The December quarter national accounts released on Wednesday showed the economy grew by a stronger-than-expected 3.1% after an upwardly revised 3.4% in the September quarter.

It was the first time the national accounts had recorded two consecutive quarters of 3%-plus growth in the 60-year history of the series.

Frydenberg said the Australian economy had been remarkably resilient and noted the government’s support measures had made a big difference.

But he admitted the outlook could be “bumpy” when the jobkeeper wage subsidy ends in March.

“The reserve bank governor and the head of Treasury have spoken about the impact it may have on the labour market in the short term,” Mr Frydenberg told ABC radio during his post-national accounts media blitz.

“But what we will continue to see over the course of the year is the steady trajectory and momentum with the recovery building, particularly as the vaccine is rolled out.”

Other figures released this week included upbeat manufacturing and construction results, while strong job advertising points to further employment gains in coming months.

Low interest rates and government incentives have also seen house prices rise at their fastest pace since 2003 and demand for homes loans at a record high.