If like us, you thought keeping up with general day to day COVID-19 news updates was difficult enough – then you’ll probably agree that staying on top of a start date for the Trans-Tasman bubble is as difficult as staying awake through an overly long Zoom Training Webinar.
The million-dollar question still is – when can we confidently start booking trips to New Zealand again?
Since the first exciting news of a Trans-Tasman bubble broke oh, a month or so ago, we have seen a plethora of predictions and outright blind guesses of when the reality of crossing the ditch may eventuate.
COVID-19 fact: One month feels like a decade.
First, on April 23, it was “We are aware of their (New Zealand’s) interest in that, it has not got much beyond that,” according to PM Scott Morrison.
“So we are aware of that, but we are not at present contemplating any border changes at the moment. We will work closely with New Zealand; we have all along,” he continued.
Then a week later, on 29 April PM Morrison said: “I can’t see international travel occurring anytime soon, the risks there are obvious.”
“The only exception to that… is potentially with New Zealand, and we have had some good discussions about that.”
On 6th May there was a historic meeting between PM Scott Morrison and his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern who agreed in principle to the idea of a trans-Tasman bubble.
“Once Australians are able to travel from Melbourne to Cairns, it will be possible to consider them travelling to Auckland or Christchurch,” said PM Morrison.
This week on Monday 25 May Trade and Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said “New Zealand is obviously the first, and right now only, international market that we could safely agree to open up to,”
Mr Birmingham then took a playful swing at Queensland and Western Australia by suggesting that their borders not reopening until September would not be an issue for the bubble going ahead, saying:
“If New Zealand and some Australian states are ready and willing to progress, then the reluctance of other states to open up their domestic borders shouldn’t become an obstacle to progress”.
Yesterday (Wednesday 27 May) the story and anticipation was ramped up and went next level with “From July 1!” according to a timeline from the Australian Chamber of Commerce via 7News.com.au and Channel Nine owned Pedestrian TV who jumped all over it for the clickbait value.
So much fake news here in this segment.
Later that day came a statement from New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern who said she had spoken to PM Scott Morrison and that both were keen to move forward with the idea “as quickly as we can.” But not in July.
September it seems, is the current work towards date.
READ: The Trans-Tasman Bubble Take-Off: It’s Going To Be… September, Hopefully
Confused? We’re not surprised.
To be continued….