A travel ban on arrivals from eight southern African countries has been scrapped by the federal government.
The ban was originally imposed in November following concern about the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said the ban was no longer necessary due to the spread of Omicron to other countries around the world.
"Given the global spread of Omicron, international border bans are no longer a proportionate or effective means to contain the spread of Omicron," Professor Kelly said in a statement on Wednesday.
"At this stage there are no direct flights from southern Africa to Australia and only Australian citizens, permanent residents, immediate family members, parents and eligible visa holders are able to enter Australia."
The relaxation of the travel ban was made in line with the decisions of other nations such as the United Kingdom.
Countries where the travel ban has been scrapped include South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi and Eswatini.
There have been more than 13,000 cases of Omicron detected globally, with 109 of those in Australia.
Omicron has forced premiers to hold their nerve on restrictions ahead of Christmas, amid rising case numbers and more freedoms for the unvaccinated.
The same rules now apply to everyone in NSW even if they refuse to get the jab, while Victoria is relaxing some restrictions for the unvaccinated.
Case numbers are soaring in parts of the country as border rules and quarantine requirements relax across the east coast.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison campaigned in Queensland after being classified as a casual contact from a Sydney event on Friday.
He did not need to isolate and was cleared to host a dinner with visiting South Korean President Moon Jae-in at Kirribilli House on Tuesday before jetting off to Brisbane.
Mr Morrison has so far returned two negative tests and is required to undergo a third.
"I'm one of the most tested-for-COVID prime ministers anywhere in the world and probably the most quarantined as well," he told reporters in Brisbane.
"Before we came up here today, we ensured we were fully compliant with the Queensland rules."
The state recorded six locally acquired infections on Wednesday.
This includes a man thought to have the Omicron variant who flew from Newcastle to Brisbane and then Townsville.
Everyone on the two flights was initially classified as close contacts required to quarantine for 14 days.
But health authorities reclassified everyone bar the passengers seated within two rows of the man as casual contacts only required to isolate until they test negative.
From Friday, unvaccinated Queenslanders will be subject to a widespread lockout from public life.
Meanwhile, daily infections in NSW are anticipated by the government to reach up to 25,000 by late January.
The state recorded 1360 cases on Wednesday, the highest daily tally in three months.
There was also one more death as quarantine rules were eased for some close contacts.
In the ACT, quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated close contacts of Omicron cases have been halved to seven days.
The national capital recorded seven new cases, while its number of confirmed Omicron infections grew to 14.
South Australia reported 26 new cases and Tasmania reopened to fully vaccinated travellers from hotspot areas.
Nearly 90 per cent of Australians aged 16 and older are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Australian Associated Press
