Experience with Australian border controls leaving the country

[glasszon]

With the latest developments, for example restricting number of passengers on incoming flights and having to pay quarantine costs out of pocket, doesn't it make sense for the government to review the need for an outbound travel ban?

Given the measures above, I can't see anyone in their right minds would travel internationally unless they have to, so why put an extra burden on Australian citizens and PRs by requiring an exit visa to leave the country?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Given the measures above, I can't see anyone in their right minds would travel internationally unless they have to, so why put an extra burden on Australian citizens and PRs by requiring an exit visa to leave the country?

Two weeks in a hotel may be unappealing for some, but for others - for example those who currently work from home - two weeks in a hotel would be no different than being in your own house from a work perspective. You wouldn't need to take any extra holiday time.

 

[glasszon]

Two weeks in a hotel may be unappealing for some, but for others - for example those who currently work from home - two weeks in a hotel would be no different than being in your own house from a work perspective. You wouldn't need to take any extra holiday time.

But now people have to pay their own quarantine cost, which is $3k as a minimum if you are travelling by yourself, and a real risk of getting your return flight delayed due to the incoming passenger restrictions, you would have to be quite brave and have quite a bit of money to go for a holiday trip overseas.

Edit: I completely hear where you come from. Just that Australia is a country of migrants, with many citizens like myself who have substantial family ties overseas. This travel ban and the lack of an end date is not helping matters as we always worry about a sudden need to travel overseas if a family member fall ill etc.

 

[Pushka]

With the latest developments, for example restricting number of passengers on incoming flights and having to pay quarantine costs out of pocket, doesn't it make sense for the government to review the need for an outbound travel ban?

Given the measures above, I can't see anyone in their right minds would travel internationally unless they have to, so why put an extra burden on Australian citizens and PRs by requiring an exit visa to leave the country?

That opinion has indeed been expressed on Whirlpool forums by someone who has already been granted approval, and quickly, for travel in October.

 

[Scarlett]

So what we need is some sort of system that could indicate those who could be trusted to do the right thing; those who weren't going to come back soon after leaving; and indeed those who could be trusted to home quarantine and not need to be placed in a supervised hotel.
I don't know, maybe we could call it a 'social credit system' that indicated who the real fine and upstanding citizens are!
Used car salesmen; politicians and Porsche drivers clearly needn't bother...


Sorry, I'm being flippant again...must try harder.

 

[glasszon]

They have setup a new website to request for travel exemption permission, looks like they are in this for the long haul, can't see them investing resources into a new website if the travel ban will be rescinded soon.

Travel Restriction Exemption Portal - Travel Exemptions Approval

travel-exemptions.homeaffairs.gov.au

 

[Gremlin]

They have setup a new website to request for travel exemption permission, looks like they are in this for the long haul, can't see them investing resources into a new website if the travel ban will be rescinded soon.

Travel Restriction Exemption Portal - Travel Exemptions Approval

travel-exemptions.homeaffairs.gov.au

I'm not across this, but I'm across something that is closely related to this. From what I understand this doesn't necessarily end when a vaccine is found. Me getting a jab isn't going to be sufficient to allow me to start travelling as I was in 2019 as it is unlikely that any vaccine will be able to be demonstrated to be 100% effective and the cost to the community of reimporting a new wave would be enormous.

Finding a vaccine is an important first step, but until it can be rolled out to a sufficient volume to provide herd immunity here in Australia (and potentially in destination countries), then restricting the movement of travellers will continue to be in the national interest.

I've heard talks of a 'realistic' timeframe, but I can't say more than it's longer than most people are currently expecting.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Finding a vaccine is an important first step, but until it can be rolled out to a sufficient volume to provide herd immunity here in Australia (and potentially in destination countries), then restricting the movement of travellers will continue to be in the national interest.

Restricting the movement of travellers may be in the national interest, but i’m not sure that banning overseas travel is the legal way of doing it. Quarantine, when conducted properly, is effective.

 

[Gremlin]

Restricting the movement of travellers may be in the national interest, but i’m not sure that banning overseas travel is the legal way of doing it. Quarantine, when conducted properly, is effective.

