Australia’s international travel ban which sees Australians only being able to leave their country if they are exempt as well as temporary visa holders only being able to enter Australia if they are exempt, has been extended by a further 3 months up until the 17th of December 2021.
The federal government states that the extension is based on medical and epidemiological advice provided by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer.
There is some hope that these measures that are in place under the Biosecurity Act 2015 may be amended before 17th December.
The national plan that has been agreed upon by the States and Territories to move the country on from the pandemic, states that inbound and outbound travel restrictions for vaccinated Australians may be lifted when 80% of people over 16 receive their two doses of vaccination.
If the vaccination rates continue at the current rate, that 80% threshold is set to be reached before 17th December.
Since the national plan was announced, there have been some State premiers expressing their reservations about simply opening the borders once that 80% threshold is reached.
On one hand there are States such as NSW and Victoria that are set to gain a lot by the easing of restrictions once that 80% threshold is reached, whilst on the other hand, there are States and Territories that once that 80% threshold is reached, they get COVID.
It will be interesting to see how the next few months unfold.
Written by Adam Byrnes (Principal Immigration Lawyer)
a week ago
