Dominic Perrottet wants ships cruising back into Sydney within months

Cruise ships could be back in Sydney by the middle of the year, with Premier Dominic Perrottet meeting with major cruise line operators to work out how to make it happen.

Cruise ships could be back in Sydney by the middle of the year after Premier Dominic Perrottet signalled his support for their return.

Almost two years since the Ruby Princess fiasco — and the federal government ban on cruising — the Premier will invite the biggest cruise line operators to meet with him to help bring ships back to the state.

The move follows a decision by the federal government on Thursday to revive the $15 billion cruise industry. However key details like safety protocols are yet to be determined by authorities, which could cause further delays.

Premier Dominic Perrottet wants cruising to resume as soon as possible.

The meeting with Mr Perrottet is expected to be held in the next week or two, with Queensland and Victorian representatives to also be involved to achieve a consistent approach.

“Sydney Harbour is one of the great cruising destinations. Images of ships steaming under the Harbour Bridge at sunset are in brochures around the globe,” Mr Perrottet said.

“We’re inviting the industry to meet and discuss the return, as well as working with Queensland and Victoria on a consistent Covid-safe industry plan.

“We will bring key players together to bring ships back to our state, not just for tourists, but for those who live here to experience our harbour and our state.”

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the federal government would work with states and territories to resume cruising in Australia, but that it would be up to the states to “ensure they are ready”.

Mr Hunt said NSW, Victoria and Queensland were the most “advanced”.

Mr Perrottet will meet with cruise operators soon.

“It is an important sign of Australia returning to normal,” he said.

“Work has advanced significantly with states and territories, it will be up to them to ensure they are ready and feel they are in a position to do this.

“We are simply in the position now of waiting for protocols to be agreed and developed by individual states and territories.

“The Commonwealth is ready and keen to work with the states and territories to resume safe cruising.

“It requires a double green light and our green light is ready. When the states and territories are ready, we’ll be ready to go.”

With many cruises cancelled until the end of May, the industry believes the earliest the industry can be up and running is in June.

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said the path forward relied on liaising with the other states to ensure a consistent approach and certainty for the industry.

“Sydney is an international city, and before the pandemic we had a thriving cruise industry which helped to drive our local economy,” he said.

“Cruising offers an enormous boost to the economy by delivering holiday-makers into our restaurants, cafes, bars and retail outlets as well.

“We want to see cruising back in Sydney as soon and as safely as possible.”

Prior to the suspension of cruising, the industry brought more than $5 billion to the Australian economy — along with 1.8 million cruise passengers and 130,000 crew a year into Sydney, with the city’s harbour the country’s gateway.

In welcoming the development, the Australian cruise industry called for the finalisation of “concrete” resumption plans “as soon as possible”.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia managing director Joel Katz said it was hoped the latest ban extension, which will now extend to April 17, would be the last.

“Though the cruise ban has been extended, we can now see hope for thousands of Australians whose livelihoods depend on cruise tourism,” he said

“Australia is still the only major cruise market in the world without confirmed plans for cruising’s resumption, so it’s important that governments work in partnership with the cruise industry to achieve a swift solution.”

“Cruising has changed enormously in response to the pandemic and the work done with medical experts around the world has resulted in health protocols that have been successful in mitigating the risks of Covid-19.”

Mr Katz said it would take “several months” for cruising to resume, with most major cruise lines having cancelled sailings through to the end of May.

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