NSW lockdown decision looms; NRL grand final on the move

Premier Gladys Berejiklian will reveal the details of the plan at her 11am briefing after receiving sign-off from the state government's crisis cabinet on Wednesday evening.

It's understood the the Mid-North and North Coast of the state along with the Riverina region in the south-west, will be cut loose on Friday.

And if you're in NSW and keen to more about what code black means in hospitals, we can help. Here's what it all means.

Hundreds of police are headed for regional Victoria to keep Melburnians from fleeing as country residents prepare to revel in more COVID-19 freedoms.

All of regional Victoria except for Greater Shepparton is set to exit lockdown just before midnight today, with cafes, restaurants and bars able to fling open their doors with strict patron limits.

Also on the COVID-19 front, vaccine developer Novavax Inc will start a trial in Australia to test its combined flu and COVID-19 vaccine.

Australia must leave 95 per cent of its coal in the ground by 2050 if the world is to have half a chance of limit global warming to 1.5C.

That's the stark warning of new research showing time is fast running out for fossil fuels if the world wants to limit the effects of climate change.

Brisbane will host this year's NRL grand final at Suncorp Stadium but the reality is but a Melbourne-Penrith NRL grand final could be scuppered as soon as this weekend.

On the AFL front, West Coast legend John Worsfold and former star Andrew Embley will be reunited on the premiership dais yet again this month, but this time it will be to hand out the medals.

- with Australian Associated Press