Scott Morrison speaks out on Australia’s international border closure

Scott Morrison has a message for critics as he comes under increased pressure to outline Australia’s reopening with the world.

Scott Morrison has warned it is “not safe” for Australia to turn the switch on its international border closure.

The Prime Minister has rejected a growing push from MPs and business leaders to soon reopen the country after assumptions in the budget revealed border restrictions would not ease until mid-2022.

Speaking in Brisbane, Mr Morrison said Australians understood the importance of a cautious approach when it came to maintaining the hard border.

“It is not safe to take those next steps right now,” he said on Monday.

“It’s not one day the borders are open, one day the borders are closed.

“That’s not how it works.

“There is a sliding sort of scale here, and we’re working on the next steps.”

Scott Morrison bumps elbows while visiting a business in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Mr Morrison said the next steps included fully vaccinated Australians being exempt from domestic restrictions and the return of international students and skilled migrants to assist workforce shortages.

He also revealed he was looking forward to further discussions with the Singapore government about establishing Australia’s next travel bubble.

“There are some practical challenges that we are working on now and finding solutions to,” Mr Morrison said.

Josh Frydenberg was also asked about the vexed border closure issue while spruiking his federal budget in Adelaide on Monday.

On the return of international students, the Treasurer said the government would continue to adopt the medical advice.

But he did hint there could be some changes on the way.

“We will look favourably upon state proposals – including from South Australia – where they have the support of their chief medical officer, and have the support of the universities to bring in cohorts of international students over and above their existing cap,” Mr Frydenberg said.

Josh Frydenberg said the budget assumption on borders was not government policy. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Labor leader Anthony Albanese, who was also in Queensland, took a whack at the government for dismissing Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s proposal for a regional quarantine facility for returning travellers.

“It is simply not good enough,” Mr Albanese said.

“We need to have appropriate quarantine facilities in place and get people vaccinated so that we can open up our economy.

“While the borders remain closed, which this government has said will happen until after the next election, than that is a real constraint on jobs.”