NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says her Queensland counterpart is a victim of her own hasty interstate border closures after she called for JobKeeper to be extended for struggling tourism businesses.
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NSW recorded its 12th consecutive day without a local COVID-19 case in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday, and three cases in hotel quarantine.
The state's health department also revealed a preliminary list of the 11 hospitals where COVID-19 vaccinations will first be offered.
Ms Berejiklian on Friday reacted with bemusement to Annastacia Palaszczuk's suggestion to keep JobKeeper going for the tourism industry.
Ms Palaszczuk on Thursday said 10,000 businesses in far north Queensland were on JobKeeper and needed help while international borders remain shut.
She also indicated there would not be blanket border closures in future, with Queensland fully open to NSW residents from Monday.
But Ms Berejiklian said Queensland's tourism industry woes were exacerbated by domestic border closures she considered unnecessary, and by locking out the tourism dollars of NSW residents.
"The whole point NSW has been so strong on, keeping borders open, is to prevent exactly what the Queensland premier is now complaining about ... when you unnecessarily close state borders, you lose jobs, create hardship, impact people's mental health," Ms Berejiklian said.
"(Ms Palaszczuk) is now the victim of a policy she put in place herself."
Ms Berejiklian also said NSW Health's plan for 11 "vaccine hubs" was preliminary and more liaison was needed with the federal government.
As per NSW Health's list, those eligible in Phase 1a of Australia's vaccine rollout will first be able to access the Pfizer vaccine at Royal Prince Alfred, Westmead and Liverpool hospitals in Sydney.
Vaccination hubs will then be set up at Hornsby, St George, Nepean, Newcastle, Wollongong, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga hospitals.
NSW Health expects limited doses will be available in the first few months of the rollout, but vaccine hubs will expand if more become available.
Aged or disability care workers and residents are first in line for the jab along with paramedics, emergency department or critical care ward staff, and those working with COVID tests or at COVID quarantine facilities.
"Once more vaccine doses become available from Phase 1b, it is expected that one or more COVID-19 vaccines will be available for the wider population through usual immunisation providers, including GP practices, GP respiratory clinics and Aboriginal health services," NSW Health said.
Australia has ordered doses of three different vaccines - made by Pfizer/BioNTech, Oxford/AstraZeneca and Novavax - all of which require two doses. Rollout of the Pfizer vaccine is expected from late February.
Meanwhile, Sydneysiders are from Friday allowed to have 30 visitors in their homes, while 50 people can attend outdoor gatherings, including in yards.
There will be 300 guests allowed at weddings and funerals, while caps will be removed on corporate events, religious gatherings and hospitality venues. However, the "four square metre" rule still applies.
Masks will also no longer be compulsory in shops, but people will still be obliged to wear them on public transport, at religious gatherings, in gaming rooms, at hairdressers and beauticians and in public-facing hospitality jobs.
Elsewhere, border restrictions imposed on Greater Sydney residents by Tasmania will lift from Sunday, and the ACT's travel restrictions on the Cumberland council area will lift from Friday afternoon.
Victoria will also downgrade Cumberland to an "orange" zone on its border system, meaning arrivals from the area must get tested and self-isolate until they receive a negative result, but will not be barred entry.
In South Australia, Greater Sydney residents will from Sunday be required to get tested on arrival and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
Arrivals in Western Australia from NSW must still self-isolate for 14 days.
Australian Associated Press
