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Australians have lost a record $211 million to scams so far this year, with people bombarded by bogus calls and texts purportedly from well-known businesses or the government.

The losses between January 1 and September 19 this year have surpassed the $175.6 million reported to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's Scamwatch throughout 2020.

This represents an 89 per cent increase from the same period last year and people are urged to be extra vigilant.

About a third of the 2021 losses, worth more than $63.6 million, are through calls and texts purportedly from well-known businesses or the government.

Of the 213,000 reports received from Scamwatch so far this year, 113,000 were about phone scams.

"Scammers are pretending to be from companies such as Amazon or eBay and claiming large purchases have been made on the victim's credit card," ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said on Monday.

"When they pretend to help you process a refund, they actually gain remote access to your computer and steal your personal and banking details."

The average loss so far this year is about $11,000, compared with $7000 for the same period in 2020.

Over-65s make up 23 per cent or $49.1 million of this year's losses and people for whom English is a second language nearly 14.4 per cent or $29.9 million.

Indigenous Australians reported losses worth $4.3 million, an 172 per cent increase from the same period last year.

There was explosion in new Flubot malware voicemails and parcel delivery scams in August.

They led to more than 13,000 scam reports in eight weeks.

Reports of identity theft have increased by 234 per cent, and phishing and remote access scams by 261 per cent and 144 per cent, respectively.

"The rise in identity theft related scams is particularly concerning as scammers can use the personal information they obtain for use in other crimes," Ms Rickard said.

She urged people to report scams even if they haven't lost any money.

"Scammers are conning people out of more and more money, so it's really important that everyone knows what to look out for and how to protect themselves."

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Queensland Police are set to welcome 142 recruits into their academy, the largest intake in a decade.

After Monday's record intake, another 72 recruits are expected to join the Oxley Police Academy in November.

Police Minister Mark Ryan, visiting the Townsville Police Academy on Sunday, said the increase in numbers was thanks to the biggest policing investment in thirty years.

"Police have been on the borders, in the airports and managing hotel quarantine," he said.

"We owe a great debt of gratitude to the Queensland Police Service for helping to keep the virus out and save lives."

The Queensland government has promised to deliver an extra 2025 police and a $300 million capital works program to deliver new and upgraded police facilities across the state.

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Restrictions will ease slightly across Victoria from Wednesday, when the state is forecast to have vaccinated 80 per cent of its population with at least one jab.

Another 779 new locally acquired COVID-19 infections and two further deaths were reported on Sunday.

The state is now host to more than 8000 active cases, but Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday confirmed a number of rules would soon relax, in line with the state's roadmap out of lockdown.

"They are modest things and it's not freedom day," he said.

"It's not the end of the lockdown (but) that is getting closer every day."

The state is expected to pass 80 per cent single dose vaccination coverage on Tuesday, and from 11.59pm outdoor recreation activities like golf and tennis are back on the table.

Residents of locked down areas will be able to travel 15km from home, up from 10, while patron caps in regional venues will increase from 20 to 30.

Masks will also not be required for some beauty services like facials and beard trimming in regional Victoria.

There was also good news for the city of Geelong, which will be released from lockdown at midnight, despite the diagnosis of six new cases on Saturday.

All cases were linked.

"There are still cases there and perhaps in another environment in previous times, we would have stayed in lockdown to drive those numbers down to a hard zero," Deputy Chief Health Officer Deb Friedman said.

"But that's no longer in line with our management of this virus, under the national plan."

Restrictions will also ease on the state's Surf Coast from midnight on Sunday, where one case was reported on Sunday, but the Mitchell Shire will remain in lockdown.

All three regions were returned to harsh restrictions a week ago after positive coronavirus cases emerged.

"Mitchell Shire being directly adjacent to some of the local government areas that have the highest rates of COVID anywhere in Australia is perennially vulnerable to these incursions," Ms Friedman said.

A series of "vaccinated economy" trials were also announced on Sunday, to begin across some regional Victorian businesses from October 11.

Select businesses in Buloke, Pyrenees, Bass Coast, Bendigo, East Gippsland and Warrnambool will test systems in the fortnight before Victoria is due to hit the 70 per cent double dose vaccination mark.

The 20 trial sites will be selected based on vaccination rates and case numbers.

Among the issues to be explored during the trials are vaccine status verification and how to help businesses safely deal with aggressive customers who are denied service.

"The trial is partly about ensuring that we understand all of those different pressure points and all those different possibilities so that by the time we get to 70 per cent and 80 per cent we have a much better idea of what is secure and what is not," Industry Support and Recovery Minister Martin Pakula said.

The premier also hinted vaccination could soon be required for hospitality workers, but said the chief health officer is still considering the issue.

"It would be strange if you weren't allowed to stand at the public bar to have a beer unless you are vaccinated, but the person who was pouring the beer didn't have to be vaccinated," he said.

Meanwhile, a second man who attended Melbourne's anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination protests this week has tested positive to COVID-19.

The Geelong man would have been infectious at the time, COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said.

It follows another man being hospitalised with COVID-19 earlier this week after attending a demonstration on Wednesday.

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Nathan Cleary has hailed the medical people behind his shot at grand-final redemption, praising their positivity for keeping his NRL season alive.

The Penrith co-captain breathed a massive sigh of relief on Sunday after avoiding a charge for his lifting tackle on Melbourne forward Kenny Bromwich, leaving him free to play in next Sunday's grand final against South Sydney.

However concerns remain for the Panthers, with forwards James Fisher-Harris and Tevita Pangai both set for scans on injured knees on Monday.

Late-season recruit Pangai is believed to be the main worry, amid fears medial ligament damage could rule him out of the decider.

At least the Panthers now know they will have their star halfback on deck on grand final night, a prospect that looked in doubt after he injured his shoulder in State of Origin II.

Cleary's availability is crucial to the Panthers. He has won 19 of 20 games at all levels this year while he and Jarome Luai have a 40-3 record together in the halves.

The 23-year-old is adamant that he has got to the point where his battered right shoulder is not front of mind when he takes the field, despite appearing to be carrying it at times.

He saw multiple specialists on return to Sydney after the Origin II win, with scans showing a cartilage tear after a shoulder subluxation.

Ultimately, it was decided that the could roll the dice and play out the season, with surgery inevitable afterwards.

"There was negative chat around that people have missed the series with this and I will need surgery straight away," said Cleary.

"But to the club's credit and the physio staff and medical staff, they were 100 per cent in my corner straight away."

He has been treated untiringly since by club physios Peter Green and Mitch Delahay, who backed the move for Cleary to play on.

"They were super positive and it was what I needed," Cleary said.

"Once I heard that from the physios I just knew I was going to get back and they would get me right and they have done that.

"I have been super grateful to them for getting me back on the field. It has been a work in progress each week just trying to strengthen it.

"They have put so many hours into me, so I am very grateful."

Penrith are certain they remain battle-hardened and not broken after having to do it the hard way to reach the grand final following their week-one loss to South Sydney, missing out on a week off.

Prop Moses Leota remains in a race against the clock to overcome a calf strain, after he was re-injured in their semi-final win over Parramatta and missed the preliminary final win over the Storm.

© AAP 2021