Australia is not willing to reopen its border to international travellers till 2021to contain the spread of COVID-19. Australian Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said that, “reasons that helped Australia to contain the virus successfully was its decision to close down the borders”.
Australia has been successful in suppress the spread of the coronavirus, which it attributes to limitation on international travel and tough social distancing rules.
With borders remain closed, the citizens of Australia are not allowed to travel overseas, unless under special exemption for limited business travel. But, the government is considering an ease entry rules for returning citizens, students and other long-term visitors. Furthermore, the Trade Minister emphasized that as of now, they can simply work through the 14-day quarantine periods that have worked well in terms of returning to Australians to the country safely.
The return of international students will be a boost for universities facing big financial losses with the border closed as international education is Australia’s fourth-largest foreign exchange earner, worth A$38 billion ($26.14 billion) a year.
It has been almost three months since an indefinite ban was implemented on international travel due to COVID-19, which made it specific for the citizens to leave the country only in very limited circumstances. Now, when all the other restrictions across the country are being gradually relaxed as part of the overall roadmap of Australia out of lockdown, jetting overseas doesn’t seem to be on the agenda any time soon.