The first international tourists in two years have touched down in Sydney to be greeted by jubilant well-wishers waving Tim-Tams, jars of Vegemite and stuffed koalas.
Western Australia's premier is set to finally reveal when the state's borders will open, ending months of speculation and frustration for locked-out families.
Queensland will open its border to double vaccinated people from virus hotspots from December 13 after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk brought forward the opening by four days.Â
Fully vaccinated travellers from COVID-19 hotspots will be able to enter Queensland from next Monday as the state closes in on an 80 per cent vaccination rate.
While more than 17 million Australians or 82.8 per cent of the population aged 16 or over are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the nation's reopening is still a way off.
There are 135 new local cases of COVID-19 in NSW and four deaths as the border to NSW reopens in what the premier says is "a very important milestone".
Fully vaccinated returning Australians are for the first time returning home without having to quarantine as travel restrictions lift for parts of the country.Â
Fully vaccinated Australians will no longer need to apply for an exemption to leave the country, ahead of the country easing its international borders.
