Canberra Airport chief on Australian domestic travel bubble amid coronavirus

As state premiers continue to clash over borders, an airport boss has proposed a new travel arrangement exclusive to three states and territories.

The boss of Canberra Airport is floating the idea of another travel bubble in Australia as state leaders continue to battle over borders.

As the ACT edges closer to three weeks without a virus case, the airport’s chief executive Stephen Byron suggested a bubble could open up between residents of the ACT, Queensland and South Australia.

Mr Byron told ABC News Breakfast this morning that before coronavirus lockdowns, more than 120 flights were going in and out of the airport. But that number has since dropped to two or three a day.

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“There are so many jobs at stake. There are jobs at the airport, but right through the industry, tourism industry, the accommodation industry and everything. We are a COVID-free place,” Mr Byron said.

The boss of Canberra Airport has proposed a travel bubble between the ACT, South Australia and Queensland. Picture: Rohan Thomson/Getty Images

“Canberra has not had any COVID for 17 days. And Queensland and South Australian premiers don’t want to open up to places where there is COVID. We are saying that we are free of it right now.

“It is a good first incremental step to start flights to Canberra now between Adelaide and also Brisbane to Canberra.”

Mr Byron hopes Canberrans, Queenslanders and South Australians could travel without the two-week quarantine period.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said his government was “absolutely” considering the idea.

“We are considering all of those options. I think that is a good suggestion. We are considering that at the moment,” he told the ABC.

Mr Byron acknowledged the plan would take time.

“The thing with aviation is a date needs to be set for two weeks’ time or so that people can make bookings on flights and the airlines can schedule flights,” he said.

“It’s not like just ramping up a cafe and turning up and changing from takeaway to dine-in again within 24 hours. The aviation industry needs a very clear timetable with firm dates.

South Australia’s premier said the state was open to the travel bubble idea. Picture: David Clark Photography

“We need to know that we can restart these flights in a matter of weeks. Ideally by 8 June. And certainly be well and truly up and running for the school holidays on 1 July.”

Mr Byron said if state and territories kept their borders shut, Aussies might be looking at a New Zealand holiday first.

“The aviation industry has never been shut down in this way ever. And so we’re starting at zero. We have got to get back to 20 per cent and then ideally 50 per cent during July with flights during the school holidays,” he said.

“If the state premiers hold the line, then I think what you’ll see is that the trans-Tasman bubble with flights from the eastern seaboard through to New Zealand opening up from about 1 July. That too needs to be a target so that we can get more activity in the tourism industry, more jobs and more businesses reopening.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is keeping her borders closed. Picture: Dan Peled/AAP

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is calling for interstate travel to resume. Picture: Bianca De Marchi/AAP

NEW WAR OF WORDS OVER BORDERS

The border stoush among Australia’s state and territory leaders has continued this morning, with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian calling closures “ridiculous”.

“I just think it’s a bit ridiculous not having people travel a few kilometres over the border to see a loved one or go do some shopping or move around and support the tourism industry,” Ms Berejiklian told Triple M Sydney’s Moonman in the Morning.

“I’m just saying to my colleagues in other states, please consider this, because it’ll be good for Australia, not just for NSW.

“I don’t want to see more people lose jobs. Last month was just depressing … seeing 220,000 people lose jobs in NSW and that’s happening across Australia.

“We can be a good example to the rest of the world.”

Ms Berejiklian has faced opposition from her Queensland counterpart Annastacia Palaszczuk, who has said she would not be “lectured to” about reopening her state’s borders.

“We’re not going to be lectured to by a state that has the highest number of cases in Australia,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

The Northern Territory will keep its borders closed despite virus numbers falling to zero. Picture: Chloe Erlich

OTHER LEADERS TO KEEP BORDERS SHUT

South Australia and the Northern Territory have also confirmed today their borders would remain closed despite some eased restrictions.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said pubs, clubs, gyms, cafes and restaurants were expected to get wider guidelines in the next few days which will help them plan their reopening on June 5. But borders are staying shut.

“While we keep the strong borders in place, it does allow us to go a bit further and a bit faster than other states,” Mr Marshall told ABC News Breakfast.

“If we lift the borders straight away, then we can probably only go as fast as the slowest jurisdiction. My priority at the moment is getting people back to work in South Australia.

“But the other states are doing really well. They are increasing testing, getting numbers down. I don’t think it will be that far down the track. At the moment we will be keeping our borders closed in South Australia.”

The Northern Territory – which became COVID-free yesterday after its final case recovered – will also be keeping its borders shut for the near future.

NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles told Today that reopening the territory’s borders “was not on the cards … especially when there are active cases in Victoria and NSW”.

“Our Chief Health Officer said our border measures are the most effective measure in protecting Territorians,” Ms Fyles said.

“We didn’t see community transmission in the Northern Territory, so all of our cases we knew where they came from, they were from interstate or overseas travel.

“Right now as we head into our beautiful dry season, unfortunately we won’t be welcoming our interstate relatives and family and friends. We’ll be keeping the Territory borders closed to keep Territorians safe.”