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What's going on with the New Zealand travel bubble? Why are Kiwis allowed into WA and Vic? - ABC News

It was supposed to be the first taste at opening Australia's international borders, but just days after welcoming the first planeloads of people from across the ditch confusion has already set in about where they're actually allowed to go.

New Zealand travellers have gone from Sydney onto West Australia, Victoria and Tasmania, much to the reported shock of their leaders.

But is there anything wrong with that? Does it go against the initial plan? Here's what we know.

What were the rules?

When the Government announced the first stage of the "trans-Tasman bubble" a few weeks ago it singled out that, at least to start with, it was only with New South Wales and the Northern Territory.

At the time, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said it would mean quarantine-free travel from New Zealand into those jurisdictions.

The main rule was that visitors from across the ditch couldn't have been in what it defined as a COVID-19 hotspot in the past 14 days.

But there was nothing said publicly about where they were allowed to go once they had touched down.

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Loved ones reunite after first flights from New Zealand arrive in Sydney

Why is there confusion?

While some people thought limiting the bubble to NSW and the NT meant visitors had to stay in those areas, it's become clear that's not the case.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said his Government had repeatedly asked not to be part of the travel bubble.

There there was an expectation that if New Zealanders were traveling on to areas not in the bubble, their officials would be notified.

"If they were going to [travel on], we might have been told about it, as opposed to having to find out as they got off a plane," he said.

But the state was aware of people traveling to Victoria, with the Department of Health and Human Services website saying if people have flown into NSW from New Zealand they were allowed enter Victoria without needing to quarantine for 14 days.

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has also spoken out about New Zealand travellers entering the state and going into hotel quarantine, calling for greater support from the Commonwealth to help manage the increase in arrivals.

Making things even more confusing is that the Federal Government said the Chief Health Officers of every state and territory knew visitors could move between states once they were here, because it was discussed at one of the joint meetings before it came into place.

"[States and territories] at the end of the day have the jurisdictional responsibility for their state borders," Mr McCormack said.

Why include other states later if it’s free travel now anyway?

This is really the most important question.

South Australia wasn't part of the first bubble announcement because it didn't sign up to the Commonwealth's definition of a hotspot. So why would it change now when people can fly there after they land in NSW?

The Prime Minister's Office said the answer was simple: flying directly into a city was more cost-effective and attractive for overseas travellers.

Darwin, which is included in the bubble currently has no direct flights arriving from New Zealand.

So where can our NZ friends go?

That depends on which state or territory they fly into and where they want to go.

If they're going to states with hard borders, like WA and Tasmania, they'll have to quarantine for 14 days before they're allowed in, just like everybody else.

We know in Victoria and the ACT they're welcome, but for other jurisdictions with open borders — South Australia, Queensland — it's unclear.

Can we go to NZ yet?

Unfortunately, no.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has previously said the country will only open up to quarantine-free travel from Australia when the Government thinks it's safe to do so.

But with more good news on cases from Victoria and low numbers elsewhere that will hopefully be not too far away.

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiXGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTEwLTE5L25ldy16ZWFsYW5kLWNvcm9uYXZpcnVzLXRyYXZlbC1idWJibGUtaXNzdWVzLzEyNzgxMzEy0gEnaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEyNzgxMzEy?oc=5

2020-10-19 01:34:00Z
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