Jacinda Ardern Hints Australians Might Soon Be Allowed To Holiday In New Zealand

Many people in Australia have been dying to know when life will return to normal after weeks of self-isolation amid the coronavirus pandemic.

While we still don't know when social distancing measures will lift, we've been given a small insight into the possibility of international travel.

New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has been invited to sit in on Australia's National Cabinet meeting today, which dictates when social distancing measures can be rolled back.

PA

Before the virtual meeting, the Kiwi leader hinted that a 'trans-Tasman bubble' could soon be created to allow Aussies and New Zealanders to cross the ditch for holidays.

What's better: this proposal wouldn't require a two week quarantine period.

Ms Ardern said: "People wouldn't travel if they had to stay on either side in quarantine for a two-week period and have to do the same when you return. But there is still a lot of work to be done before we can progress an idea like that."

That idea is still pretty far away from being brought into reality as both countries still have active coronavirus cases.

Lawrence Murray (Creative Commons)

Several states and territories also still have their borders closed to the rest of Australia.

Those would have to be opened up first before international travel resumes.

But the proposal is being touted as the first step to opening up international borders once the pandemic gets to a phase where it's safe to travel long distances.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian reckons an agreement between Australia and New Zealand would be an amazing way to kickstart local economies that have been decimated by the pandemic.

Bernard Spragg

Berejiklian said: "We know that unfortunately international travel is a mid to long term vision, so if can establish a hub between New Zealand and Australia I think that would be a very positive move.

"I'm hoping that we'll get to a stage where our state borders can be relaxed and then we can potentially have a phenomenal New Zealand and Australia cooperation which would allow us to pull our economic resources, pull our trade opportunities but also move together into the future."

We've been told not to expect the deal to be forged in a matter of weeks, but later in the year it could definitely be a possibility.

There's even talk of resuming flights between Hobart and New Zealand, something that hasn't been running for more than 20 years.

Topics: News, Coronavirus, 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