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Australia's Borders Will Likely Be Shut Until At Least Next Year, Says Tourism Minister

Australia's Borders Will Likely Be Shut Until At Least Next Year, Says Tourism Minister

Any hope of a quick overseas holiday has been dashed

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Any hope of Australians getting to head overseas on a holiday have been dashed by the country's Tourism Minister.

Simon Birmingham confirmed what has been the government's belief for several weeks now: our borders will likely be closed for many more months to come.

During a speech at the National Press Club, the Senator said that shutting out borders to people coming in and heading out (unless for an exceptional circumstance) has been key in keeping coronavirus numbers low in Australia.

Simon Birmingham.
PA

As a result, they're going to stick to that plan until they can be certain the risk of catching or spreading the virus is as low as possible.

"I do sadly think that in terms of open tourist-related travel in or out of Australia, that remains quite some distance off," Senator Birmingham said.

"Just because of the practicalities of the volumes that are involved and the need for us to first and foremost keep putting health first."

While we won't be able to sun ourselves in Europe or check out some ancient sites in South America any time soon, there is one spot outside Australia that will soon be a viable option.

Chelsea Cook from Pexels

Talks are still ongoing with New Zealand about opening up a travel bubble due to the two countries' longstanding relationship and their incredibly low coronavirus numbers.

Those discussions will likely take several more weeks as the particulars are ironed out and both countries can be certain that the risk of more Covid-19 infections is minimised.

International students will be allowed to come into the country under a pilot program and Senator Birmingham left the door open for travel for business reasons in the not-too-distant future.

PA

"I think those who might not only be international students, but be here for longer-term work purposes or longer-term business and investment purposes, logically you can extend those sort of same safeguards to them and their state," he said.

"I hope that we can look eventually at some of those countries who have similar successes in suppressing the spread of Covid to Australia and New Zealand, and in working through that with those countries, find safe pathways to deal with essential business travel that helps to contribute to jobs across our economies."

So, if you're dying for a place to go that isn't your corner store, then you might want to think about travelling around your state or even nipping across your state or territory border.

New South Wales, the ACT and Victoria haven't closed their borders and South Australia recently opened up to Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

Featured Image Credit: Pedro Szekely (Creative Commons)

Topics: News, Australia