Australia to lift 18-months International border restrictions from November

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison today announced that the 18-month ban on Australians travelling abroad will be lifted from next month. According to the PM, Reopening the international border for citizens and permanent residents will be linked to the establishment of home quarantine in Australia's eight states and territories.

The move — expected to take effect in November — comes more than 18 months after Australia closed its borders to the world in response to the pandemic, imposing quotas on arrivals that left thousands of citizens stranded overseas and mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine for those able to make the journey.

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Under the plan announced on Friday, Australians who are fully vaccinated will be able to travel abroad and complete a 7-day quarantine at home on their return. People who are not vaccinated will be required to undertake 14 days of quarantine at a hotel when they return.

However, a Delta variant-fuelled outbreak that has locked down the major cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra for weeks has divided state and territory leaders. Some presiding over virus-free parts of the country have indicated they will defy the federal plan.

Morrison said his government was working towards quarantine free travel with countries such as New Zealand when "safe to do so".

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