The Australian PM has called for states to open their borders by December and ease restrictions as businesses and households expressed their frustration at rising incomes and job losses, Reuters reported.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison suggested that a tourism bubble with New Zealand would boost tourism and help revive an economy that has fallen into recession for the first time since 1991.

Seven of Australia's eight state and territory leaders agreed to chart a path to open borders by December by defining hotspots for managing travel around the country. Morrison noted that he told New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern that Australia will also try to apply a hot spot approach to New Zealand.

The early closures of Australia's international borders and quarantines have resulted in far fewer COVID-19 cases and deaths in the country than other countries. Nearly 26,100 cases and 737 deaths were reported nationwide.