Will Australians soon be able to travel to New Zealand?
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New Zealand's prime minister will join Australian leaders in a discussion about battling the coronavirus and easing restrictions, prompting increased speculation that travel could soon be opened up between the two countries.
The national cabinet has formally invited Jacinda Ardern to join its meeting on Tuesday, which will include a discussion about the contact tracing apps both countries are using.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison flagged the intention to add Ms Ardern to the meeting via video link during his regular discussion with her last Thursday.
The move highlights the close relationship the two countries have and the similar position both leaders find themselves in while confronting the coronavirus crisis.
‘Trans-Tasman bubble’ on the agenda, Ardern says
Australia and New Zealand have two of the most successful responses to the coronavirus pandemic, thanks to the geographic isolation of the two antipodean nations, along with early border closures and strict social distancing rules.
The two countries have seen virtually unrivalled success in “flattening the curve” and suppressing the spread of coronavirus. On Monday, New Zealand cautiously celebrated a day without any new COVID-19 cases for the first time since the peak of the pandemic, with just four Kiwis currently requiring hospital treatment for the virus and none in intensive care.
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The National Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, which Ms Ardern will join, will advance early discussions on a “trans-Tasman bubble” that would see the relaxation of border restrictions between the citizens of two countries and allies.
Ms Ardern confirmed the agenda on Monday afternoon saying the leaders “will discuss a range of matters on the COVID-19 response on both sides of the Tasman, including the creation of a trans-Tasman bubble.”
It’s an eventual likelihood that prime minister Scott Morrison hinted at nearly two weeks ago.
“If there is any country in the world with whom we can reconnect with first, undoubtedly that's New Zealand,” he said during a press conference on April 23.
“So if there's any country where we can look to achieve that, then I would have thought New Zealand would be the obvious candidate and that's the nature of discussions we've had.”
At the time, Mr Morrison was responding to a question about the New Zealand NRL team being allowed an exemption from Australia’s border closure.
On the weekend, the NZ Warriors were granted permission to enter Australia as the NRL competition looks to return on May 28 – a decision that was hailed by Winston Peters, New Zealand's deputy prime minister, who also happens to be the country's foreign minister.
Me Peters said it proves leaders are willing to make the trans-Tasman bubble approach work, however he stressed it would only work if travellers weren’t required to quarantine for 14 days like the Warriors players and staff are required to do.
“The Warriors' participation in the NRL in Australia shows that a trans-Tasman bubble could work seriously well,” Mr Peters said in a statement.
“Australia and New Zealand are two of the most integrated economies in the world. The idea of a bubble with Australia was floated two weeks ago, and this is an example of the sort of action that could happen within it, while always ensuring the protection of public health.
“Officials in both countries are considering all aspects of the trans-Tasman concept, and planning how this could happen more broadly.”
Just days after Scott Morrison hinted at opening the borders with New Zealand long before the outside world, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton echoed the sentiment saying it would be the “logical first step”. However when it comes to opening up to other parts of the world such as the US or Europe, “that will be sometime off,” he warned.
When Ms Ardern meets with the Australian leaders they will reportedly discuss the coronavirus tracking and tracing capabilities brought in by both countries to combat the spread of COVID-19.
It’s likely any arrangement to open up the borders would hinge on a collaboration or mutual understanding of such tracing and tracking initiatives, as well as a continued reduction of overall coronavirus cases in both nations.
Tourism sector hopeful trans-Tasman agreement can be reached
The tourism and travel industry has been decimated by the coronavirus pandemic so it’s no surprise that the sector is hopeful an agreement for trans-Tasman travel can be reached.
Simon Westaway, the executive director of the Australian Tourism Industry Council believes it could be the only way to help reduce the massive economic hit to Australia’s fourth largest export.
“The message from the industry side is that the bubble is a goer,” he told CNN Travel.
Meanwhile his New Zealand counterpart expressed a similar urgency to see the border restrictions relaxed between the two countries.
“If we can add in the Australians, that would be enormously beneficial for the survival of tourism businesses and thousands of jobs,” said Chris Roberts, the chief executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa, New Zealand’s peak tourism body.
Both men also agreed that quarantine mandates would need to be removed and speculated that gradually, other countries with a strong response to the coronavirus in the region could be added to the bubble.
“I think it will be on a country by country basis,” Mr Roberts told CNN. “A general opening of borders could be a very long time away.”
with AAP
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