Kiwis agree to travel bubble with Australia

A trans-Tasman travel bubble will be embraced by the Morrison government and the beleaguered Australian tourism sector.

Jacinda Ardern’s cabinet has agreed in principle to a trans-Tasman travel bubble. Picture: Getty Images.

A trans-Tasman travel bubble in the first quarter of 2021 will be embraced by the Morrison government and the beleaguered Australian tourism sector.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday announced quarantine-free travel from Australia to New Zealand should arrive by the end of March.

That will be contingent on Australia controlling community transmission of COVID-19 and final arrangements being agreed by the governments.

Australian Federation of Travel Agents chief executive Darren Rudd said the move towards quarantine-free travel from Australia was a significant positive step forward: “Every ­little step like that restores confidence, restores optimism.’’

Mr Rudd said discussions had been under way for months between key government agencies and the travel industry and airlines.

His optimism was matched by Health Minister Greg Hunt, who described the development as a first step towards global normality that would bolster Australia’s airlines and economy.

“This is a sign that New Zealand and Australia aren’t just working together but that families can be back together in both directions. Friends can be back in both directions and flights can be full in both directions,” he said.

Mr Hunt said Australia would implement the deal “as soon as New Zealand is ready … We understand it may take a few more weeks but we’re working constructively and patiently.”

“The medical advice is crystal clear from the Chief Medical Officer of Australia, Paul Kelly, and that is people can come from New Zealand without a vaccination because New Zealand has no community transmission at this time,” he said. Mr Hunt added that approval of the travel bubble was highly likely.

“This is very simple because we have already committed to the principle of a two-way bubble,’’ he said. “We have established it as a one-way bubble where those coming from New Zealand on the medical advice of the CMO could come safely without quarantine.”

Ms Ardern said her cabinet agreed to an in-principle travel bubble with Australia that would likely start to operate in the first three months of 2021.

“It is our intention to name a date for the commencement of trans-Tasman quarantine-free travel in the new year once remaining details are locked down,” she said.

Ms Ardern said “constraints” were not just around preparation but what was viable for airlines, adding that flight staff were part of what was a significant logistical challenge.

The agreement is subject to sign-off from the Australian government, she said, but this was expected to be a fait accompli unless there was an unexpected blowout in the virus in Australia.

New Zealand has been largely free of the virus for months, due in large part to its isolation from the rest of the world.

As Victoria continues to contain the virus, the main threat in Australia is it spreading from overseas travellers in hotel quarantine.

Australian-sourced tourism is crucial to NZ’s economic future, with the economy rattled by significant COVID-19 restrictions and the dramatic curb on global travel.

Tourism is New Zealand’s biggest export industry, contributing about a fifth of total exports. Annual international tourism expenditure is worth about $16bn a year.