With the emergence of the new COVID variety Omicron, doubts have been cast on whether Australia will open its borders prior to Christmas as planned. However, a statement from the Trade and Tourism Minister Dan Tehan today has made the likelihood look promising.
Speaking on Sky News Australia, Tehan said that the cabinet would make a final decision on Friday, but suggested that things were pushing ahead as planned – which is to open on December 15th.
“Everything we’re seeing from this new variant points to the fact that we should be able to progress on the 15th,” Mr Tehan said.
“Which is wonderful news for Australia’s tourism industry, wonderful news for universities, wonderful news for all those businesses looking for that workforce that’s really going to help springboard us out of the pandemic.”
Australian borders were previously scheduled to reopen on January 1st, however, the date was pushed back two weeks because of Omicron.
“There is very much a no regrets policy, and ensuring we just move carefully so we, the whole point here is to ensure that we can remain safely open, and we don’t want to prejudice anything that might compromise that objective,” Mr Morrison said at the time. “The goal here is not no cases and low cases, the goal here is ensuring that our hospital system is able to cope with the pressure.”
While the plan is for Australia to open its international border: this doesn’t necessarily mean all states will be open.
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At present, Western Australia has no plans to open its borders to domestic or international tourism until the double vaccination rate reaches 90%. Queensland, on the other hand, opened its domestic borders early. Earlier this week it was announced that the state will open its borders for domestic tourism from Monday, entrants won’t need to quarantine as long as they are fully vaccinated and have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before arrival
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