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- Australia and New Zealand will open a travel bubble on October 16
- For now, the bubble will operate one way — with New Zealanders visiting Australia
- The travellers will be able to fly to New South Wales and the Northern Territory
- South Australia is on the shortlist, with details being worked out
- In regards to Australians flying to New Zealand, the decision falls upon Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
- On Friday, Ardern cited the safety of citizens and businesses affecting her decision so far
Government officials have confirmed a travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand to open within two weeks’ time.
The news follows much anticipation and discussion. However, only New Zealanders may come to Australia — while Aussies looking to fly will have to wait.
When the bubble begins, New Zealanders will be able to fly to New South Wales and the Northern Territory.
South Australia is also reportedly in line to follow, after agreeing on further terms.
The trans-Tasman bubble is slated to begin on October 16.
In regards to the bubble’s one-way policy, Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack, said it was up to the New Zealand government.
“We want to make sure that there is two-way travel, and that would be something that I will leave to those negotiations,” he said.
“[But it is] very much in Prime Minister Ardern’s court at the moment,” the deputy PM continued.
In response to this procedure, Ardern cited the safety of New Zealanders as priority.
“In our view, we are not ready to have quarantine free travel with Australia,” she said on Friday.
“[Australia has their own procedure] but for now, we are keeping our New Zealanders safe,” the NZ PM stated.
Ardern also cited the threat of unnecessary transmission that would harm open businesses across the country.
“We will not open the borders for quarantine-free travel with Australia until it is safe to do so, because doing it too early risks all of the freedoms we already have in our economy,” she added.
There is one rule for New Zealanders taking the trip to Australia, however. They can only do so if they haven’t been in a ‘designated hotspot in the last fortnight.
New Zealanders arriving in Australia may not be subject to quarantine — but will be when they return home.
Tasmania makes changes
In unrelated news, the Tasmanian Government announced some changes to its COVID travel restrictions on Friday.
Premier Peter Gutwein made the decision based on other states being ‘low-risk’. As of October 26, Tasmania’s border will be open to Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, the ACT.
“If at any time the situation changes in these jurisdictions and the advice is that the risk is increasing or too high, then we won’t hesitate to change this decision,” Peter Gutwein said.
“We’re simply not prepared to put Tasmanians at risk, meaning that border restrictions will remain in place for the time being with Victoria, and we’ll keep New South Wales under advisement,” he continued.
New South Wales may also be added to the list, pending the future situation.
