Victoria will scrap quarantine for fully vaccinated international travellers from November 1 in a major step to reopening the country.

The change means hotel and home quarantine will only be required for unvaccinated people, those who have had a COVID-19 vaccine that is not approved by the Australian Government, or those whose vaccination status is unknown.

Premier Daniel Andrews made the announcement today as Melbourne celebrates "Freedom Day", explaining international arrivals would only need to get tested within 24 hours upon arriving into the state next month.

EXPLAINED: What you can and can't do when Melbourne's lockdown ends

"From November 1, international travellers returning back to Melbourne or coming to Melbourne, coming to Victoria – for the first time – will not have to quarantine," Mr Andrews said.

"They'll be able to go home if they are double-vaxxed, if they have tested negative before the flight and if they get a test within 24 hours of arriving home.

"This means that we will reduce our hotel quarantine program down to just a handful of hotels."

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The major relaxation of the state's border for international travellers brings Victoria in line with New South Wales' approach.

The premier said he decided to follow suit with NSW on easing quarantine measures as Victoria will be "as protected as can be" come November.

"This is a freedom of movement we've not been able to enjoy for a long time," he said.

"And that's all because Victorians have got vaccinated in record time and in record numbers."

Qantas this afternoon revealed it would bring forward the resumption of international flights from Melbourne following the Victorian Government's decision to remove quarantine requirements.

Flights from Melbourne to London will take off on November 6, six weeks earlier than planned.

Flights from Melbourne to Singapore will resume on November 22, three weeks ahead of schedule.

"It's great to see Melbourne reopening and the decision by the Victorian Government to remove quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated travellers will make it easier for people to take the trips they've been longing to take," Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said.

"We've immediately brought forward our flights from Melbourne to Singapore and London in response."

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The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has confirmed a tornado touched down in Queensland after a severe storm warning was issued for Brisbane.

The BoM said the funnel cloud was captured by a webcam at Brisbane Airport as a supercell thunderstorm swept through.

The system also brought 101mm of rain and has been branded a one-in-50 year rain rate for Brisbane Airport.

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This comes as a severe weather warning for damaging winds has been issued for large parts of the state.

People in the Southeast Coast and parts of Peninsula, North Tropical Coast and Tablelands, Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders, Herbert and Lower Burdekin, Central Highlands and Coalfields, Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett and Maranoa and Warrego Forecast Districts have been told to brace for intense storms.

"Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours," it said.

Parts of the Gold Coast have been issued a severe weather warning with residents warned to brace for damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rain.

"These thunderstorms are slow moving. They are forecast to affect waters off South Stradbroke Island by 12:40 pm.

https://twitter.com/BOM_au/status/1451370356128686083

Photographer Marty Watson also captured today's tornado as it formed over Lomadra Drive.

He said the weather event was initially calm before violent winds picked up.

"I saw this developing right in our car park," he told 9News.com.au.

https://twitter.com/LukeBradnam/status/1451372689390649351

"I grabbed my video because it's something you don't see everyday. Initially it was calm as it formed. It didn't quite touch down in the car park though as it went over our building.

"The wind became fairly violent within 20 seconds though and the rain and hail was smashing us," he said.

"Luckily there doesn't appear to be any car damage but the building leaked a bit."

READ MORE: Queenslanders warned to prepare homes for 'severe' storm season

The tornado came after the BoM issued a severe thunderstorm warning for people in parts of Brisbane City Council Area this morning, explaining "very dangerous thunderstorms" were detected near Brisbane Airport and Mud Island.

"Intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding, damaging winds and large hailstones are likely," it said.

The storm warning was cancelled shortly after midday.

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Tasmania has unveiled its COVID-19 reopening plans, announcing borders are set to reopen on December 15 for all vaccinated interstate and international arrivals.

From that date, with 90 per cent of the state fully vaccinated, visitors won't need to quarantine as long as they return a negative COVID-19 test.

Premier Peter Gutwein said modelling shows "that during the evolution of the outbreak, 90 per cent of 12-to-15 year-olds would be vaccinated by mid-January".

READ MORE: Qantas to restart international flights earlier than expected

"However, we believe that we will achieve that 90 per cent vaccination target for the 12- to 15- year-old cohort early during December," Mr Gutwein said.

Mr Gutwein said when the state reaches 80 per cent fully vaccinated, travellers can enter from high-risk areas if they quarantine in a hotel or qualify for "risk-based" home quarantine.

"Our borders are going to reopen on December 15 and if you're not, they will be reopening anyway," Mr Gutwein said.

Mask mandate lifted for Southern Tasmania

The Tasmanian Government has removed the mask order for Southern Tasmania that has been in place since October 15.

People in Southern Tasmania will not be mandated to wear masks outside their home.  

From 6pm today, restrictions will also be lifted for aged care facilities and hospitals in the south.

READ MORE: Melbourne CBD erupts with noise at midnight as lockdown lifts

Mr Gutwein said the government is looking closely at modelling as it prepares to reopen on December 15.

Mr Gutwein said there will be no "let it rip model" for reopening, with certain social or public health measures to be in place to prevent a serious outbreak.

"If we look at this model and it's been released today, based on the modelling, we see more than 77,000 total cases over 200 days," Mr Gutwein said.

"We're not going down that pathway.

"Now the modelling shows by maintaining the public health measures that we currently have in place, and a high level of contact tracing, case numbers could reduce by more than 25,000 cases."

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A manhunt is on for a fugitive who allegedly left a car on train tracks south of Sydney causing a train to derail.

Four people were hospitalised after the train smashed into a parked vehicle police suspect was deliberately parked in the way.

Police are now looking for Allan Martin Simpson to come forward as he is wanted on an outstanding warrant over alleged property, traffic, trespass and theft offences.

READ MORE: Car that caused train derailment deliberately left on tracks

He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, between 170cm–180cm tall, of medium build with black hair, brown eyes and a beard, NSW Police said.

Mr Simpson has tattoos on his neck and is known to frequent the areas of Wollongong, Shellharbour and surrounds.

The train derailment happened just after 4am on Wednesday in Kembla Grange and authorities said it was a miracle no one was killed.

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"I was speaking to some of the railway workers on site, and when they see a train in that position, they immediately expect fatalities," Superintendent Craig Ireland said earlier.

One of the passengers said the collision was like "being on a trampoline".

"It was just bouncing up and down, then really rough, then came to a halt," the passenger said.

The front carriage of the Tangara class train became detached and flipped onto its side, rolling off the tracks completely.

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