South Australia has decided to join New South Wales and the Northern Territory in the ‘Safe Travel Zone’ deal with New Zealand – meaning travellers from New Zealand can now visit without needing to quarantine.
Last week marked the start of the (one-way for now) Trans-Tasman bubble with Air New Zealand and Jetstar flights arriving in Sydney from Auckland.
And aside from the adorable airport reunion scenes, there was also much confusion with the passengers about where they could and couldn’t travel to.
Rather than staying in states that were in the Trans-Tasman bubble agreement (NT & NSW), a number of travellers continued their journey onto Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and possibly Queensland.
“Ultimately we are in the bubble whether we like it or not,”
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews
Five New Zealand travellers that arrived unexpectedly at Adelaide Airport on Sunday were put into hotel quarantine, at their own cost.
In the bubble now
However, since the weekend, South Australia has annouced that it will be joining the Trans-Tasman bubble agreement and opening its borders to New Zealand, meaning that the 12 recent arrivals have now been released and given the green light to go about their business as usual.
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens told the ABC “I’m pleased to be able to announce with New Zealand people arriving in SA, they will no longer be required to quarantine,”
“We’re also happy to receive direct flights from New Zealand,” he said.
Commissioner Stevens said although it was unfortunate the arrivals were inconvenienced, he said they don’t apologise for taking steps to ensure the safety of the South Australian community.
What’s the deal right now?
The ‘Safe Travel Zone’ is a one-way arrangement between New Zealand and NSW/NT/SA.
If you have arrived in New South Wales, South Australia or the Northern Territory in Australia from a safe travel zone country and have not been in any other country in the past 14 days, you do not need to quarantine.
For other states and territories, passengers will need to ensure they have checked state and territory travel restrictions and have the appropriate exemptions/approvals to travel as these continue to change.
Those returning to New Zealand will still need to quarantine for 14 days upon return, provide payment for quarantine, and register their managed isolation accommodation requirements via the New Zealand Government’s Managed Isolation and Quarantine website.
READ: State Border Restrictions Confuse Trans-Tasman Bubble Arrivals