How Queensland is working with Federal Government to reopen its borders

Tourism Minister Dan Tehan says he’s “hopeful” the Queensland Government will consider opening to international tourists sooner than its current roadmap allows. Here’s how it could be done.

Queensland’s international tourism sector will “hopefully” be open before Christmas to kickstart the economy and drive visitors across the nation.

Federal Tourism Minister Dan Tehan told the Courier Mail that he wanted to see visitors from all over the world in Queensland once it reached the 80 per cent vaccination mark.

That target was set to be hit by December 17, when state borders were due to reopen.

At the moment, based on the Queensland Government roadmap, international tourists would only be allowed into Queensland after the state hits 90 per cent vaccinated – anticipated for mid-January – unless they quarantine or have Australian Citizenship or permanent residency status.

But Mr Tehan hoped the Queensland Government would go further and let international tourists in at that same mark.

He said he was in discussions with the Queensland government about the borders and the future of tourism.

“They’ve got to get their vaccination rate up to 80 per cent consistent with the national plan and then my hope would be that the international border will be able to be open,” he said.

“They’re a little bit behind so far New South Wales and Victoria in regards to that vaccination level.

“My hope would be that once they hit that 80 per cent vaccination rate they will start very much looking at the international border.”

Mr Tehan said tourism was crucial to Queensland’s economy.

“They understand how big international tourism is to their market and to their economy

I think you will see them looking at it very carefully,” he said.

Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, is one of many places Aussies and international visitors want to go to once borders open. Picture: Supplied

And he hoped a supercharged Queensland vaccine rollout would drive tourists across the country.

“Most international visitors want to visit two or three states when they’re here because they are coming a fair way and usually Queensland is one of those states they want to go to,” he said.

“It helps drive tourism to New South Wales, Victoria, the NT, South Australia, Tasmania and WA.”

The comments come amid concerns that some parts of regional and rural Queensland will struggle to hit the 80 per cent target.

Gold Coast residents, particularly those aged between 20 and 29, have also been slow to roll up their sleeves.

Mr Tehan said he was confident airlines would stick with Queensland, despite the slower opening of the border.

He said he was “working with airlines giving them certainty they need.”

A Qantas plane departing from Brisbane Airport Picture: David Clark Photography

“I think we will see the Queensland state government working with Commonwealth and the airlines to open up when those vaccination rates hit those targets,” he said.

Bali was next on the list for travel bubbles with ongoing talks between the Australian and Indonesian governments.

South Korea and Japan also at the top of the reopening wish list.

And cruise ships could be back in the water before Christmas for trips around the Australian coastline, with limits on their passenger numbers to be reviewed by December 17.

Mr Tehan answered readers’ questions on the Courier Mail’s Facebook page on Monday.

International borders will reopen from November 1 for travellers into New South Wales and Victoria, with Qantas scheduling flights to London and Singapore.

Mr Tehan, who spoke from hotel quarantine, said the glass was “three-quarters’ full” and he was sure that travel would be back in 2022.

Qantas announced direct flights from Melbourne to London and Singapore will start from November 23.

The national carrier will also run flights from Sydney to Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Johannesburg, and Fiji earlier than expected.

Fiji will open up its borders from December 1, with thousands of Australians booking a getaway there last week.

The island nation has 80 per cent of its population fully vaccinated, which has been helped by Australian-made AstraZeneca vaccines.

Virgin Australia also announced a sale on Monday, which included one-way flights to Bali for under $300.

Qantas has flights available to Denpasar, Bali’s main airport, from March.

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Originally published as How Queensland is working with Federal Government to reopen its borders