Aussies Could Soon Need To Have Proof Of A Covid-19 Vaccine To Travel Interstate

Scott Morrison has suggested Aussies could soon need to show proof of a coronavirus vaccine to travel interstate.

In an interview with Channel 9, the Prime Minister mentioned how the government is approaching reopening international borders step-by-step.

He said the next step 'is ensuring Australians can move more freely around the country when they're vaccinated'.

When Mr Morrison was asked whether that would mean states and territories would be able to refuse entry or exit to a passenger who hasn't received the jab, he deflected the reply.

The Prime Minister said 'all of those arrangements will have to be put in place' and the individual jurisdictions are the ones 'who actually prevent Australians moving from one state to another consistent with their public health orders'.

"Those public health orders are the instrument that is used legally to prevent Australians moving from one state to another," he said.

Mr Morrison added that the next step would be to open international borders and have a quarantine system in place that allows for that high amount of people coming in and out of the country.

An additional step that is also being considered is having a system that permits vaccinated Aussies to have a different quarantine plan.

Mr Morrison has previously flagged that the two-week mandatory quarantine could be done at home if the passenger has received their Covid-19 jab.

The government revealed in its 2021 Budget forecast that it doesn't expect these last two steps to happen until mid-next year if the current rate of the pandemic goes as planned.

At the moment, Aussies are freely able to travel interstate without showing proof of vaccination, so that would be an escalation in restrictions if the states and territories required proof of a vaccination.

So, Mr Morrison's assertion that a Covid-19 jab would allow Aussies more freedom to travel around the country is a little confusing.

But he added that the process of opening the country is being done gradually.

"It's not closed one day, open the next," the Prime Minister said. "It will be tempered by the medical advice at every step."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie