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Australia's retail sector is urging national cabinet for isolation exemptions to be extended to staff in the industry, as the prime minister meets with state and territory leaders.

National cabinet will on Thursday discuss the state of the health system, following one of the deadliest days of the pandemic with 87 fatalities on Wednesday.

Isolation rules for workers in a number of essential sectors were expanded earlier this month, and now there is a growing push for retail staff to be added to the list.

The exemptions would allow workers to go back to their jobs after being at a COVID-exposure site, provided they test negative to the virus on a rapid antigen test.

Chief executive of the Australian Retail Association Paul Zahra said businesses in the sector were yet to pass supply chain issues that had been exacerbated by Omicron.

"We all have to learn to live with COVID," he told ABC Radio.

"If you can expand isolation exemptions for certain groups, it makes sense to expand it further to other categories of retail."

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has stepped up its push for international tourists to return to the country.

The chamber's chief executive Andrew McKellar said such a move would be a way to boost the post-pandemic economy.

"We are urging government to get ahead of the curve, start talking to the industry about how quickly it can happen," he told ABC TV.

"We do think in the weeks ahead, as the pressure comes off the health system, then the rationale for keeping these international border restrictions in place can be revisited."

Opposition home affairs spokeswoman Kristina Keneally said more planning was needed to allow the international travel sector to recover following years of uncertainty.

"It's extraordinary that three years into this pandemic there has been no planning done," she told ABC TV.

"We need to look at sensible solutions and it would be helpful if we actually had a national government that was leading.

"My frustration and fear for today's national cabinet will be that it will be just more of the same."

It comes as Victoria recorded 13,755 new cases on Thursday with 15 fatalities from the virus.

In NSW, there were 29 virus-related deaths and 117,316 cases, with nearly 10,000 of those coming from PCR tests.

NSW on Wednesday became the first state or territory to surpass one million cases.

Infectious diseases expert Professor Robert Booy said while large numbers of people have been infected with COVID, rates were starting to go down.

"One of the big reasons new cases are going down, and not just plateauing, is because the virus is running out of people to find and infect," he told the Seven Network.

"We are going to be seeing higher rates of hospitalisations and lots of stress to the system and intensive care occupied well into February before that starts going down."

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Crowd capacity at the Australian Open will be increased to 65 per cent, with organisers hopeful of drawing a record crowd to watch Dylan Alcott's wheelchair final on Thursday.

Tournament director Craig Tiley said fans holding ground passes would be able to enter Rod Laver Arena on Thursday afternoon to watch the new Australian of the Year.

Gunning for an eighth Australian Open wheelchair title in his last tournament before retiring, Alcott takes on second-seeded Dutchman Sam Schroder in the final.

With the doubles semi-final featuring Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis also switched from Kia Arena to Rod Laver Arena and open to ground pass holders, tournament director Craig Tiley said he hoped they could attract a bumper crowd.

The "Special Ks", who have proved a crowd favourite, will be in action before Alcott's match.

"Anyone coming on site tomorrow with a grounds pass can get into Rod Laver Arena ... we want to make Dylan's match the most watched wheelchair match in the history of the game," Tiley told Channel Nine on Wednesday.

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Despite being vaccinated and boosted, Sir Elton John has contracted COVID-19 and is postponing two farewell concert dates in Dallas.

He "is experiencing only mild symptoms," according to a statement.

"Elton and the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour look forward to returning to the stage shortly."

Sir Elton was due to hit the American Airlines Center stage in Dallas on January 25 and 26 but fans "should hold on to their tickets as they will be honoured at the rescheduled dates to be announced soon".

His rescheduled 2020 North American tour kicked off on January 19 in New Orleans and was scheduled to make stops in Houston, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, New York and Miami.

Sir Elton previously said he was postponing European dates on his world tour until 2023 so that he can have an operation on an injured hip.

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Newly minted Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott has vowed to use his title to improve the lives of people living with disabilities. But first, he has another tennis grand slam to win.

Born with a tumour wrapped around his spinal cord, Alcott grew up hating his disability and "didn't want to be here".

Now, the seven-time Australian Open champion thinks it's the "best thing that ever happened to me".

"We have to have greater representation of people with a disability absolutely everywhere," Alcott told the Australian of the Year Awards in Canberra on Tuesday night.

"In our boardrooms, in our parliaments, in our mainstream schools, on our dating apps, on our sporting fields, in our universities, absolutely everywhere."

Alcott received the honour fresh off a win at Melbourne Park before rushing back to try to secure an eighth Australian Open title.

"I really hope I make you proud out there. But winning grand slams and gold medals isn't my purpose," the 31-year-old said.

"It's, like, the 30th priority of my life. My purpose is changing perceptions so people with people like me can get out there and live the lives they deserve to live."

He called for free rapid antigen tests for people with disabilities, after the federal government announced they could be purchased through people's National Disability Insurance Scheme funds.

"We have to fund the NDIS, first and foremost. And listen to people with lived experience and ask them what they need so they can get out and start living the lives they want to live," Alcott said.

Alcott praised his Australian of the Year predecessor Grace Tame, who used her platform to advocate on behalf of fellow childhood sexual abuse survivors.

"You are fierce and I love it and you have done so much for your cause," he told her.

"And if I could be one-eighth of the Australian of the Year that you were, I think I've done my job."

© AAP 2022