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AAP
AAP
Politics
Fraser Barton

Premier uncertain on regular COVID meets

Annastacia Palaszczuk is uncertain state and territory leaders will have time to meet twice a week. (AAP)

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszcuzk supports twice-weekly cabinet meetings to work out the nation's COVID-19 response but she has doubts about the viability of regular meetings.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called for more frequent meetings to help coordinate the vaccine rollout and other parts of the COVID-19 response.

Ms Palaszczuk says more meetings will ensure everyone is on the same page, but she's uncertain state and territory leaders will have time to meet twice a week.

"It's going to be a big task to try and get everybody at the same time, in the same place, because the jobs of premier's are pretty busy," she told reporters on Thursday.

The premier plans to use more frequent meetings to push plans for a mass quarantine camp in Toowoomba.

The Wagner Group wants to build a quarantine facility at Wellcamp Airport near Toowoomba, which would host up to 1000 travellers and 300 staff.

However, the project has been stalled with Queensland calling for federal approval for international flights to land at the airport and the Commonwealth calling for more detail on the plan from the state.

Ms Palaszczuk said a camp was needed given the delayed vaccination rollout and the amount of people with COVID-19 arriving in the state from overseas.

"It's a serious issue, it's a serious proposal, but we need an answer out of the federal government. And now that national cabinet's meeting twice a week, I'm quite sure I'm gonna have more of an opportunity to raise it as well," Ms Palaszczuk said.

The premier also backs the idea of mass vaccination hubs on principle, but she has previously stressed that such facilities are only viable if there's consistent vaccine supplies.

Queensland relaxed tight coronavirus restrictions on Thursday morning, two weeks after a snap lockdown of Greater Brisbane after two COVID-19 clusters linked to the Princess Alexandra Hospital emerged in the city's north.

While the mandate on wearing masks in the community has ended, masks will still be required at the airport and on flights - as happens in other states.

But Queenslanders are being advised to wear masks in settings where social distancing cannot be maintained.

People are allowed to stand and dance at restaurants, pubs and clubs, and all outdoor gatherings will be allowed without restrictions.

Stadiums, theatres and cinemas can operate at full capacity and gatherings of up to 100 people will be allowed at private residences.

Visitors are also allowed back into hospitals, aged care facilities, disability facilities and prisons across Greater Brisbane.

As virus restrictions lifted Virgin Airlines, in which the state government holds a stake, announced it had rehired 220 staff laid off during the pandemic.

Chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka said Virgin will also fill 150 vacant positions and add another 220 flight routes per week by mid-June.

"All of this will provide much-needed certainty for hundreds of our team members, who through no fault of their own, were required to give up their jobs because of the extraordinary impacts of the pandemic," she said.

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