Australians previously had to apply for an exemption in order to leave the country. Photo: Delivered
Australia has lifted its international travel ban to New Zealand, paving the way for a bilateral trans-Tasman bubble.
Health Secretary Greg Hunt changed the country’s emergency biosecurity laws so that anyone who has been in Australia for 14 days or more can “travel straight to New Zealand”.
Australians previously had to apply for a special permit to leave the country. At this point, they must be quarantined upon arrival in New Zealand.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed on Monday that she set a start date for the long-awaited Trans-Tasman Bubble on Jan.
The safe travel zone would allow people from Australia to come to New Zealand without a two week stay in a managed isolation hotel.
Ardern said the decision is dependent on meeting several criteria, including establishing processes for an outbreak in either country and tracing contacts across borders, ironing out technical issues and an up-to-date risk assessment by the director. Health General Dr. Ashley Bloomfield.
Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox.
Australia, which usually sends around 6,000 people to New Zealand every day, has largely wiped out Covid-19 except for sporadic outbreaks – similar to New Zealand.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has repeatedly blamed New Zealand for the raid, as kiwis can currently go to some states in Australia without quarantine.
Ardern said opening the bladder was a “priority” but she knew that many New Zealanders were “nervous” about opening.
She spoke of the fact that each country was developing its own “individual armament” with mass vaccinations.
Ardern said there will be a “Flyer-Aware” system, as people in Australia could be at risk of being trapped in the event of an outbreak.
“We want it to keep moving – but we also want to protect both sides. So there may be a time when we take precautionary measures and stop traveling for a short time, ”said Ardern.
As of this writing, kiwis traveling to Australia when the quarantine-free Trans-Tasman Bubble opens will not be covered by travel insurance if they are stranded in one of the countries following an outbreak.
The Australian government advises its citizens to “use a high level of caution” when traveling to and around New Zealand.
“Although the Covid-19 risk for you is classified as low, outbreaks can occur and authorities could take short-term measures that can affect your freedom of movement,” says the Smarttraveller website. “Be prepared for the possibility of an extended stay or an interruption in your trip.
Airlines are hoping a trans-Tasman bubble will open in April and are “95 percent ready” to fly quarantine-free flights, says an industry group.
See also: Trans Tasman Bubble is expected to begin in mid-April
See also: Twenty things that will surprise first-time visitors to New Zealand
Lorna Thornber
March 24, 2021
