NSW will push for Australia's borders to open up further as the state grapples with skilled labour shortages.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said it was vital that foreign workers be allowed back into the country as the nation begins to open up, amid plans for a post-COVID economic recovery.
On Monday Australians who had been stranded overseas began returning to NSW after the state dropped the requirement for them to quarantine, but the premier is keen to welcome others as well.
"In relation to immigration I'm sure there will be discussions over time in relation to what that immigration rate should be," he told reporters on Wednesday.
However, he noted that "simply adding more people is lazy economics"
"What you want to do is target those areas which will make a difference," he said.
Initially he wants to address short term labour shortages threatening the recovery of the hospitality sector and the agriculture industry, which after years of hardship has a once-in-a-lifetime bumper crop but a critical shortage of workers to harvest it.
"That will be the focus for me as I'm sure it will be for other premiers around the country.
"I would expect that through the national cabinet process we would be able to put forward where we identify those skilled labour shortages," he said.
He was speaking a day after announcing new freedoms that were due to start in December would start on Monday - while unvaccinated people will have to wait until December 15 - or until the state achieves its 95 per cent double-dose vaccination target.
Meanwhile, there are 190 new local cases of COVID-19 in NSW and four deaths.
Mr Perrottet said the state should be prepared for increasing case numbers as the state opens up but declined to reveal what the latest modelling predicted.
"The reality is case numbers will increase, hospitalisations will increase - we need to learn to live alongside this pandemic," he said.
He maintained the best way to safely open up was through high vaccination rates.
He defended the "annoying" decision to extend the mandatory wearing of face masks inside public places until December 15.
"That's painful right ... but these are the types of things we have to do," he said.
Customer Services Minister Victor Dominello said QR check codes would continue to be used.
"Hopefully there will come a time in the forseeable future when based on health advice and guidance we can retire them," he said.
The new COVID cases were recorded in the 24-hours until 8pm on Tuesday from 114,303 tests and there were 17 more cases than the previous day.
There are 309 patients in NSW hospitals with 68 in ICU and 32 who require ventilation.
Some 93.6 per cent of people aged 16 and older have had one vaccine dose and 88.3 per cent are fully jabbed.
In the 12-15 year old age group, 79.5 per cent have had their first dose, and 63.7 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Of the people who died, three were not vaccinated.
One was in their 50s, one was in their 60s, one was in their 70s.
A vaccinated woman in her 80s with underlying health conditions also died.
There have been 526 COVID-19 related deaths in the state since the outbreak began in mid June.
