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Pacific Explorer will be the first cruise ship to dock at an Australian port since the federal government's ban triggered by the pandemic in March 2020.

P&O Australia's $400 million luxury liner, which has capacity for almost 2000 passengers, is expected to arrive in Sydney on Monday morning.

The Explorer's return to full service will coincide with that of Ponant's Le Laperouse, which will begin operations between Darwin and Broome on April 28, joining local operators in time for the Kimberley cruise season.

NSW, Victoria and Queensland have outlined testing and vaccination requirements for passengers and crew in preparation for the ships to return.

However, Tasmania is still reviewing whether such a move is safe for the island state.

Peak body Cruise Lines International Association Australia says the lifting of the ban will be marked by "a carefully managed resumption of operations" in a sector that previously supported more than 18,000 jobs.

Cruise Lines' Australasian managing director Joel Katz says that before the pandemic more than a million Australians a year took an ocean cruise.

"We now have an opportunity to return to sailing and revive an industry that was worth more than $5 billion annually to the Australian economy," he said.

"While no setting is immune from COVID-19, the cruise industry's new protocols provide among the highest possible levels of prevention, detection and mitigation."

The move comes despite COVID-19 infections remaining high.

More than 32,000 new cases were reported across the nation on Sunday, along with 17 virus-related deaths, although seven of the eight announced by officials in Western Australia were historical.

The ACT is yet to report any figures for the Easter period.

There are currently more than 409,000 active COVID-19 cases in Australia. Some 3079 patients are in hospital care, and of these 137 have been admitted to ICUs and 30 require ventilation.

Meanwhile, Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen is isolating after testing positive.

"I was looking forward to a few days campaigning in regional Queensland and Brisbane but it isn't to be," he tweeted on Saturday.

Labor's Home Affairs spokeswoman Kristina Keneally and Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews contracted the virus last week.

Elsewhere, Health Victoria is monitoring the new BA.4 or BA.5 Omicron variant after samples were confirmed in a catchment at Tullamarine, north of Melbourne.

The sub-variant has been recently detected in a small number of cases in South Africa, Botswana, Belgium, Denmark, the United Kingdom and Germany, but is not considered a cause for alarm.

© AAP 2022

Image: Rapidfire, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons (image for illustration only)

A frustrated Adam O'Brien will seek a meeting with the NRL over refereeing concerns after Newcastle's controversial 21-16 loss to St George Illawarra.

Zac Lomax was the hero for the Dragons at WIN Stadium, nailing a 78th-minute field goal to help end their four-match losing streak.

But it came in dramatic circumstances, with the Knights believing they were denied a penalty for an offside from the ensuing kick off when Lomax fumbled the ball and Jaydn Su'A recovered.

With the score at 17-16 and two minutes to play, the Knights believed they should have earned a penalty and the opportunity to take the lead -- instead the Dragons went down field to score again.

"We had some guys have an off day. I reckon there was some other people that had an off day today too," O'Brien said.

"In more scenarios than that (offside). I will take that up during the week but I am getting sick of taking that up.

"We have our own backyard to clean up, but it's frustrating."

Also frustrating O'Brien was the fact the Knights were unable to earn a set restart -- as their losing streak was extended to four in a row.

"I am trying to get some clarity," O'Brien said.

"I have scheduled a meeting with them (the NRL) for next week because I have left it alone for the first five rounds.

"But some inconsistencies keep happening in the game. And after tonight I will have to add to that list.

"Because 5-0 restarts, we're a big team, we fight to play-the-ball quick. We often find our front. There is some bizarre stuff."

After a horror four-week run of results that had put him under pressure as coach, Dragons mentor Anthony Griffin cared little for the controversy.

Moses Suli was brilliant for the hosts at left centre, while Lomax and Bradman Best's battle on the other side was the highlight of the match.

Lomax's evening was action-packed, enraging Tyson Frizell when he leapt on him in a try-scoring celebration that sparked a melee.

After both sides fumbled their way through the first half and the Dragons led 8-4, the Knights got back in the game when Dane Gagai finished off a nice try on the right edge.

The Dragons took the lead back when Ben Hunt wrapped around and broke down the left edge to kick for a chasing Jack Bird to score.

The Saints then scored again, this time through Mathew Feagai when they moved to the left.

But Best stood up to get the Knights back in it at 16-all.

The 20-year-old made the most of a David Klemmer offload to get around Lomax, breaking down field to put Kalyn Ponga over for his four-pointer.

It came as Ponga enjoyed his best game of the season, also setting up a first-half try, as rumours continue to swirl around his future at the club.

Ultimately though Lomax would have the last laugh, sealing just the Dragons' second win in 14 games.

"The good part for us was we had to win it two or three times," Griffin said.

"A couple of weeks ago we probably don't win that game."

© AAP 2022

Image: Dragons Facebook