‘Admit One’ paper tickets handed out at Adelaide Airport for entry into South Australia

These tiny bits of paper resembling “circus admission” or “meat tray” tickets are a crucial part of this state’s COVID protection system. Seriously.

Travellers into South Australia are being handed “Admit One” paper tickets by police to prove they are allowed to enter the state as part of COVID-19 border requirements.

Some Adelaide Airport arrivals have described them as being similar to something issued for “circus admission”, “the movies in the old days”, “the meat tray” or “an underage disco or a school fete”.

One of the tickets. Picture: Twitter/@thechrismartin7

They are issued at the airport. Picture: Twitter/@Ev_Fenton

The “N.Z. Made” tiny pieces of paper in “Premier Business Print” appear in various colours and include a five-digit number.

Sharing photos of their tickets on Twitter, some people clarified it was “for real” and “not a joke”.

“100 per cent true,” Chris Martin said on February 11.

“A friend entered South Australia two days ago. At the airport he gave a COVID test, showed necessary forms and then upon leaving airport got his ‘ticket to freedom’ from an official.”

Canberra-based cyber security adviser Catherine Bridges last Monday said: “Despite the apps and paperwork, entry at the airport into South Australia in the age of COVID-19 came down to being issued with a Made in NZ ‘Admit One’ ticket. Like the movies. In the old days.”

Despite the apps and paperwork, entry at the airport into South Australia in the age of COVID-19 came down to being issued with a Made in NZ ‘Admit One’ ticket. Like the movies. In the old days 😂 pic.twitter.com/ULZQKL2nWV

— Catherine Bridges (@cyberbridges) February 8, 2021

South Australia is literally issuing tickets for admission to the state. (Not a joke, you get a ticket for answering the border questions correctly) pic.twitter.com/5bw5wi499H

— Josh Withers (@JoshuaWithers) December 21, 2020

My ticket to South Australia from @SAPoliceNews #forreal pic.twitter.com/PyrfChnBK4

— James Brown (@captainbrown) December 16, 2020

Sydney-based Ausbiz TV anchor David Scutt on Monday said he was handed the ticket when he was approved for entry into the state last week.

“This is type of ticket you’d expect for an underage disco or school fete,” he wrote. “Bizarre!”

Mr Scutt added: “I didn’t know what to say when I was given it. Thank you? No one asked to see it afterwards, either.”

Last month, traveller Michael Cutting said: “These were the ‘tickets’ that enabled our release from the Adelaide Airport last night. Now off to do the first of our three COVID tests!”

Handed out at Adelaide Airport. Picture: Twitter/@cutabove77

Some described it as like circus admission. Picture: Twitter/@truthsetufree17

This one was issued last week. Picture: Twitter/@Scutty

In December, Queenslander Josh Withers said South Australia “is literally issuing tickets for admission to the state”.

“Not a joke, you get a ticket for answering the border questions correctly,” he wrote.

Kyle Dadleh, who also travelled just before Christmas, described it as an “underwhelming ticket given all the police, SES, COVID officials involved”.

My ticket into South Australia pic.twitter.com/a4jNWw08ok

— Kyle Dadleh (@KyleDadleh) December 20, 2020

In a statement to news.com.au on Tuesday, South Australia Police confirmed the use of the tickets.

“The purpose of those tickets is to show that the traveller has been through the processing system at the airport and they have been assessed as being allowed to travel in the state,” a police spokeswoman said.

“Travellers hold on to the ticket while transiting through the airport so if they are challenged by anyone, they have proof that they have officially been processed and just need to produce that ticket.”

Police said the scheme has been in place for the past three to four months.

All travellers into South Australia are required to complete a Cross Border Travel Registration.

Since 12.01am on February 13, Victoria has been listed as a “prohibited location” with exceptions for essential travellers, returning SA residents, and anyone genuinely relocating or fleeing domestic violence. These people are required to self-quarantine at a suitable place for 14 days upon arrival and submit to COVID-19 tests on day one, five and 12.