Australia reopens borders to New Zealand travellers

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic affected the country in mid-March, Australia has decided to lift some of its border restrictions and will allow travellers from New Zealand to enter the country. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on October 2 that the Safe Travel Zone with New Zealand will enter into effect on October 16. Subsequently, passengers from New Zealand will be allowed to enter Australia without any requirement for quarantine. The rule will only apply to travellers who have not been to any COVID hotspots for 14 days prior to their travel. At present, there are no identified hotspots in New Zealand. In the first stage, passengers arriving from New Zealand will be allowed to enter Australia via Sydney Kingsford Smith and Darwin only. Transport Minister Michael McCormack identified Adelaide as the next likely entry point. Australia’s borders remain closed to all other passengers. Returning Australian residents and citizens, as well as strictly limited groups of foreigners, are still subject to quarantine upon arrival in Australia. The Australian government estimates that by relieving travellers arriving from New Zealand from the requirement, it will free up 325 weekly places in designated quarantine facilities for other travellers. Despite this move, Australians are still not allowed to enter New Zealand. In late September, Australian states started relaxing some of the internal border controls, particularly between South Australia and New South Wales. However, most of the restrictions affecting Victoria and Western Australia remain in place, with both states to a large extent still closed to the rest of the country.