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NRLW premiership matches may be subject to extra breaks in play after it was announced a new season would kick-off with a match in a noon timeslot in February.

The NRLW will operate two tournaments next year with the rearranged 2021 campaign beginning on February 27, leading into an April 10 grand final.

Newcastle's McDonald Jones Stadium hosts a six-team triple-header, with St George Illawarra facing competition newcomers Parramatta at midday.

Round two of the NRLW will also be a triple-header at Wollongong's WIN Stadium, with Queensland not hosting a game until round four.

"We've thought about the location because of the time of the year," NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.

"So that's why we're not going to play in Queensland to start with. In fact, the first two meetings take place at coastal venues - that was quite deliberate.

"We play All Stars and trials at this time of year, so players are used to it.

"And we've got a great policy and a policy we take very seriously. So depending on the conditions at the time, we know that we have the armory to deal with that.

"If we need to have quarter times because it's unseasonally hot on a particular weekend, we will."

Under the NRL's heat guidelines, games played in increased temperatures are mandated to include more drinks breaks and offer shaded areas for players and officials to rest in.

Factors such as wind, ground temperature and humidity are taken into consideration and in the worst case, games can be cancelled.

But the NRL's summer switch has received the backing from the Rugby League Players' Association.

"We're working with the NRL to mitigate some of the concerns that can come with heat exposure," RLPA chief executive Clint Newton told AAP.

"Our heat policy has been in place for several years. We have seen in the men's game that there have been different challenges with the heat in the past."

Usually reserved for August, the rescheduled NRLW season includes new teams Parramatta, Gold Coast and Newcastle along with existing sides Dragons, Brisbane and the Sydney Roosters.

While NRLW fixtures are often played as curtain-raisers to NRL clashes, the February start allows for the women's game to enjoy their own broadcast platform on the Nine Network and Fox Sports.

"It's a great outcome for us to have stand-alone Sunday afternoon football fixtures that are on a free and main channel," Abdo said.

"(They) also don't really clash with too much other sport. To have consistency of time slots (allows) for us to really build a great live atmosphere."

© AAP 2021

A shortage of retail workers is hampering Australian businesses after lockdown and there are calls for overseas workers to fill the void.

National Retail Association chief executive Dominique Lamb said many members were struggling to find staff to resume regular trade and prepare for the Christmas rush.

"We absolutely have a skills shortage at this time. It's proving to be getting worse," she said.

A survey published this week showed job advertising across all industries reached a 13-year high in October. Retail leaders are sure their industry contributed greatly to the National Skills Commission figures.

Ms Lamb said many retail employers could not afford to retain workers during the most recent coronavirus lockdowns affecting the ACT, NSW and Victoria.

"We've seen retail workers become dissatisfied with the uncertainty," she said.

"If you were not an essential retail worker, you still have to feed your family. These people have gone to other industries that are still able to trade or offer more consistency in work hours."

The federal government's JobKeeper wage subsidy, which helped employers retain workers, ended before the most recent lockdowns.

Cafes and restaurants makeup a sizeable part of the retail industry and have experienced the same problem.

Restaurant and Catering Australia chief executive Wes Lambert said reopening for many was bittersweet due to the staff shortage.

"There is a severe worker shortage in Australia and it needs urgent attention by the federal government," he said.

He called for overseas workers to be allowed in to the country. Gaining Australian residency should also be made easier, Mr Lambert said.

"We are losing too many good workers to overseas markets," he said.

Australian Retailers Association chief executive Paul Zahra said while international students and skilled migrants could return before Christmas, business would still struggle to fill all vacant casual positions.

McDonald's Australia recently began its annual hiring spree before the Christmas holidays.

A spokeswoman said the company had been challenged by the labour shortages like many employers.

She said McDonald's looked forward to regaining skilled, seasonal and overseas workers.

A representative for workers saw the problem differently.

Retail and Fast Food Workers Union secretary Josh Cullinan said the situation showed retail workers deserved better conditions.

"We haven't got time for the crocodile tears of employers who dismissed workers during lockdown and now complain workers aren't available," he said.

He said some workers were choosing other industries such as disability support which did not have such as casualised workforce.

© AAP 2021

Scott Morrison has blasted Western Australia's decision to keep its border shut into 2022, criticising the state for flouting a national COVID-19 reopening plan.

Western Australia has indicated it will ease hardline border measures when 90 per cent of its 12-plus population is double-dosed, expected between late January and early February.

The prime minister criticised the state for flouting the national reopening plan that modelled reopening state borders at 80 per cent full vaccination.

"Once you go over 80 per cent and you keep things locked down, you are doing more harm than good to your economy," Mr Morrison told reporters in Newcastle on Monday.

"You're actually putting a price on Australians when you continue to put heavy restrictions on your economy once you hit 80 per cent vaccination rates."

WA has the country's lowest jab rate, with just under 67 per cent of over-16s double-dosed.

Meanwhile, booster shots are being rolled out across the general population for people who received their second shot at least six months ago.

Those with compromised immune systems, and in disability and aged care were already prioritised.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the booster program was off to a flying start, with 173,000 people getting a third jab already.

But medical researchers are still examining whether a yearly COVID booster will be needed, like the flu shot, or if three doses provide sufficient protection.

The most recent vaccine figures show just over 80 per cent of over-16s nationally are double-dosed, while 89.4 per cent have received one shot.

The prime minister has indicated Australia's medicines regulator will take its time in approving the Pfizer jab for children aged between five and 11.

"Any parent would want the government to be as careful as possible, but particularly for children aged five to 11," Mr Morrison said.

"We won't take further steps unless there is clear medical advice that we should proceed."

NSW recorded 187 new infections and seven deaths on Monday. There were 1126 additional cases in Victoria alongside five more deaths.

The ACT recorded 13 new cases.

© AAP 2021