This has moved in a direction where l can speak with more knowledge...

What do you propose the solution should be if there isn’t a government in the country, neither state or federal, neither Liberal or Labor, who believed that quarantine can be conducted “properly” at scale?

Some level of quarantine is absolutely necessary. But there are issues with quarantine EVERY week in EVERY jurisdiction. And the issues every week are different from the ones before. Only one has turned catastrophic but all of it presents significant risk.

So if quarantine isn’t effective, what’s the alternative?

 

[woodborer]

Restricting the movement of travellers may be in the national interest, but i’m not sure that banning overseas travel is the legal way of doing it. Quarantine, when conducted properly, is effective.

Which would be why talk of unfettered 'tourism' travel indicates time a few years down the track. Limited business (and student) travel can be kept to manageable numbers. The tourist side of things is more difficult.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This has moved in a direction where l can speak with more knowledge...

What do you propose the solution should be if there isn’t a government in the country, neither state or federal, neither Liberal or Labor, who believed that quarantine can be conducted “properly” at scale?

Some level of quarantine is absolutely necessary. But there are issues with quarantine EVERY week in EVERY jurisdiction. And the issues every week are different from the ones before. Only one has turned catastrophic but all of it presents significant risk.

So if quarantine isn’t effective, what’s the alternative?

Quarantine is effective. It's been employed for hundreds of years.

The management of quarantine may not have been handled effectively, and that needs to be worked on. It worked in China. They did it well... constant medical supervision, rooms disinfected daily, guests even had to flush toilets using powerful disinfectant (and we know coronavirus is detected in sewage).

Limiting passengers to 30 per plane is fine. But I'm not sure there is a lawful basis for Australians to be prevented from leaving the country simply on the basis of coronavirus.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Which would be why talk of unfettered 'tourism' travel indicates time a few years down the track. Limited business (and student) travel can be kept to manageable numbers. The tourist side of things is more difficult.

As i have mentioned previously... not sure why business should get any priority over a front line nurse or paramedic wanting to take a well deserved break. (By business I don not mean 'essential services' - which is something quite different)

 

[woodborer]

As i have mentioned previously... not sure why business should get any priority over a front line nurse or paramedic wanting to take a well deserved break. (By business I don not mean 'essential services' - which is something quite different)

It basically comes down to numbers. There is only scope to support a certain number of movements through quarantine at the moment.
You just have to make decisions on what can fit within those parameters.

 

[Gremlin]

Quarantine is effective. It's been employed for hundreds of years.

The management of quarantine may not have been handled effectively, and that needs to be worked on. It worked in China. They did it well... constant medical supervision, rooms disinfected daily, guests even had to flush toilets using powerful disinfectant (and we know coronavirus is detected in sewage).

Limiting passengers to 30 per plane is fine. But I'm not sure there is a lawful basis for Australians to be prevented from leaving the country simply on the basis of coronavirus.

It's great you feel this way. The only problem is that those actually responsible for it feel very, very differently. I'm sure if you've got expertise in determining how to manage quarantine effectively it would be well appreciated by any and all of the government bodies looking for alternate solutions. Once you scratch beneath the surface, China's approach is not as successful as it has been proclaimed. NZ's recently moved to limiting returns for the very reason that we have been. If you've got a real alternative then every government in the country wants to hear it.

Simply saying "it needs to be worked on" is a wonderful sentiment but Australians are literally dying because "it needs to be worked on". Australian businesses are going to the wall on a daily basis because "it needs to be worked on". "It needs to be worked on" not just in Victoria but in every jurisdiction in the country. I can tell you in absolute terms, neither "trial and error" nor "tinkering until we get it right" are approaches that are being considered when the consequences of getting it wrong are what they are. Simple as that.

 

[Ansett]

I applied for a travel exemption to attend my 16 year old Great Nieces Funeral in the UK and support my Sister through a horrid time.

