'An obvious candidate': PM hints at first step in lifting overseas travel restrictions

Scott Morrison has hinted the first international borders to be opened for Australians will be those with neighbours New Zealand.

The prime minister during his press conference at Parliament House on Thursday said he has had recent discussions with his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern about the lifting of borders.

“If there is any country in the world with whom we can reconnect with first, undoubtedly that's New Zealand,” the prime minister said on Thursday, while refraining to offer a timeline of when such a move could occur.

Mr Morrison made the remarks after he was questioned on the potential return of the NRL, and while saying that was a decision for state governments, he said the Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton had been in discussion with New Zealand in allowing the New Zealand Warriors into Australia ahead of the proposed NRL resumption on May 28.

“[New Zealand’s] restrictions have been far greater. Our case response has, you know, been the same, if not better,” Mr Morrison said.

“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.”

He said the Australian Border Force commissioner already has the power to make exemptions available for certain individuals to come into the country.

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy told a Senate committee on Thursday he doesn’t believe general travel restrictions would be lifted for at least three months.

Last week Mr Morrison said Australia was “not contemplating” border changes with New Zealand after comments from Ms Ardern suggesting the country had “discussed Australia” when it came to the potential easing of tavel restrictions.

On Thursday, Mr Morrison announced Australia’s growth rate in coronavirus cases had dropped to an impressive 0.22 per cent, well below the one per cent target outlined by Mr Murphy last week in order to suppress the outbreak.

“Those sort of figures were unimaginable weeks ago and they are being achieved because of the patience and discipline and efforts of the Australian people across the country,” Mr Morrison said.

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