Australia's international border could be opened as early as next month under a plan set to be unveiled by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Australians have been barred from exiting the country without an exemption since March 2020, two months after the first COVID-19 case was recorded in the country. Thousands stranded overseas have also faced months of delays and flight cancellations in their attempts to return home. The Canberra Times understands Mr Morrison is set to outline on Friday how the border will open from November, a month earlier than initially planned, but only to jurisdictions with a full-vaccination rate over 80 per cent. The plan is set to put the ACT, NSW, and Victoria first in line. But with WA Premier Mark McGowan flagging the state's border could remain shut, it raises the prospect of Australians being able to travel to Europe before Perth. MORE COVID-19 NEWS: But Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk claimed she had been blindsided by the revelation, saying no paperwork had been taken to state and territory leaders before national cabinet meets on Friday. "I'm not not going to agree to anything when I haven't seen any formal paperwork," she said. "It would be irresponsible, and I think Queenslanders would expect me to see some paperwork to understand the issues before an announcement is made. "So it's a bit disappointing that we haven't been given that due courtesy before national cabinet." International travel was initially expected to resume in December but, after a rapid vaccination surge in NSW and the ACT in particular, that will be brought forward. Under the national reopening plan, all restrictions on travel to and from Australia were to be lifted at an 80 per cent double-dose vaccination rate in the 16 and over population. Last week, Tourism Minister Dan Tehan flagged that the international border would be open by Christmas "at the latest". "I do empathise with the Australians who have been denied the opportunity to travel overseas this year. It's another reason why everyone should get vaccinated," he told the National Press Club. "We have to stick to the national plan that will see our international border open up - at this rate by Christmas at the latest." The federal government has been developing a so-called 'vaccination passport', confirming a traveler was immunised against COVID-19. But how they will work, and which countries will recognise them as a condition of entry, remains unclear. Qantas in August unveiled its own plans to revive international travel by December, nearly two years after the pandemic brought an abrupt end to flights. Online searches for international flights nearly tripled in the week after the plan was announced, with London proving the most popular destination for Australians looking to head overseas.
Australia's international border could be opened as early as next month under a plan set to be unveiled by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Australians have been barred from exiting the country without an exemption since March 2020, two months after the first COVID-19 case was recorded in the country. Thousands stranded overseas have also faced months of delays and flight cancellations in their attempts to return home.
The Canberra Times understands Mr Morrison is set to outline on Friday how the border will open from November, a month earlier than initially planned, but only to jurisdictions with a full-vaccination rate over 80 per cent.
The plan is set to put the ACT, NSW, and Victoria first in line. But with WA Premier Mark McGowan flagging the state's border could remain shut, it raises the prospect of Australians being able to travel to Europe before Perth.
But Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk claimed she had been blindsided by the revelation, saying no paperwork had been taken to state and territory leaders before national cabinet meets on Friday.
"I'm not not going to agree to anything when I haven't seen any formal paperwork," she said.
"It would be irresponsible, and I think Queenslanders would expect me to see some paperwork to understand the issues before an announcement is made.
"So it's a bit disappointing that we haven't been given that due courtesy before national cabinet."
Under the national reopening plan, all restrictions on travel to and from Australia were to be lifted at an 80 per cent double-dose vaccination rate in the 16 and over population.
Last week, Tourism Minister Dan Tehan flagged that the international border would be open by Christmas "at the latest".
"I do empathise with the Australians who have been denied the opportunity to travel overseas this year. It's another reason why everyone should get vaccinated," he told the National Press Club.
"We have to stick to the national plan that will see our international border open up - at this rate by Christmas at the latest."
The federal government has been developing a so-called 'vaccination passport', confirming a traveler was immunised against COVID-19.
But how they will work, and which countries will recognise them as a condition of entry, remains unclear.
Qantas in August unveiled its own plans to revive international travel by December, nearly two years after the pandemic brought an abrupt end to flights.
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2021-10-01 00:00:00Z
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