Australian states and territories have responded to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic by announcing unprecedented border closures.
The closures have kept people from visiting family and friends interstate, divided border communities and heavily affected the tourism industry.
Proponents of the border measures say they have kept their states and territories safe from the spread of the deadly virus, which has claimed hundreds of Australian lives, while critics say unnecessary delays to reopening cause economic harm.
But as Victoria emerges from its strict second wave lockdowns, it raises hope that most of the country will be able to be reunited for the first time in months.
The National Cabinet voiced a plan to see the return of unrestricted interstate travel by Christmas, with Western Australia likely to be the only exception.
Here is a list of the current border restrictions by each state and territory.
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Western Australia
Where can I travel?
All Australian states are currently open to residents of Western Australia, where there has not been a case of community transmission in more than six months.
However, anyone wanting to leave the state should double check they meet the "exempt traveller" requirements to get back in.
Can I travel to WA?
Western Australia has the hardest border restrictions in the country, only permitting "exempt travellers" to arrive. (A list of exempt travellers is available on the WA Government website).
WA Premier Mark McGowan said on Tuesday the strict border restrictions were critical to the state's success and would not be rushed into bringing down the hard border.
Western Australia has also resisted National Cabinet's plans to remove all domestic borders by Christmas.
For more information on the coronavirus restrictions in WA, visit the WA Government website.
Victoria
Where can I travel?
Despite recent progress in getting case numbers to zero, interstate travel still seems off the cards.
Although there is hope for residents from most of regional Victoria, who will be able to visit the Northern Territory freely from Monday, November 2.
The NT is looking to reopen to people from Melbourne before Christmas.
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Tuesday she would open the Victorian-NSW border "as soon as we can", but added that she wanted to see what happened in the state once the restrictions eased.
South Australian authorities say it could take up to four weeks without community transmission cases for hard border restrictions to be relaxed. (Although there is a 'buffer zone' for those living within 70 kilometres of the SA-Victoria border).
Tasmanian officials, who this week opened up the state to 'low risk' areas, said they were monitoring the situation in Victoria and would prefer to open to the whole state when community transmission is under control in metropolitan Melbourne.
Queensland still considers Victoria to be a COVID-19 hotspot.
Back at home, Premier Daniel Andrews has urged Victorians to spend their holiday money within the state.
"I would be encouraging people to stay very much in Victoria, and spend whatever they can on a holiday in regional Victoria rather than heading to New South Wales or anywhere else, for that matter," he said.
Can I travel to Victoria?
Interstate travellers are able to head to Victoria without needing to quarantine, but they would still be subject to Victorian coronavirus restrictions, which currently includes not being able to travel more than 25 kilometres from your home in metropolitan Melbourne.
For more information on the coronavirus restrictions in Victoria, visit the Victorian Government website.
New South Wales
Where can I travel?
New South Wales residents are permitted to travel to the ACT, Northern Territory and South Australia without needing to enter hotel quarantine.
Those wanting to enter Tasmania will soon be in luck, with the Apple Isle allowing visitors from 'low risk' New South Wales from November 6.
If you live in the northern NSW bubble, you are able to visit anywhere in Queensland provided you apply for a border resident pass and can prove your address (for example, through a driver's licence or utilities bill).
Can I travel to NSW?
The only restrictions New South Wales places on travel into the state are for residents of Victoria.
However, if you visit parts of New South Wales you may have to enter two weeks' quarantine upon your return to Western Australia and, until November 6, Tasmania. You will also have go into quarantine if you return to or travel on to Queensland and you have been outside of the northern NSW border bubble.
For more information on the coronavirus restrictions in NSW, visit the NSW Government website.
Queensland
Where can I travel?
Queenslanders have been able to travel freely between the Northern Territory, ACT and South Australia without needing to quarantine for some time.
Since October 26, it has been the same for Tasmania.
Sunshine state residents are also permitted to visit the northern New South Wales bubble without needing to quarantine on their return, which from October 1 expanded to include Byron Bay, Lismore, Richmond Valley, Glen Innes and Ballina local government areas.
While Queenslanders can visit other parts of New South Wales and Victoria, they would need to undergo 14 days' mandatory quarantine in a hotel at their own expense on their return.
