Legendary Australian Prime Minister John Howard says bosses SHOULD be able to ban staff from the workplace if they refuse to get a Covid-19 jab

• John Howard backs giving bosses right to ban staff refusing Covid vaccination
• Former prime minister said freedom should extend to both employers and staff
• Flu vaccines are compulsory for aged care workers but Covid jabs aren't yet 

John Howard says employers should have the power to ban staff from the workplace if they refuse to get a Covid-19 vaccination. 

Australia's second longest Prime Minister, now 81, said freedom of choice should extend to both workers and bosses.

'People are free, if they choose not to be vaccinated, but equally an employer in my opinion is free to say, "Well, I want all of my workforce vaccinated",' he told Sky News presenter Alan Jones.

Mr Howard said no Australian, however, should be forced to get a coronavirus vaccination.

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'This is a matter for individuals. I support vaccination, fully,' he said.

'I don't have a lot of patience for anti-vaxxers but if people consciously object to something, within the limits of what is consistent with the right of others, they should be able to have that choice.'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison in January said Covid-19 vaccines, for now, would not be compulsory for aged care workers, who are among the first to be administered the Pfizer vaccine. 

The flu vaccine is mandatory for aged care workers and visitors to nursing homes and Mr Morrison has flagged the possibility of applying that policy to the coronavirus vaccine. 

On industrial relations, Mr Howard admitted his controversial WorkChoices laws were unpopular with voters but denied they alone had cost him the November 2007 election, which saw Labor under Kevin Rudd end almost 12 years of Coalition rule.

'I think it was one of the things that hurt us, I don't think it's the main reason we lost in 2007,' he said. 

'We lost in 2007 because people thought it was safe after a long period of one government, safe to make a change.' 

Mr Howard lost his own northern Sydney seat of Bennelong, after 33 years as the local member, to Labor's Maxine McKew, a former ABC TV presenter.

Labor had promised to introduce an emissions trading scheme to sign up to climate targets which the Howard government had refused to do. 

'The economy was going so well that a lot of people said, "You can take a risk with this other mob, they're saying nice things about the Kyoto protocol, they're saying nice things about this, that and the other and Mr Rudd seems a nice man",' Mr Howard said.

Tuesday marked the 25th anniversary of Mr Howard's landslide election win, which ended 13 years of Labor rule. 

Jones, a former Liberal candidate and prime ministerial speechwriter, ended the 18-minute interview with gushing praise.

'I hope you feel a deep sense of pride as well as satisfaction with what you've achieved for Australia,' he said.

'It's always wonderful to talk to you and I want you to know that Australians love you and love hearing from you.'