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Hobart and southern Tasmania is heading into a snap three-day lockdown sparked by a coronavirus-infected NSW man who broke out of hotel quarantine.

Premier Peter Gutwein announced the restrictions would come into force from 6pm on Friday.

People can only leave their homes for five reasons, including shopping for essential supplies and exercise, while a host of businesses will be forced to shut their doors.

"We cannot afford an outbreak and put the safety of Tasmanians, especially vulnerable Tasmanians, at risk," Mr Gutwein said.

It comes after a 31-year-old man, who flew to Hobart via Melbourne on Monday night without a valid border entry pass, tested positive.

He was noticed missing from a Travelodge hotel quarantine facility on Tuesday and was arrested in the afternoon at a home in northern Hobart.

The man, who Mr Gutwein has described as being uncooperative and unwilling to wear a mask, later returned a positive test.

He spent time at two households and Bridgewater Woolworths, which has been declared an exposure site from 3.30pm to 4pm on Tuesday.

Anyone who was at the supermarket between those times has been told to isolate immediately.

The man, who has been fined $3000, was driven away from the Travelodge, by a friend but it remains a mystery as to how he absconded.

Mr Gutwein says extra CCTV cameras have been installed at the hotel and security tightened.

Monday's Jetstar flight JQ715 from Melbourne to Hobart is another exposure site, as are several spots at Hobart Airport that night.

The man was ordered to undergo hotel quarantine as there were no flights available on Monday night to send him back to NSW.

Authorities had identified 38 primary and 16 casual contacts of the man, prior to the Woolworths store being declared an exposure site.

Seven primary contacts have returned negative tests so far and all are in quarantine.

© AAP 2021

Al fresco dining will be encouraged and NSW residents will be armed with more vouchers to spend at restaurants and museums, as the government tries to jump start the economy amid "devastating" jobs losses.

The state saw almost 25,000 jobs lost last month, according to data released on Thursday.

About 260,000 people lost their work in the June quarter, the result of extensive COVID-19 lockdowns.

Treasurer Matt Kean called the latest jobs data "devastating".

Premier Dominic Perrottet said he was aiming to get as many of those jobs back as possible now the state was reopening.

He announced that adults in NSW would get two more $25 vouchers in December - one for dining and one for entertainment.

It's an extension of the popular Dine and Discover program in December, which 4.8 million people have used.

"Everybody loves it, wherever you live," he said in question time on Thursday.

The premier said the Dine and Discover program was costing the government $250 million but had delivered a $500 million shot in the arm for businesses around the state.

But Labor leader Chris Minns suggested the funding had already been set aside but not spent on the program, suggesting people hadn't used the vouchers they were entitled to.

In an attempt to bring "life and laughter into the city", the premier also announced that small bars and pubs will be allowed to set up tables and footpaths indefinitely.

Up to $500,000 will be available in grants for councils to improve their high streets.

Hospitality businesses can also apply for grants to help them embrace alfresco dining.

Mr Perrottet told parliament spending figures from this first week of reopening were encouraging, with total spending across the state up 20 per cent.

Meanwhile, 406 more people were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday, down from 444 the previous day.

NSW Health announced six more deaths on Thursday. They included three men and three women: two in their 60s, two in their 80s and two in their 90s.

The state looks set to reach its 80 per cent double COVID-19 vaccination milestone by the weekend - a week earlier than expected.

Opening up regional travel will reportedly be delayed because some rural communities have lower vaccination rates.

In areas such as Byron Bay, just 47 per cent of the eligible adult population is double-vaccinated.

There have been 454 COVID-19 related deaths in NSW in this outbreak, which began on June 16, and 510 in total since the start of the pandemic.

There are 711 COVID-19 cases in hospital, with 143 people in intensive care, 75 of whom require ventilation.

More than 91 per cent of the eligible population have had their first vaccination and 77.8 per cent are now fully vaccinated.

© AAP 2021

Legislation has passed in Queensland parliament to provide more rights to tenants ending leases, stopping evictions without grounds, and to have pets within rental properties.

The Housing Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 was voted through on Thursday after parliamentary debate and amendments proposed by the Greens throughout the week.

The new laws enact minimum quality standards and extend protection for renters who have experienced domestic and family violence.

All Queensland rental properties must meet standards for safety, security and functionality, including accessible windows and doors having functioning latches, fixtures and fittings.

They also disallow property owners from issuing a notice to leave 'without grounds' providing tenants with more certainty.

Tenants can end their interest in a lease with seven days' notice if they are unable to safely continue due to domestic and family violence reasons, and minister for housing Leanne Enoch says the laws move to protect the rights of renters.

"Queenslanders rely on safe, secure and affordable housing and we're delivering on our election commitments to modernise Queensland's rental laws and improve confidence in the rental market," she said.

"About 34 per cent of Queensland households rent and these new laws provide a strong, balanced approach that protects the rights of renters and rental property owners, while improving stability in the rental market."

Extensive consultation was conducted with 135,000 responses received to the Open Doors to Renting Reform consultation, while 15,000 responses were received to the regulatory impact statement.

If a renter requests to keep a pet, a rental property owner must have reasonable grounds to refuse and respond in writing to the request within 14 days.

Pets cannot be kept if the property is unsuitable and if keeping the pet would breach laws or by-laws, and the legislation clarifies that fair wear and tear in the property does not include pet damage.

But the laws have been met with some criticism from the Greens and the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ), warning that the legislation imposes onerous requirements for property owners and their contractual rights.

The REIQ says the laws provide a balanced position on tenancy reform but the pendulum has swung distinctly in favour of tenants.

"Property owners have lost the right to end a periodic tenancy by providing notice. Tenants will however retain this right," REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella said.

"Unless owners can establish limited prescribed grounds (such as the sale of the property) they will never be able to terminate a periodic tenancy.

"Tenancy laws need to be fair and balanced, and support the entire rental market. We can't have onerous legislation that strips owners of their rights and undermines their right to effectively manage an asset that they've worked hard to acquire."

Greens MP Amy MacMahon also moved an amendment for all property investor MPs to excuse themselves from debate due to conflict of interest, however it was voted down.

She said in lieu of Queensland's housing crisis there is a growing divide between those who own properties and those who do not.

"If you think this bill strikes the right balance, you have no idea what Queensland renters are going through," she said.

"It's unacceptable to have MP's who directly benefit from skyrocketing rents and lax evictions laws to be allowed to take part in this debate or vote on this bill."

© AAP 2021