There has been a lot of movement on border restrictions recently given we're now in July, the month when Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he hoped all interstate travel would resume.
But even as restrictions continue to ease, coronavirus outbreaks in Melbourne hotspot suburbs have already led to changed plans.
If it's got you wondering where you can go, here's a summary of the current situation around Australia.
Victoria
Overall, Victoria's stance on its borders is actually relatively simple at the moment:
However, that advice won't apply to one section of Victoria's population from Thursday: people in Melbourne's hotspot suburbs.
Premier Daniel Andrews said in his press conference on Tuesday that interstate travel was not one of the four reasons people across 10 post codes would be permitted to leave their homes.
For all Victorians except those in Melbourne's coronavirus hotspots, there are no restrictions on travel around the state.
New South Wales
Again, generally speaking, it's not complicated:
However, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard announced yesterday that anyone from one of Melbourne's hotspot suburbs would not be allowed to enter the state.
He said he would be signing a public health order to that effect and anyone who contravened it would face potential penalties of six months' jail or an $11,000 fine.
While there won't be checkpoints along the border, Mr Hazzard said police would be keeping an eye out for Victorian number plates and asking people to explain where they had come from.
The NSW-Victorian border has remained open throughout the pandemic, and shutting it would be a logistical nightmare.
As for travel within New South Wales, there are no restrictions. However, NSW Health says travel to and from Aboriginal communities should be minimised wherever possible.
ACT
The ACT's borders haven't closed throughout the pandemic, and that hasn't changed.
Even for people travelling from areas of active community transmission, quarantining is only encouraged, not mandated.
However, there is this additional requirement for people travelling from hotspots, including those in Melbourne:
Queensland
Right now, Queensland's borders remain closed to everyone unless they have an exemption (for instance, because they're a resident or work close to the border).
All that will change from July 10, when anyone from any state or territory, except Victoria, will be able to enter the state after signing a border declaration.
However, it's not just Victorians who still won't be welcome — it's anyone who has been anywhere in Victoria in the previous two weeks.
These people will either be turned away or have to enter hotel quarantine at their own expense.
Queenslanders can travel anywhere within the state, with the exception of restricted access to some remote communities.
Western Australia
Not only do Western Australia's borders remain closed, but we haven't been told when they might reopen.
Previously, the state said a tentative date for reopening borders would be given as part of its plans for "phase 6" of eased restrictions (they're currently at phase 4, with phase 5 set to be introduced from July 18).
However, that plan for giving a tentative date was put on hold as a result of the "rapidly evolving situation in Victoria":
Within Western Australia, strict travel restrictions are still in place for remote Aboriginal communities, but travel elsewhere is unrestricted.
Northern Territory
Currently, anyone arriving in the Northern Territory must complete 14 days of quarantine unless they have an exemption.
Previously, this quarantine needed to take place at a hotel, but since June 15, people have been able to make their own arrangements.
However, for most Australian visitors, there will no longer be quarantine requirements upon arrival from July 17.
The exceptions, as you might have guessed, are people who have been to COVID-19 hotspots including those in Melbourne.
These people will need to self-isolate for two weeks at their own cost upon arrival.
Restrictions on travel within the Northern Territory were removed on June 5, and both Kakadu National Park and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park are currently reopening in stages.
Tasmania
At the moment, all non-essential travellers to Tasmania have to quarantine for two weeks — for residents, they can do this at home, but everyone else must stay at government-provided accommodation.
These restrictions will stay in place until at least July 24. However, it's not set in stone that the border will reopen from that date:
Premier Peter Gutwein said the state was particularly concerned about the situation in Victoria.
In the meantime, Tasmanians are being encouraged to holiday within the state.
South Australia
People travelling to South Australia directly from Queensland, the Northern Territory, Tasmania and Western Australia no longer face restrictions (provided they had been in those states for 14 days before departing).
However, people arriving from any other state are required to self-quarantine for 14 days (with the exception of essential travellers).
Premier Steven Marshall had planned to remove restrictions for all interstate travellers from July 20, but has scrapped that decision in light of the situation in Victoria.
The state is still considering reopening its borders to the ACT and New South Wales before it does the same for Victoria, but we don't have a date for that and an update will be provided later this week.
The only remaining restrictions on travel within South Australia apply to remote communities.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA3LTAyL2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLXJlc3RyaWN0aW9ucy13aGVyZS15b3UtY2FuLXRyYXZlbC1hcm91bmQtYXVzdHJhbGlhLzEyNDEyMzQ00gEnaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEyNDEyMzQ0?oc=5
2020-07-01 19:38:25Z
52780887964068
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Coronavirus restrictions: Where you can and can't travel around Australia as borders reopen - ABC News"
Post a Comment