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The federal government is acting to "quickly" deport foreign-born criminals convicted of violent or serious sexual offences.

The coalition plans to introduce legislation to parliament to close a loophole in migration character test laws.

The proposed amendment will allow the government to refuse or cancel the visas of non-citizens who've been convicted and sentenced to at least two years' jail for serious offences, have served less than 12 months and are deemed a risk to the community.

The offences included violent and sexual crimes, breaching personal protection orders like apprehended violence orders, using or possessing a weapon or assisting with any of these crimes, the government said on Tuesday.

"An Australian visa is a privilege that should be denied to those who pose a threat to the safety of Australians," Immigration and Citizenship Minister Alex Hawke said in a statement.

"It should not be easier to deport an international sports star than a convicted criminal.

"That's why this bill broadens existing discretionary powers to cancel and refuse visas under the 'character test'."

Mr Hawke says the changes will reduce the likelihood of deportation decisions being overturned on appeal and capture offenders given sentencing discounts or given sentences that fall below the mandatory visa cancellation threshold.

The bill will also allow the use of data matching and biometric information to help the government identify people of concern.

The bill is expected to be introduced to parliament on Wednesday.

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Thousands of public hospital nurses are walking off the job in NSW, saying they are stretched too thin to give the care their patients deserve, especially in a pandemic.

The planned industrial action on Tuesday by those at the front line of patient care is the first of its kind in nearly a decade.

They are upset with the state government for not implementing minimum nurse-to-patient ratios, as per systems in Queensland and Victoria.

They are also seeking a pay rise above the government's 2.5 per cent cap in recognition of their pandemic workloads, marked by increasing and more complex work.

"It's inhumane what is expected of us," said Nicole Richardson, a registered nurse and midwife who works at Gosford Hospital, north of Sydney.

"We are not cuddling babies. We are trained, professional nurses and midwives trying to work in a broken system."

The length of the industrial action will vary across hospitals and skeleton staff will remain at work to meet urgent patient care. The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association expects the strike to impact 150 public hospitals.

Paramedics are also planning industrial action this week.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has said the patient ratios the union wants aren't effective, and said that system hadn't worked well in other states.

He has accused the nurses association of playing "old union games" and has called on their representatives to negotiate without taking industrial action.

Some hospital workers, like those at Byron Central Hospital, support the strike but won't leave their nurses' stations over concerns they already don't have enough staff to provide the required care.

Liz McCall, a senior nurse at Byron Central and a union delegate, said the difficult work conditions had prompted many nurses to become politically active for the first time.

She said many senior nurses had resigned or retired early during the COVID-19 pandemic because of their workloads, leaving a major gap in nursing experience.

"We can't provide the care we want to give - it's really scary," said Ms McCall, who has been a registered nurse for more than 40 years.

"The pandemic has exacerbated what was already happening in our service."

The union was issued with an order to stop its strike action late on Monday, after NSW Health and the government sought assistance from the Industrial Relations Commission.

A spokesperson for NSW Health said the strike would "cause disruptions and delays to health services".

However the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association said it would be going ahead with its industrial action and would not follow the orders.

"The NSWNMA Council supports the decision of our branches to take industrial action statewide," general secretary Brett Holmes said.

"The strike and rallies will go ahead, as we are unable to comply with the orders."

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More than 10 million booster doses have been administered across the country, as health authorities hope the newest vaccine will help increase immunisation coverage.

The milestone for booster numbers was passed on Monday, with the national rate for a third dose for a COVID-19 vaccine just under 60 per cent.

The head of the country's vaccine rollout Lieutenant-General John Frewen said 17 million Australians were eligible for boosters.

"Another 144,000 people came through the doors yesterday. The uptake is really good, but we have a way to go still," Lieutenant-General Frewen told the Seven Network on Tuesday.

"It has never been more convenient to get a vaccine and there is good choice across the range of vaccines."

It comes as Monday marked the start of the rollout of the Novavax vaccine.

The vaccine is the fifth to be approved by Australia's medical regulator and the first protein-based vaccine to be used in the country.

Lt Gen Frewen said while the overall vaccination rate was more than 90 per cent, it was hoped more people would use Novavax to start their primary course of COVID-19 vaccinations.

"We have had more than 3000 GPs and pharmacies show an interest in stocking it and more than 2000 orders places now," he said.

"We are now at 94 per cent of the nation who have come forward and had their doses. This is an extremely high number by any standard, and there is another six per cent of the nation potentially."

The latest COVID-19 vaccination figures have also revealed more than one million five- to 11-year-olds have received their first vaccine, or about 47 per cent of the demographic.

It comes as the Morrison government is under pressure to provide extra staff, protective equipment and rapid tests for the disability sector as it deals with rising Omicron cases.

Disability sector workers, people with disabilities and union representatives will be in Canberra on Tuesday for talks with MPs.

The ACTU has written a letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, calling for financial help and for him to meet with stakeholders to discuss a fit-for-purpose national plan of action.

ACTU president Michele O'Neil said the needs of some of the most vulnerable Australians were not being properly considered by the government.

"Disability workers are falling ill at an alarming rate and workplaces are becoming unsafe," she told AAP.

"The Morrison government must address this workforce crisis and provide immediate support to the disability sector."

She said a national plan was needed to deal with COVID-19 outbreaks and to support and manage staff isolations.

Meanwhile, Mr Morrison has defended the government not ordering enough rapid antigen tests, as thousands called for them to be made free for everyone.

The prime minister claimed health officials did not advise him that RATs would need to be widely used before the outbreak of Omicron during summer.

"In fact, they were not even approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration until November of last year," he said.

© AAP 2022