Summary

• The travel bubble between the neighbours is expected by the end to 2020.
• PM Scott Morrison reintroduced the plan last Friday, promising the health of Australian citizens and COVID-19 precautions will be put first.
• For now, Kiwis from the south island can travel to Australia without self-isolation; the north island is still experiencing small clusters.
• Australian states have not yet fulfilled the 28-day COVID-19-free criteria. Thus, Aussies will need to wait for travelling to New Zealand.
• Melbourne’s curfew has been lifted this morning, with new opportunities and fines introduced.
• For the first time in almost three months, NSW has recorded zero COVID-19 cases.

Five months after the first discussion regarding safe travelling between Australia and New Zealand, it may finally happen.

As the coronavirus situation within Australian borders seems to be improving, New Zealand has been open for negotiations, and it is likely that the bubble may be constructed in the following weeks.

Interesting read: Will Potential Travel Bubbles Bring a Stroke of Luck for Australian Travel Industry?

Since April 2020, there have been ongoing conversations regarding this topic as the two neighbouring countries have dealt with the pandemic in one of the most effective and strictest ways around the globe. While New Zealand played the elimination card, Australian states decided to take their chances with a suppression strategy.

Even though most Australian states have put the virus under control, a different situation has happened in the state of Victoria. Due to their curfew and the second lockdown, the travel bubble discussion had been putting on hold, until now.

Did you read: Victoria’s second wave of COVID-19 is pulling down jobs and consumer spending

When should the plan be finalised?

PM Scott Morrison re-opened the discussion last Friday during the National Cabinet’s meeting, proposing a few changes to the original draft.

Mr Morrison suggested that states with no community transmission could successfully travel to New Zealand, as the sister country has experienced minimal deaths and community spread.

Do read: New Zealand’s Economy Falls A Record 12.2 Per Cent During Covid-19

Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham expressed his sincere hopes that the travel to New Zealand will be available by the end of the year, as airports and border protections have taken an extra step concerning COVID-19 safety. The priority will be set on people’s health and safety before and after the trips.

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Are any trips allowed for now?

Australian citizens are still not allowed to travel anywhere (excluding travel exemptions) and that includes trips to New Zealand. On the other hand, Kiwis can travel to Australia, with no need to self-isolate after the arrival.

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However, only South Islanders are welcome to come, as there are some untraceable clusters in the north island of New Zealand.

The countries will need to be coronavirus-free for at least 28 days to fulfil the criteria for having no community transmissions.

Nevertheless, Australia will have no saying in when New Zealand decides to open up for Aussies finally – the decision will be entirely up to Kiwis. There are still beliefs that the agreement will be finalised by Christmas.

ALSO READ: Kiwi’s Thirst for Travel Re-Ignites, Air New Zealand Sells 110k Tickets

What is the current situation in Australia?

Since 5 AM of this morning, metropolitan Melbourne has been curfew-free, after many tough weeks for fellow Melbournians.

Victorian MP Daniel Andrews addressed that Victoria will now focus on the number of cases rather than set dates, as the situation has improved earlier than expected. Mr Andrews wants to secure a somehow normal Christmas celebration for the Victorians.

The lifted curfew means that many businesses in Melbourne can operate for longer hours, and 127,000 people will be able to go back to work – more than initially thought.

INTERESTING READ: 5 Steps Australia should take as the business re-opens across Victoria

Parents will finally be able to bring their children to childcare facilities, as well as pay visitations and go to hospitals. The visitations will be limited to one visitor per patient per day, for a maximum of two hours. Children under the age of 18 years can have their parents over without any hour limits.

Gatherings at private households and public places will be once again allowed, with a maximum of five people from no more than two homes.

Outdoor activities will be extended to the max of two hours, within 5km distance from the individual’s household.

In case of any clear misconducts and mistreatments of new rules, Mr Andrews introduced new fines that could be up to A$5,000.

In addition to good news from Victoria, New South Wales recorded zero news cases for the first time in months. The last time NSW was coronavirus-free was on 10 July.

The last community transmission in NSW was recorded on Friday last week.

Following new positive news across the state, MP Gladys Berejiklian introduced a new plan for the music industry to open up by the end of this year.

The famous New Year’s Eve fireworks are also likely to happen, with restricted access.