Australia could soon welcome tourists back to our shores, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison flagging discussions on whether to open our international borders will be on the top of the agenda this week.

Mr Morrison told reporters this morning a decision to open the borders for visitors did not appear to be far off.

"As people will know, we will have already opened up our borders to skilled migrants and backpackers and students, and that has been happening now for some months," Mr Morrison said.

READ MORE: 'What's happened to that 50 percent?' Booster appeal for NSW

"We are considering the further opening of the borders to international visitors.

"The previous opening up of the borders has gone very well. And we are looking forward to being able to make that decision to open up our borders and welcome visitors back to Australia again as soon as we safely and possibly can.

"I really do believe that isn't far away."

The key issue under examination was how such a move would impact the hospital system, Mr Morrison said.

READ MORE: 'Who am I to judge?': PM says it was easy to forgive Joyce

Speaking today on the ABC Insiders program, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said a decision on opening the international borders was "imminent".

Federal Government's national security committee will meet tomorrow to discuss the issue and hear the latest health advice.

"That is a priority for us," Ms Andrews told Insiders.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said opening Australia's borders would play an important role in getting the economy back on track and addressing labour shortages.

"We want international travellers to come back. That's not just good for small business … it's also important for labour shortages," Mr Perrottet said.

"Many businesses across the state are crying out for staff. The best thing we can do in relation to that is to open up our borders.

"We are looking forward to being able to make that decision to open up our borders and welcome visitors back to Australia again as soon as we safely and possibly can."

A person has reportedly been bitten by a shark at Western Australia's Wylie Bay.

The person was reportedly bitten at Kelp Beds in Esperance, about 700 kilometres south-east of Perth, this morning.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) received a report of the possible shark attack at 11.55am local time, a SharkSmart report said.

READ MORE: Dozens shaken by earthquake recorded off the coast of Cairns

"DPIRD is currently investigating a reported shark bite incident at Kelp Beds in the Shire of Esperance," the report stated.

"DPIRD is working with local authorities and further information will be provided as it becomes available."

People have been advised to take additional caution in the Kelp Beds area.

New South Wales has recorded 28 coronavirus-related deaths overnight, while Victoria has seen six further deaths.

NSW clocked 7893 new infections, a decline from yesterday's number of 8389.

There are 2321 people being treated in hospital, with 147 of those in ICU.

READ MORE: How COVID-19 will impact this year's election

Meanwhile in Victoria, 7169 cases were detected overnight.

Of the new infections, around 2700 were detected using traditional PCR testing while the remainder were reported from positive rapid antigen test results.

Currently Victoria is managing 60,917 active cases of COVID-19.

Of the active cases, 652 are being treated in hospital while 28 patients are currently on ventilators in ICU wards.

READ MORE: WHO issues warning for countries with high vaccination rates

Nation-wide 93.7 per cent of people aged 16 and over are fully vaccinated, while 8,838,517 total people over the age of 16 years old have received more than two doses.

Drop in Queensland cases as students get set for school

Meanwhile in Queensland, thousands of students are preparing to return to school tomorrow after a two week delay caused by the state's Omicron wave.

It comes as the state recorded another drop in new COVID-19 cases, with 5746 reported in today's figures.

There were nine deaths and 726 people in public and private hospitals with COVID; 47 of those patients are in intensive care.

Almost half of the state's recorded COVID-19 deaths – 141 of 277 – have been in aged care.

https://twitter.com/qldhealth/status/1490128357165395969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Yesterday, Queensland yesterday reported it's deadliest day in the pandemic, with 21 deaths and 8508 new COVID-19 cases.

In schools, masks will be mandatory for those in Year 7 and above and strongly encouraged for Years 3 to 6.

However, unlike Victoria and NSW, Queensland will not ask students to conduct mandatory rapid antigen tests. Instead, they'll be handed one if they feel unwell.

WA cases rise

Western Australia has recorded a rise in local COVID-19 cases, with 31 reported in the past 24 hours until 8pm last night – up from 25 yesterday.

Of the new local cases, 25 are linked to close contacts.

WA also recorded an additional 15 cases, related to travel into WA.

Some of the new local cases were infectious in the community, WA Health said.

Contact tracers are working to determine potential public exposure sites which will be uploaded when confirmed.

All cases are now in quarantine and public health teams continue to investigate and monitor them.

SA records one COVID-19 death

South Australia recorded 1234 cases of COVID-19, a slight drop from yesterday's figures.

https://twitter.com/SAHealth/status/1490182871872839680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

There are now 218 people with COVID-19 in SA hospitals, with 13 in intensive care and five requiring ventilators.

The state recorded one COVID-19 related death, a man aged in his 70s.

Filling up at the petrol pump is costing New Zealanders up to $9 more than a month ago, putting further pressure on household budgets.The end of fuel price hikes is not yet in sight, an expert warns, with a number of domestic and…

A campaign focused on tamariki wellbeing prompted almost 900 Aucklanders to get their dot (vaccination) across four Māori-led sites on Saturday. It’s renewed calls from all corners for a more targeted approach to vaccination…

Engineers for SpaceX, owned by the world’s richest man Elon Musk, are reportedly in Fiji with plans to help restore internet to the Kingdom of Tonga. The devastating eruption in mid-January damaged an undersea telecommunications…

Police are monitoring Covid-19 protest convoys heading towards Wellington from both ends of New Zealand. A spokesperson said they are not following the convoy, but are watching out for any issues using CCTV and units already on…

A major slip is blocking the southbound lane of State Highway 54 at Ohingaiti, just south of the Vinegar Hill campground.There are also a number of lesser slips along the road.The police say drivers should take caution if using…

An earthquake has been recorded off the coast of Far North Queensland with dozens of people reporting they felt the tremor.

The 3.9 magnitude earthquake occurred about 66 kilometres south-east of Cairns about 12.16pm local time today.

The quake had a depth of 10 kilometres and 54 people reported feeling the tremors, according to Geoscience Australia.

READ MORE: COVID-19 cases drop in Eastern states, Queensland schools to return

Weak shaking may have been felt in the town of Bramston Beach, which is located about 40 kilometres from the epicentre, as well as Innisfail Estate and Geraldton – about 49 kilometres away.

Parents of New South Wales school children will be able to access an extra $250 worth of vouchers to spend on entertainment or accommodation venues in the state from tomorrow.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the vouchers were a "thank you" to parents for their efforts, in particular during periods of home schooling over the past two years.

"This is testament and a tribute to all parents who have made an incredible effort over the last two years, particularly in circumstances of home schooling which we all know has been incredibly tough over this difficult period of time," Mr Perrottet said.

READ MORE: How NSW parents can get their $500 back-to-school vouchers

"We want to put downward pressure on family budgets, but importantly as well, we want to support those areas in those industries that have been doing it tough."

The five $50 vouchers will be available on the Service NSW app and can be spent on accommodation, entertainment and recreational activities until October 9 2022.

Parents can use the vouchers at registered Discover NSW businesses, or as part of the Stay NSW program for accommodation providers, which will be launched on February 21.

Customers will be able to pool multiple Stay NSW vouchers with friends or family for the same booking at registered accommodation providers.

Parents NSW vouchers can also be combined and used to redeem $250 off an accommodation booking or Discover NSW booking,

The launch of the parent vouchers comes after the government announced $500 back-to-school vouchers for parents to help with the costs of before and after school care.

Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello said parents and all adults should take advantage of the vouchers on offer.

"We're encouraging parents and all adults in NSW to take advantage of these various vouchers because they are so good in helping to stimulate the economy," he said.

"And ultimately helping in particular small businesses that have done it so really really hard over the last few years."