Can I ask for your help please Cancer

Prior to posting this post has been approved by Admin Hi fellow members,if anyone can please help it would be great. This is my Great niece Chloe in the UK and she is suffering from an aggressive form of cancer. Chloe is only 15 years old and just finished school recently. She completed her...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Received notification that I had been denied an exemption


The Australian Border Force (ABF) has considered your request and the Delegate has determined that your travel is not exempt from the travel restrictions. Your departing port has been notified of this outcome.

The ABF Delegate has stated that:

• In consideration of the facts demonstrated to me by the applicant I am not satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist to approve the applicant to leave Australian territory.
  
  While I acknowledge this is a difficult time for the applicant, under the current global pandemic international travel is restricted to exceptional circumstances only.
  
  In refusing the request, I have also considered the fact of the high infection rates in the UK and the short-term nature of the travel, both posing a significant risk to the Australian community; in transit and post arrival.

 

[DC3]

.... The Australian Border Force (ABF) has considered your request and the Delegate has determined that your travel is not exempt from the travel restrictions .....

That’s very sad. Have they advised if there’s an appeals process?

 

[Ansett]

No but I am not going to push it as by the time you go through any appeal it will all be over.

Its harsh but I also understand so not criticizing any one.

 

[Flashback]

I applied for a travel exemption to attend my 16 year old Great Nieces Funeral in the UK and support my Sister through a horrid time.

Can I ask for your help please Cancer

Prior to posting this post has been approved by Admin Hi fellow members,if anyone can please help it would be great. This is my Great niece Chloe in the UK and she is suffering from an aggressive form of cancer. Chloe is only 15 years old and just finished school recently. She completed her...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Received notification that I had been denied an exemption


The Australian Border Force (ABF) has considered your request and the Delegate has determined that your travel is not exempt from the travel restrictions. Your departing port has been notified of this outcome.

The ABF Delegate has stated that:

• In consideration of the facts demonstrated to me by the applicant I am not satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist to approve the applicant to leave Australian territory.
  
  While I acknowledge this is a difficult time for the applicant, under the current global pandemic international travel is restricted to exceptional circumstances only.
  
  In refusing the request, I have also considered the fact of the high infection rates in the UK and the short-term nature of the travel, both posing a significant risk to the Australian community; in transit and post arrival.

Rather odd as UK's numbers are currently below what Australia's are. They're obviously just making it up as they go along. Sorry you weren't able to make it over here.

 

[dajop]

I'll have to consider doing a proper trip report, but leaving MEL last night, as we approached the area where the check in counters were, we were stopped by two Border Force staff, who were inspecting passports, and requesting exemption letters. As we are non-resident of Australia citizens (and no exemption letter), they then phoned or radioed someone to verify we were OK to leave (presumably by looking at our immigration records). At the check in counter they also check with Border Force before issuing BPs (and verified our ability to enter Singapore).

After that, it was normal security, then smartgate (remove mask), and then the main difference (for those familiar with departing MEL T2) was taking the staff "shortcut" corridor instead of winding the way through DF shops (as they are all closed).

 

[eastwest101]

Can give a few more data points on this, Mrs eastwest101 + kids had to apply for an exemption to travel from Australia to Japan (direct NH flights still operating SYD-HND) due to an urgent family medical emergency of a relative in Japan.

The Dept of Home Affairs Travel Restriction Exemption site is a little misleading, because it asks for your intended flight dates and flight numbers, sending us scurrying away to book flights, as approval can take anywhere from 4 weeks to 3 months which is obviously a ridiculous time frame for medical emergencies.

So we got the flights booked and Doctors letter together (which thankfully was already in english) and did the application, and sure enough the first auto-receipt email from Dept of Home Affairs upon lodging said not to book flights ( facepalm), but to await approval. Another case of probably taking the time to read this thread could have saved us some time and effort from previous posters experiences. As it turns out - our particular situation was approved within 24 hours to their credit, which surprised me. So then thankfully NH have played reasonably nice and we have been able to bring SYD-HND flights forward to something much sooner as all incoming pax into Japan have to serve a 14 day quarantine anyway, so its still a gamble as to whether they will make it in time.