Borders across Australia open within weeks in two-stage scheme
States, including SA, should forget mini travel bubbles and ‘go the full hog’ to re-open borders, Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says.
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Pressure is mounting on South Australia to “go the full hog” and lift its borders “immediately” rather than launch mini travel bubbles with a few other states first.
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg today urged all states to open their borders fully to help fast track Australia’s economic recovery from COVID019, rather than take an incremental approach.
“States should go the full hog,” he said.
“They should lift those borders immediately.
“Closed borders cost jobs. The public wants to get back to work.
“And if those states lift those borders in accordance with the medical advice that we have, then that will be good news for the economy overall.”
Mr Frydenberg said it was “absolutely not” contradictory to urge states to reopen borders despite a man who attended a Black Lives Matter protest in Melbourne testing positive for coronavirus today.
“What we have been absolutely clear about is that people shouldn’t have gathered in those numbers for those rallies,” he said.
“That was the obvious message from the medical experts about those rallies and it was very unfortunate that they proceeded in the way that that did.
“Obviously, we’ll wait and see what the health outcomes are in the weeks ahead.”
But he said it was “critically important” to maintain momentum on Australia’s economic recovery, adding that easing restrictions would get about 850,000 people back to work and more than $9 billion to the economy each month.
Last night, Premier Steven Marshall told The Advertiser, South Australians would likely be able to travel to five other states and territories within weeks as part of a two-stage lifting of border restrictions.
Mr Marshall said SA’s transition committee was set to open borders to low risk states first, with details confirmed as early as Friday.
“It will be some of the low risk jurisdictions in the first wave followed by an opening up to all of Australia some time further down the track,” he said.
The first tranche is expected to include West Australia, Tasmania, the ACT, the Northern Territory and possibly Queensland.
“We expect this to be done in two stages with some borders opened up over the next couple of weeks,” Mr Marshall said. “Some notice would need to be given and that notice could be given as early as (Friday).”
“We are closely monitoring the numbers in Victoria and New South Wales and they are coming down quite substantially,” he said.
The first wave would include regions where South Australians spend more money than visitors from those states spend here.
The second wave – Victoria and New South Wales – would be more lucrative for SA.
Mr Marshall said opening the borders was not just about tourism, it was also about commerce and families.
“There are many families that are currently dislocated because of our border arrangements,” he said.
Mr Marshall’s comments came as Federal Treasury figures highlighted the economic cost of not reopening interstate borders by next month.
The figures showed SA would struggle to regain 21,000 jobs by July and an economic bounce back of more than $539 million a month if all stage three plans – including lifting closed borders – did not eventuate during that time period.
Tourism expenditure shows for every dollar an interstate visitor spent in SA last year – a total of about $2.7 billion – a dollar was spent by South Australians in another state.
National Cabinet last month agreed to a three-stage reopening of restrictions.
Under the third tranche, “all interstate travel” would return, a trans-Tasman bubble would be considered, as well as travel for international students.
Meanwhile, Mr Morrison has urged Mr Marshall and his fellow premiers to name a specific date for border reopenings and interstate travel, saying it was crucial to saving aviation jobs. Virgin Australia’s administrators have raised concerns bidders may pull out unless the Federal Government extends support beyond September.
But Mr Morrison insisted state governments had the power to provide a boost for airlines under immense pressure because of restrictions.
“If we’re concerned about Virgin employees, it is very important that we open up the domestic borders in this country,” he told parliament, denying it was a partisan issue.
“We need to get planes flying around Australia. If you want to see planes flying around Australia … we need to open up these domestic borders.”
Labor frontbencher Tony Burke said no one wanted restrictions to remain in place for a day longer than needed.
– with AAP
Business bosses angle for ‘travel triangle’
By Paul Starick
Key business groups are urging borders be opened between South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory to revive jobs and generate millions of dollars in tourism revenue.
Business SA and its NT equivalent have launched a joint campaign for a “Centre-West Travel Triangle” to capitalise on the success in suppressing the coronavirus in the three areas.
Business SA chief executive officer Martin Haese urged Premier Steven Marshall to prioritise opening these borders ahead of a proposed travel bubble between SA, Tasmania and the ACT.
But it is understood that talks have not yet started about arrangements for reopening borders between the State Government and key facilities including the Adelaide Airport and ports.
“Our proposal will provide an immediate boost to the more than 18,000 tourism business in South Australia with further knock-on benefits for other businesses such as transport, cafes and restaurants and retail stores,” said Mr Haese, previously Adelaide’s Lord Mayor.
“While we understand the need to protect South Australians from the further spread of COVID-19, the best opportunity to open our borders is with those states and territories that have flattened the curve. The SA, NT, WA travel triangle makes a whole lot of sense. We’re neighbours and there is a natural affinity between us all.”
Mr Haese cited figures showing WA comprised nine per cent of SA’s domestic tourism market annually, with 239,000 visitors, while the NT contributed $88 million from 78,000 visitors.
He said opening up these borders would deliver more than three times the economic benefit of the SA/Tasmania/ACT bubble.
“South Australia’s regions also stand to benefit more in the Centre-West Travel Triangle scenario. With the NT and WA borders neighbouring SA, this opens the opportunity for the state to capitalise on the self-drive market with easy access into our regions such as Coober Pedy,” Mr Haese said.
“Many South Australian towns would be all but forgotten from the fly-in, fly-out visitor from Tasmania and ACT. Business SA encourages the Premier to also prioritise NT and WA as a Centre-West Travel Triangle will deliver the biggest bang for buck for all areas of South Australia.”
Among firms which would stand to benefit is Journey Beyond, which operates businesses including The Ghan and Indian Pacific rail journeys from Adelaide to Darwin and Perth respectively.
Journey Beyond chief operating officer Luke Walker said trains had been suspended since March but were now ready to responsibly resume.
“Demand for The Ghan and Indian Pacific rail journeys are still strong and our guests are telling us that they’re ready to travel again and keen to explore SA, NT and WA, We’re ready to operate in this new environment and look forward to resuming our landmark journeys and experiences,” he said.
Chamber of Commerce NT chief executive officer Greg Ireland said domestic spending was at an all-time low, which directly affected local business revenues.