Business travellers may be the first allowed to leave Australia without facing quarantine when they return

Corporate travellers could be among the first permitted to leave Australia without facing quarantine when they return.

Business people travelling for “international benefit” could be among the first to be allowed to leave Australia’s shores without facing two-weeks of quarantine upon their return. Picture: iStock

Business people travelling for “international benefit” could be among the first to be allowed to leave Australia’s shores without facing two-weeks of quarantine when they return.

With the ban on Australians travelling overseas extended until September 17, there is mounting pressure for the federal government to make certain exemptions.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt told the ABC on Sunday there were “two pathways” being explored for the resumption of international travel and the government would be guided by medical advice.

“One is to use our quarantine system with international students and appropriately with people who are delivering international benefit whether that’s in business or other areas,” Mr Hunt said.

“Secondly is where we have a safe relationship with another country, and New Zealand is at the top of the list, having a non-quarantine approach which will open up borders.”

He said there was “a bit more work to be done” and it was unlikely any international travel would be allowed until domestic borders reopened.

Canberra has been under significant pressure from universities to develop a plan to bring international students to Australia to resume their courses, and pilots have joined the chorus.

The Australian and International Pilots Association which covers the majority of pilots in the Qantas Group, has written to Education Minister Dan Tehan voicing their concerns.

President Mark Sedgwick said flying international students into Australia would boost the aviation and university sectors.

“A controlled return of international students will provide valuable work for Australian pilots

and must be considered a priority for the federal government,” Mr Sedgwick said.

“There are 120,000 international students stranded overseas who will need to travel to Australia to resume their studies.”

Mr Sedgwick said the return of international students would reignite business activity across a number of industries, including aviation and tourism.

“Australia’s relative success in stemming the spread of the coronavirus provides the opportunity for a carefully staged and monitored re-entry of international students, upon whom many Australian businesses are reliant,” he said.

“Students at regional universities also provide valuable work for airlines that service regional education hubs such as Armidale, Townsville and Bathurst.”

Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott urged for the cautious approach taken throughout the COVID-19 crisis to continue.

“Our great success in this crisis has been listening to the expert health advice and we should continue to do that while acting to ease travel restrictions and get businesses back open so they can invest, get Australians back to work and create new jobs,” said Ms Westacott.

“The speed and strength of our recovery will depend on how quickly we can safely ease restrictions, that’s why cautious action to reopen borders is crucial.”