Queensland’s international border set to reopen, quarantine-free, for vaccinated travellers

Queensland’s international travel restrictions are set to undergo a huge relaxation in a matter of days, following two years of hell for the industry. Here’s what it means for you and anyone else hoping to travel overseas and return to the state.

Quarantine-free international travel will be available to the vaccinated from Saturday morning as Queensland’s border restrictions finally ease after two years.

It means international arrivals who have received at least two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine will only be required to take a rapid antigen test within 24 hours of travelling to the state.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made the announcement at a Covid-19 press conference on Wednesday morning.

Following a meeting of the state’s Covid taskforce yesterday, the Premier said the easing of restrictions for vaccinated international arrivals would take effect from 1am Saturday, January 22.

Mandatory 14-days quarantine will continue for unvaccinated travellers.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk spoke during a press conference to provide a Covid update this morning. Picture: Dan Peled.

Ms Palaszczuk said the decision was about creating certainty for the airline industry and for international travellers to make plans in coming months.

“Everyone knows someone overseas and some haven‘t seen each other for a couple of years, it’s time to reunite those families,” she said.

The Premier said airlines and families will make their own minds up about international travel but the move would give confidence to returning Queenslanders.

“So if you have family or loved ones - I know a lot of people have sons and daughters overseas or parents or brothers and sisters overseas - you can come into Queensland and you will no longer have to quarantine,” she said.
“You are free to come in.”

The Premier said industry officials had been informed of the policy change before the press conference by her chief of staff. Picture: Mark Stewart

The Premier said the decision was a precautionary measure in line with other states and if national cabinet makes amendments in future she would be “happy to move with that”.

“Now is the right time, especially with our vaccination rates so high.”

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said that the new policy would be effective immediately for Queensland’s airline crew, not waiting until Saturday, to bring them in line with international airline crew based in other Australian states.

Airline staff will no longer be required to quarantine from today but will still require to undergo a rapid antigen test.

Ms Palaszczuk said that currently international travel into Queensland wasn’t great, due to people being cautious as the state approaches its expected peak in daily case numbers, and this move is for ‘forward planning’.

The Premier said while she hadn’t personally alerted members of the tourism and aviation industry of the policy change, her chief of staff was contacting them before the press conference.

She said many travellers would be arriving in locations such as Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Cairns, and it was important that Gold Coast residents improved their vaccination rate.