Overseas travel ban for Australians extended until December 17

The Federal Government’s ban on overseas travel without an exemption that was first put in place in March has been extended further.

Restrictions affecting overseas travel and cruise ships entering Australian waters have been extended until mid December.

Health Minister Greg Hunt on Thursday said the Federal Government will extend the human biosecurity emergency period under the Biosecurity Act 2015 by three months, until December 17.

It has been in place since March 18, when the Governor-General David Hurley declared that a human biosecurity emergency exists.

He signed off on the extension today.

“’Omit September’, substitute ‘December’,” the amendment states.

Mr Hunt said the decision was as a result of “specialist medical and epidemiological advice provided by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee”.

“AHPPC has advised that the international and domestic COVID-19 situation continues to pose an unacceptable public health risk,” he said.

“The extension of the emergency period is an appropriate response to that risk.”

The human biosecurity emergency declaration gives the Government “expansive powers” to take measures necessary to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 in Australia.

The four current determinations, extended until December 17, are:

* Restrictions on the entry of cruise ships into Australia

* Protections for the supply and sale of certain essential goods

* Restrictions on overseas travel

* Restrictions on retail stores at international airports

Smartraveller states: “There’s a ban on overseas travel from Australia. You can’t leave Australia unless you get an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs.”