Melbourne to miss out on Adelaide, Hobart, ACT travel bubble plan
Melbourne is set to be excluded from a travel bubble between Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra that could open in time for the school holidays. Here’s why Victoria is likely to miss out.
Coronavirus
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coronavirus. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Melbourne looks set to miss out on a travel bubble between three Australian capital cities that could open in time for the school holidays.
Governments in South Australia and Tasmania have held talks around creating a “bubble” with direct flights between Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra.
Authorities are considering a July 3 start date – the beginning of school holidays in SA – as the date for a major easing of the state’s coronavirus restrictions.
It comes as Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government was keeping its “closest watch on Victoria”.
The ACT hasn’t recorded a new coronavirus case since May 2 and Tasmania May 15, while SA recorded a week of zero new cases on Monday.
There are currently 11 active cases between the two states and territory.
Victoria recorded another double digit increase in new cases on Monday and currently has 76 active cases.
Mr Hunt said there was always going to be somewhere that had its challenges.
“We keep our closest watch on Victoria,” he said.
“But the responses that are occurring, the testing and the tracing are the things that have helped set Australia apart globally.
“These elements are about protecting Australians and Victorians, and we need to be honest that this disease has not been eradicated and is likely to be with us in some way, shape or form for a considerable period of time.
“We’re well ahead of our expectations at this point in time.”
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein and SA Premier Steven Marshall held talks about plans for a “safe city pair” between the two states on Monday.
Flights between Hobart and Adelaide could reportedly resume within weeks and Qantas is also looking to add flights when borders reopen and travel restrictions are lifted, but a spokeswoman would not be drawn on specific routes.
Mr Gutwein acknowledged concerns a travel bubble with Canberra could make it a “backdoor” for Sydney or Melbourne, as the ACT has no border restrictions.
“We’ll work through that,” he said.
“At this stage, there isn’t a clear answer to that because that’s obviously one issue of concern.”
Mr Marshall said the distance between cities would help limit the risks.
“A lot of people forget Canberra is not right next door to Sydney – in fact it is hours and hours away,” he said.
Mr Marshall said the ACT was “certainly worthy of consideration” for a first travel destination given its track record of low COVID-19 cases and no community transmission.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern are also set to be handed the tourism industry’s plan to establish a “trans-Tasman travel bubble” later this week.
MORE NEWS
CRACKED DRAIN CAUSES HUGE SINKHOLE ON COLLINS ST
CRICKET VICTORIA UNVEILS JUNIOR PATHWAY PLAN