Australians returning home to NSW from overseas will quarantine at home once the state hits 70 per cent Covid vaccination.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian made the highly-anticipated announcement during her press conference on Sunday.
A further 1,485 Covid cases were recorded along with three deaths - none of whom were double-jabbed and mostly had health complications.
The premier reiterated the need for all eligible NSW residents to get the jab as soon as possible, hinting at the further freedoms that would be announced in return.
One of the major drawcards will be for residents with loved ones still stuck overseas.
One of the major drawcards will be for residents with loved ones still stuck overseas, who will have an easier time getting home. Pictured: Two people reunited at Sydney airport
Premier Gladys Berejiklian made the highly-anticipated announcement during her press conference on Sunday
Ms Berejiklian said any fully vaccinated Australians returning from overseas would be eligible to do at-home quarantine rather than in a government-run facility.
She said once that 70 per cent target has been met, 'the current quarantine system will have its use-by date'.
'When Australians coming back home fully vaccinated with a credible vaccine, it would make sense that they could quarantine at home,' she said.
'The transition will start in earnest when we hit 70 per cent double dose... We still need some form of quarantine, whether it is in the future for international students, skilled labour.
'As far as Australians are concerned, if you are fully vaccinated with a credible vaccine, you should be allowed to quarantine at home and that is a transition we will be making.'
New South Wales has been dealt another crippling blow in its fight against Covid-19 with 1,485 new cases and three deaths recorded overnight
The premier has already committed to increasing the number of returning travellers NSW will open its borders to when more of the population is vaccinated.
Qantas expects flights to low risk destinations with high vaccination rates - like the United States, Canada, Singapore and Britain - to resume by December 2021.
Flights to cities with lower vaccination rates that are considered higher risk will likely resume by April 2022, chief executive Alan Joyce indicated.
'I know the prospect of flying overseas might feel a long way off - especially with NSW and Victoria in lockdown,' he said.
The premier has already committed to increasing the amount of returning travellers NSW will open its borders to when a greater proportion of the population is vaccinated
'But the current pace of the vaccine rollout means all Australian states are on track to reach the 80 per cent target by December - which is the trigger for starting to carefully open to some parts of the world.'
Ms Berejiklian has been equally as vocal about the necessity to remove state borders when vaccine targets are met.
She said internal borders should no longer exist after each state reaches an 80 per cent vaccination rate.
'Once we hit 80 per cent double dose, all internal borders in Australia should not exist and by that stage NSW would welcome home thousands of Australians every week,' Ms Berejiklian said.
'I look forward to Sydney airport welcoming home Australians from lots of states.'
'I'm confident every other state leader will come to the same conclusion, that we have to stick to the plan.'
Returning Aussies will not be required to undergo two weeks' hotel quarantine. Pictured: People checking out of hotel quarantine
Scott Morrison says state borders will be open for Christmas so Australian families can finally reunite despite resistance from some hardline premiers
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has promised Australians will be able to fly interstate for long-overdue Christmas family reunions this year, despite the fears of some state premiers.
Once adult double-dose vaccination rates hit 80 per cent, the PM said the country will be able to live with Covid and open up for domestic travel in time for Christmas.
'Grandparents in the east can hold their new grandchild in the west for the first time,' he said.
This is despite West Australian Premier Mark McGowan insisting his borders will stay closed for 'months' even after the landmark vaccination milestone.
He warned travellers from NSW, Victoria and the ACT will continue to be banned from entering WA until 2022 as the state aims to maintain its Covid zero target.
Tasmania has also indicated they will wait until a 90 per cent vaccine rate is hit before considering dropping borders entirely.
But the PM vowed to smash down state barriers and enforce the National Plan blueprint to reopen so the country 'can be together again, safely and soon,' he said.
'We don't have to fear the virus, but we do have to live with it,' Mr Morrison told the Herald Sun. 'Holding onto Covid zero will only hold Australians back as the world moves forward.'
He held out hope families would be able to enjoy trips to theme parks in Queensland while singles celebrate summer parties and New Year's Eve fireworks.
'Nobody wants Covid to be the virus that stole Christmas, and we have a plan and the vaccinations available to ensure that's not the case,' he promised.
'Everyone can make plans for a family Christmas, with all our loved ones at the dinner table, cracking bon-bons and bad jokes together.'
During her Sunday press conference, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian dismissed concerns from other state and territory leaders, reminding them that they all agreed in national cabinet to reopen borders at 80 per cent.
'I think all of us want to see Australians reunite with families and have Christmas as we have enjoyed in previous years... I hope other states have the same approach which is obviously what we agreed upon.'
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has finally accepted the state will open at 80 per cent double dose vaccinations and urged locals to get jabbed now.
The stubborn premier had previously hinted she was not going to re-open her state's borders until children under 12 had been vaccinated.
But on Sunday she appeared to backtrack and accept the inevitability of borders coming down - and told locals to make the most of this time and get vaccinated.
'It is absolutely imperative that you get vaccinated because this virus is going to pop up sometime in the near future,' she said on Sunday.
'This is basically our window to get this done. We have been hearing extensively about the modelling of 70 and 80 per cent.
'We need to aim for 80 per cent and above. We have this window of opportunity, Queensland, to get vaccinated. Now is a window of opportunity to get vaccinated.'