Can I travel to Queensland?
Queensland is currently accepting visitors from every state except designated hotspots (New South Wales and Victoria).
Earlier in October, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk flagged a reopening of the state's border to the rest of New South Wales on November 1, the day after the state election, if there had been 28 days of no community transmission.
Ms Palaszczuk said a decision to reopen the border would be made by Friday.
There is an exception for residents of northern New South Wales, who are permitted to travel anywhere within Queensland.
ACT residents who want to visit Queensland must fly, they are not permitted to drive through NSW to reach Queensland.
According to the Queensland Government website, New South Wales residents who wish to visit Queensland can reside in the ACT for 14 days and then enter Queensland, provided they have not left the territory (even into neighbouring NSW towns).
For more information on the coronavirus restrictions in QLD, visit the QLD Government website.
South Australia
Where can I travel?
Given its low case numbers, South Australians are permitted to travel freely to the Northern Territory, ACT, Queensland and New South Wales without needing to quarantine in hotels.
Since Monday, October 26, they have also been allowed into Tasmania without needing to quarantine.
Can I travel to South Australia?
South Australia has opened its borders to travellers from 'low community transmission zone', which includes the ACT, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia.
That's as long as they do not enter the state via Victorian airports. Those travelling by car must not travel through Victoria except via approved roads.
Victorian residents who are not deemed essential travellers or do not live within the border buffer zone are not permitted to enter.
However, students and people permanently relocating from Victoria to South Australia can now also enter as "essential travellers" provided certain criteria for accommodation can be met.
For more information on the coronavirus restrictions in SA, visit the SA Government website.
Tasmania
Where can I travel?
With its low coronavirus case numbers, residents have been permitted to travel to every jurisdiction except Western Australia.
From October 26, those who leave the state and head to 'low risk' areas South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the ACT will be able to return without needing to head into hotel quarantine.
It will soon be the same case for New South Wales, with the state's hotspot consideration due to lift on November 6.
Can I travel to Tasmania?
Tasmania began changing its travel restrictions for many states from October 26.
It resulted in tearful scenes at airports as visitors from 'low risk' areas Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and ACT were permitted to travel to Tasmania without needing to enter quarantine.
It will be the same for travellers from New South Wales from November 6.
Tasmania health officials say they are keen to open to Victoria, where 60 per cent of its travel heads through to reach the state, in one step rather than a piecemeal approach by local government area.
This means that travel to Tasmania from Victoria is unlikely until community transmission gets under control in metropolitan Melbourne.
For more information on the coronavirus restrictions in TAS, visit the Tasmanian Government website.
Northern Territory
Where can I travel?
The Northern Territory's success in containing the coronavirus means residents are able to head to almost every state without needing to quarantine, except Western Australia.
Return travellers for every state except Victoria will be able to come home without needing to quarantine.
Can I travel to the NT?
The NT has been one of the first to open up to travellers from interstate.
It looks to be the first territory to welcome travellers from regional Victoria, starting from November 2.
Travellers from Melbourne need to enter 14 days' hotel quarantine, but Chief Minister Michael Gunner hopes that will change by Christmas.
The NT lifted its restrictions to greater Sydney on October 9.
It is also one of the first two states to welcome travellers from New Zealand.
For more information on the coronavirus restrictions in the NT, visit the NT Government website.
ACT
Where can I travel?
Residents of the ACT are permitted to travel to the Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland (provided they haven't left the territory in the previous two weeks) without needing to enter hotel quarantine.
The ACT Government encourages residents to reconsider the need for "any unnecessary travel to COVID-affected areas of NSW".
Travel to Victoria is currently restricted.
Can I travel to the ACT?
Those wishing to head to the nation's capital from Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the NT and Western Australia are permitted to do so without entering hotel quarantine.
It's the same for NSW residents, although those from "COVID-affected areas" of the state are requested to avoid unnecessary travel.
Travellers from Victoria, except ACT residents, will be denied entry to the ACT unless they are given an exemption.
For more information on the coronavirus restrictions in the ACT, visit the ACT Government website.
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2020-10-28 07:40:00Z
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