New Zealand Travel Bubble Announcement

[DonaldD]

It's too bad it's only one-way at the moment, but it's a good sign.

Hopefully travel in the other direction isn't too far away.

 

[DonaldD]

Perhaps I'm missing something, but can someone explain this to me. Why is travel being allowed from NZ to Sydney, where there have been cases of Covid 19, but not to QLD where there haven't been any cases.

 

[oz_mark]

Perhaps I'm missing something, but can someone explain this to me. Why is travel being allowed from NZ to Sydney, where there have been cases of Covid 19, but not to QLD where there haven't been any cases.

As far as I know, it came down to which states the federal government was able to come to an agreement with.

 

[jakeseven7]

Perhaps I'm missing something, but can someone explain this to me. Why is travel being allowed from NZ to Sydney, where there have been cases of Covid 19, but not to QLD where there haven't been any cases.

QLD have an issue with their health advice unfortunately and have a CHO that now controls the state, with the current premier apparently unable to do anything about it.

The problem is that no one agrees with the QLD CHO’s health advice on borders, none of her state equivalents or federal CHO’s. Because QLD are not in agreement with the other states on how hot spots (and therefore travel restrictions) are defined, they are unnecessarily forcing people from Sydney for example into hotel quarantine even though it is not a hotspot, taking up quarantine beds with domestic travellers for no reason.

So the Federal Government will not allow them to have international travel until they agree to tackling covid on a national perspective.

The QLD CHO is getting a lot of help now from her Federal counterparts because she seems to be struggling so hopefully we see QLD come into line with NSW, ACT, NT and shortly SA and TAS - both who have both announced they are very close to signing up and also getting international rights.

 

[DC3]

Perhaps I'm missing something, but can someone explain this to me. Why is travel being allowed from NZ to Sydney, where there have been cases of Covid 19, but not to QLD where there haven't been any cases.

It seems that it’s rather political. Best just to leave it at that I think.

 

[MikeG]

Flights were reinstated after talking to Qantas 131313 - seems they were cancelled in error. I have an NZ isolation exemption request in that hopefully will be approved (due to living in a part of Australia that has been COVID free for months now) - there is the chance I'll need to isolate when I return, but I'll see if I can get an exemption to isolate at home.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Flights were reinstated after talking to Qantas 131313 - seems they were cancelled in error. I have an NZ isolation exemption request in that hopefully will be approved (due to living in a part of Australia that has been COVID free for months now) - there is the chance I'll need to isolate when I return, but I'll see if I can get an exemption to isolate at home.

Exemptions from NZ managed isolation on arrival are extremely rare. IIRC a recent media article said only 19 granted out of hundreds of applications. Even a dying close relative doesn't guarantee an exemption will be granted.

 

[MikeG]

Illustrating the fact that I'm from a zone that has zero cases and the fact that I'm a New Zealand business owner should work in my favour. Nothing is for sure, but you've got to be in it to win it...

 

[Beano]

Eagerly awaited. Qantas are offering flights from and to Christchurch and Auckland. I still don't know if an international visitor arrives in NSW and NT, they can the travel to the other states allowing travel from NSW and NT?
PS NZ election is 17 October.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Generally the other States that restrict entry have restrictions on people who came from O/S in the previous 14 days.

 

[jakeseven7]

Eagerly awaited. Qantas are offering flights from and to Christchurch and Auckland. I still don't know if an international visitor arrives in NSW and NT, they can the travel to the other states allowing travel from NSW and NT?
PS NZ election is 17 October.

Have Qantas announced the actual schedule? I know they came out seconds after the announcement saying they would add flights, but didn't have details.

 

[MikeG]

Eagerly awaited. Qantas are offering flights from and to Christchurch and Auckland. I still don't know if an international visitor arrives in NSW and NT, they can the travel to the other states allowing travel from NSW and NT?
PS NZ election is 17 October.

There have been SYD<->AKL flights the whole time. Whether you're allowed to fly is another story... That said I think the schedule was only a max of 1 flight a day, and some days there were no flights.

 

[MikeG]

Eagerly awaited. Qantas are offering flights from and to Christchurch and Auckland. I still don't know if an international visitor arrives in NSW and NT, they can the travel to the other states allowing travel from NSW and NT?
PS NZ election is 17 October.

I reckon within days of the new government, we will see the borders open between AUS and NZ with restrictions on people who have been in a hotspot. They have been stalling with excuses around differing definitions of a hotspot, but I would suggest they have the legislation and such ready to go. They just can't be seen to do anything before the election. It's too risky to the election process...

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Illustrating the fact that I'm from a zone that has zero cases and the fact that I'm a New Zealand business owner should work in my favour. Nothing is for sure, but you've got to be in it to win it...

I don't rate your chances under the current rules. As noted they've mostly declined requests to see dying close relatives, also mostly declined requests to attend funerals. I doubt they'd approve an exemption for solely business reasons. Of course could all change after the election.

 

[Ekka]

QLD have an issue with their health advice unfortunately and have a CHO that now controls the state, with the current premier apparently unable to do anything about it.

The problem is that no one agrees with the QLD CHO’s health advice on borders, none of her state equivalents or federal CHO’s. Because QLD are not in agreement with the other states on how hot spots (and therefore travel restrictions) are defined, they are unnecessarily forcing people from Sydney for example into hotel quarantine even though it is not a hotspot, taking up quarantine beds with domestic travellers for no reason.

So the Federal Government will not allow them to have international travel until they agree to tackling covid on a national perspective.

The QLD CHO is getting a lot of help now from her Federal counterparts because she seems to be struggling so hopefully we see QLD come into line with NSW, ACT, NT and shortly SA and TAS - both who have both announced they are very close to signing up and also getting international rights.

How condescending. No one agrees with Jeannette Young, eh? No one? I do, along with a lot of other Queenslanders.

She's struggling? Not noticeably, and I watch every news conference. She is constant, but she and I do not agree with you. Is that permitted?

As already pointed out, QLD (pop. 5 m) has contained the virus, while NSW (pop. 8 m or so) has not and was the source of the first major breakout (does the Ruby Princess ring a bell?)

 

[MikeG]

I don't rate your chances under the current rules. As noted they've mostly declined requests to see dying close relatives, also mostly declined requests to attend funerals. I doubt they'd approve an exemption for solely business reasons. Of course could all change after the election.

They take a risk based approach. I know it’s unlikely but as the risk is very low I’m in with a chance unless they are using some strange merit based approach which wouldn’t make any sense
Under the circumstances.

 

[Beano]

Generally the other States that restrict entry have restrictions on people who came from O/S in the previous 14 days.

Thanks. Not much good for me. a State capital each day for a week is my limit.

 

[MikeG]

Credit where credit is due, NZ refused to waive the isolation requirement for me next month - instead, they offered self-isolation rather than isolation in a Hotel. Somewhat pointless, but they had to save face somehow in the face of looking stupid.

Meanwhile, Qantas is madly cancelling/changing flights to/from Auckland contrary to the news released today, so I'm going wait a few days until "the announcement" is made. Or if I'm completely wrong, I'll just cancel before the end of the month.

 

[james4321]

How condescending. No one agrees with Jeannette Young, eh? No one? I do, along with a lot of other Queenslanders.

Me too

 

[DC3]

How condescending. No one agrees with Jeannette Young, eh? No one? I do, along with a lot of other Queenslanders ...

Yes, some very condescending posts creeping in, from the same anti-Labor posters.