Leaders present united front at final National Cabinet for the year as PM says Australia is 'coming back' from COVID-19

The prime minister and state and territory leaders have presented a united front as they addressed the nation following this morning's National Cabinet meeting.

Australia's approval and rollout of coronavirus vaccines, the return of overseas travel and arrangements for seasonal workers were front and centre of today's discussions.

Today's meeting is the last of 30 National Cabinet meetings held this year, but the first to be held in person.

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For most of the leaders, it is the first time they have met face-to-face since March.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison's address was upbeat as he assured the nation that Australia was bouncing back amid the pandemic.

"Australia is working together, we are working together and Australia is coming back from COVID-19," he said.

The only leader absent from the meeting was WA Premier Mark McGowan, who attended remotely.

The prime minister told reporters he didn't take Mr McGowan's absence personally.

"We were heartbroken that Mark couldn't join us here - almost as much as him," Mr Morrison quipped.

"It's okay, WA gets to keep the GST.

"We understand every state and territory has its rules and those rules need to be held up to and so we understand - but obviously miss - our colleague and look forward to him joining us next year."

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Despite months of remotely-exchanged barbs and fiery press conferences, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has played down tensions with her Queensland counterpart over border closures.

Queensland reopened its border to Sydney residents on December 1 after eight months of hard lockdown, separating families and creating job losses for both states.

"Contrary to what might be out there, we have constructive discussions within National Cabinet," Ms Berejiklian said.

"I've made my position very clear from day one and I maintain that position.

"That is the beauty of the federation... although from time to time we will not agree on everything, it allows us to come forward with our views on how to move forward.

"The important thing is we will be open by Christmas and that is what our citizens want and expect and I hope this is sustained until the end of the pandemic."

But seating several seats away, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk remained adamant that she would do it all again if required, saying "it was all based on health advice".

Returning Australians to remain focus of overseas travel

The first priority for allowing people into the country is Australians, Mr Morrison said.

He said he was looking to raise the number of people allowed into Australia, provided there is the capacity.

"The first priority is the quarantine capacity for returning Australians and residents and that will continue to be our focus," Mr Morrison said.

A total of 45,954 Australians have returned from overseas and passed through hotel quarantine under emergency procedures implemented by the Federal Government in mid-September.

This figure far exceeds the number who initially registered their intention to return, but further registrations since then mean a further 38,655 are still awaiting flights.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews thanked NSW for taking in more people into hotel quarantine during his state's second wave.

"The prime minister and I had a conversation last night about us lifting our numbers and we're very confident we will be able to do that," Mr Andrews said.

"But that has got to be done safely."

Overseas holidays remains in doubt

Australians hoping to get the coronavirus jab then hop onto an overseas flight look set for disappointment.

Department of Health Secretary Brendan Murphy says there is not enough evidence to show a coronavirus vaccine will stop recipients from being asymptomatic carriers of the disease.

"The vaccines can prevent disease. We know that very clearly," Professor Murphy said.

"The extent to which they will effectively prevent, for example, asymptomatic transmission or people bringing the virus with them when they travel, we still have to find out."

Professor Murphy said it was still unclear whether people should be able to travel to and from Australia once they have been vaccinated.

"This is an evolving place and there may well come a time when we have evidence that vaccines are very good at preventing people contracting the infection and in that circumstance it may be appropriate to allow quarantine-free travel," he said.

"We just have to watch and wait as it develops."