Australians stranded overseas could yet again be forced to bear the brunt of fresh outbreaks of coronavirus.
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison is under renewed pressure from state premiers to slash international arrival caps to curb new variants entering the country.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is pushing for a three-month reduction in overseas arrivals to reduce the risk of the Delta strain.
Mr Andrews has suggested halving the cap on returned travellers, arguing it is a better option than more lockdowns as the country battles various outbreaks.
He said it would be an interim measure while vaccine rates ramped up.
"If it's a choice for me between less people coming back - and yes there will be pain with that - or locking the whole place down, that's not a difficult decision," Mr Andrews told ABC radio on Tuesday.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is concerned about her state receiving a daily average of 150 people from overseas.
"Hotel quarantine is just not the answer," she told reporters in Brisbane.
"We need a massive reduction in overseas arrivals because the overseas arrivals are bringing in these contagious strains."
Ms Palaszczuk, who announced a three-day lockdown for large parts of the state, urged the prime minister to reduce the caps.
"The reason why we're having lockdowns in major cities is because the overseas arrivals are bringing the virus here," she said.
The incoming passenger cap is expected to be debated at the next national cabinet meeting this Friday.
More than 34,000 people are registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as being overseas and wanting to return, with 3900 considered vulnerable.
More government-facilitated flights are planned in coming weeks to support their return from overseas.
On Monday night, national cabinet agreed to compulsory post-quarantine testing for returned travellers, which must occur two to three days after they leave.
Travellers who have gone through 14-day quarantine in one jurisdiction will be able to enter other jurisdictions without having to isolate again.
National cabinet also decided to ban accommodating low-risk domestic travellers next door to high-risk international arrivals.
But the hotel quarantine regime is not expected to undergo major changes even when supplementary facilities are built.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the extra steps announced on Monday were part of a "continuous improvement" of the quarantine system, which had been effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19.
He encouraged all states and territories to help bring home as many Australians as possible.
"We recognise and respect their decisions, ultimately, but NSW has done the heavy lifting on behalf of the nation - they're continuing to do that," he said.
"We know that we can bring home Australians, we should bring home Australians, and the critical workers - whether it's in health or medical or engineering - are fundamental to helping save lives and protect lives."
Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the federal government had a responsibility to fix quarantine, not leave it to the states and territories.
"This government has walked away from its obligations to Australians who have been stranded overseas and it's walked away from its obligation to fix the quarantine system," he said.
Australian Associated Press
