Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison said first dose vaccination rates are over 78% and double dose rates nationwide are at 55% and on track to reach 70% in some jurisdictions over the next week.

Biosecurity update

He said the minister for health will consider updating the human biosecurity emergency period which has been in place since March 18, 2020, and extended until December 17.

He said the government wants to remove current travel restrictions related to COVID-19 a month earlier so that fully vaccinated Australians will be able to enter and leave the country in November.

Time to take the next step

‘Many countries around the world have now safely reopened to international travel and it will shortly be time for Australia to take the next step,’ he said.

‘In line with the National Plan, our government is balancing the need to minimise the risk that the spread of COV1D-19 presents, with the need to live with the virus.’

Cruise Lines International Association Australasia MD Joel Katz said Friday’s announcement on the opening of international travel was welcome news for many parts of the Australian travel industry.

However, Katz said Australia is now one of the only major cruise markets in the world with no clear plan for cruising’s revival.