Adam Thorn

A meeting of the national cabinet on Thursday morning also agreed on a pathway out of the COVID pandemic that will feature a trial of swapping hotel quarantine for one-week home isolation for the vaccinated.

The ABF has rebuffed newspaper reports that obtained data from Inbound Passenger Cards suggesting thousands of people were findings ways around Australia’s closed border.

The organisation paid tribute to Hood’s “professionalism, guidance and compassion” and said current COO Colin McNamara would take his place in an acting role until a replacement is appointed.

It comes as more than half of the country has been placed in lockdown and most state borders are now closed.

The union has made the intervention after further Virgin Australia flights were designated as COVID exposure sites on Wednesday.

The arrangement will initially only include travel from SA, ACT, Tasmania and Victoria, with NSW, Queensland and WA still on pause following state lockdowns.