Open international borders at 80 per cent, federal minister says

Queensland needs to follow the medical advice and allow fully vaccinated overseas arrivals in without quarantine from December 17, a senior federal minister says.

Queensland needs to follow the medical advice and allow fully vaccinated overseas arrivals in without quarantine from December 17 as set out in the national plan, a senior federal minister says.

It follows three senior tourism industry figures calling for the international border to open in-line with that state border at the 80 per cent threshold.

Federal Employment Minister and Gold Coast-based MP Stuart Robert said the Doherty Institute modelling presented to National Cabinet showed it was safe to allow fully vaccinated arrivals into Queensland.

Employment Minister Stuart Robert says Queensland should reopen its international borders to returning Australians from 80 per cent double-dose vaccination rates.

“The State Government needs to explain the difference between a fully vaccinated person arriving from Sydney and a fully vaccinated person arriving from London,” he said.

“The Premier loves to say she always follows the medical advice, if that’s the case, show us the medical advice that supports this decision.”

Queensland’s state border with NSW, Victoria and the ACT is due to open with no quarantine requirements from December 17, after the state hits the 80 per cent fully vaccinated milestone.

But rules for Australians returning from overseas without quarantine has been set at 90 per cent, despite NSW and Victoria already having scrapped quarantine for Australian international arrivals when they hit 80 per cent.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council boss Daniel Gschwind, Restaurant and Catering Australian and Flight Centre CEO Graham Turner have all urged Queensland to fast track its international border reopening.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has argued the Doherty modelling was not specific to individual states.

“We’re very comfortable with the plan that we’ve got and we’re sticking with that plan,” she said earlier this week.

Federal Tourism Minister Dan Tehan has refrained from picking a fight over the issues, saying decisions about Queensland’s borders are at matter for the State Government informed by its medical advice.

“The best thing everyone can do to ensure that our borders reopen and families are reunited is to roll up your sleeve and get vaccinated,” Mr Tehan said.