Cruise ban decision months away but NSW praised for taking lead in its revival

The “double green-light” required to bring international cruise ships back to Sydney will take “months” to finalise.

The “double green-light” required to bring international cruise ships back to Sydney will take “months” to finalise, but the multi-billion dollar travel sector has praised NSW for taking a “lead” in its return.

Cruising representatives’ hopes for the future of the sector were buoyed as they met with the Perrottet government on Wednesday to start the long process to get the international sector going again.

The meeting was seen as a “very positive” development by the NSW Government, which will now continue working on a detailed plan to manage the return of ships, worth an estimated $6 billion to national economy a year.

The Queen Elizabeth berthed at the Overseas Passenger terminal in Sydney.

Cruise Lines International Association’s Australasia managing director Joel Katz told The Daily Telegraph he welcomed the “opportunity to talk in more detail about exactly how” the return of ships would happen.

“By working together, we believe it’s possible to reach the two-step approvals needed for ships to return – one is to lift the cruise ban at the Commonwealth level, and the second is to gain approval from the states for health protocols and detailed operational plans,” he said.

“There’s a lot of work to be done, so we’re glad the NSW Government has taken the lead and is going to work closely with Queensland, Victoria and the Commonwealth, as well as our industry.”

Mr Katz said following overseas examples, all cruise passengers would be tested before boarding, must be vaccinated, and comply with detailed measures covering aspects like distancing, sanitisation, mask wearing, ventilation and thorough response plans.

“Over the next few months, we need to establish the precise details around all the health measures that will be needed before international ships can come back,” he said.

“We know these measures are working in other countries and the incidence of Covid and serious illness is significantly reduced compared to what’s happening on land.”

Radiance of the Seas docked at Circular Quay.

A Health Department spokeswoman said lifting the current ban on cruise ship arrivals in the Biosecurity Act was only “one step” in what was needed to get travel back on track.

“Other factors include … ensuring state and territory health systems have the capacity to respond to outbreak events, and that appropriate health mitigations are implemented by both industry and jurisdictions prior to cruises resuming,” she said.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said in addition to the health plan restarting cruises would need a “double green light” from both the Commonwealth and the state.

“Work has advanced significantly with states and territories,” he said.

“It will be up to them to ensure that they are ready, that they feel that they are in a position to do this.

“But there are many jurisdictions overseas that have been able to recommence cruising safely.”

Labor’s tourism spokesman Don Farrell said there needed to be a “rock-solid plan” based on health advice for cruising to return safely, but criticised the the lack of planning as the sector relieved heavily on forward bookings.

“Both the industry and travellers are still suffering - more than two years after this all began,” he said.

“The cruise sector is important for the wider tourism ecosystem, including tour operators, accommodation and hospitality, providers, suppliers and travel agents.

“Like all Australians, cruise operators and the businesses and communities that rely on cruising deserve a government that plans for the future.”

Originally published as Cruise ban decision months away but NSW praised for taking lead in its revival