Rules of movement across the country
IT is the summer of freedoms and Australians are booking holidays with gusto, eager to be reunited with loved ones across state lines.
But the rules for interstate travel are confusing at best – and changing rapidly.
Indeed, international destinations such as Singapore will soon be easier to reach than Western Australia, which will not let us in until deep into 2022.
So to help with your holiday planning, here is where you can and cannot go.
NSW
NSW currently only has its border shut to Victoria. Until November 1, all people travelling from Victoria into NSW will have to quarantine at home for 14 days.
After November 1, unvaccinated travellers will not be permitted to enter NSW from Victoria without an exemption, however fully vaccinated persons will be able to move freely between the states.
Interstate visitors from all other states can enter NSW, however, they will need to abide by local restrictions.
Currently, lockdown restrictions have eased dramatically for fully vaccinated individuals.
Also, until November 1, people within Greater Sydney are not permitted to visit regional NSW.
VICTORIA
IF you want to go to Victoria, you must apply for a permit.
The state is operating on a traffic-light system.
Almost all visitors will fall into the “green zone” category, which means they can enter with the appropriate permit, with no testing or quarantine requirements.
Unvaccinated people need to isolate on arrival, have a Covid-19 test and isolate until a negative result is returned.
From November 1, fully vaccinated international travellers returning to Victoria will not have to quarantine in hotels, as long as they undertake testing within 24 hours of arrival into Victoria.
QUEENSLAND
PEOPLE from much of Australia are able to enter Queensland freely, provided they complete a Queensland entry pass.
On November 19, when the state is on track to reach 70 per cent vaccination,
restrictions will ease slightly.
Double-jabbed interstate travellers will be allowed to enter from the NSW and Victorian-declared Covid hotspots by air only.
They will be required to provide negative Covid-19 tests within 72 hours of their travel and enter mandatory 14 days home quarantine.
After December 17, Queensland essentially throws open its borders to the wider community, removing hotspot restrictions.
Double-jabbed travellers will no longer be required to quarantine on arrival and can travel into Queensland via air or road.
A negative Covid-19 test
will still be required ahead of travel.
TASMANIA
TASMANIA is open to people from Queensland, WA, South Australia and the NT.
NSW, the ACT and Victoria have all been declared high-risk areas by Tasmania and are subject to travel restrictions.
Travel is not allowed for people who have been in those areas in the 14 days before arrival in Tasmania, unless they are approved as an essential traveller.
People approved must undergo hotel quarantine, unless they are otherwise eligible for Tasmania’s home quarantine program.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
WESTERN Australia continues to enforce the harshest state border restrictions in the country, and all travellers must apply for a G2G pass before entering the state.
Right now, people in Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory can travel to WA with the pass and are exempt from quarantine.
These states and territory are classified “very low risk”, which is the only classification that allows interstate travellers to enter WA without quarantine.
Unlike other states that have pledged to reopen state borders and reunite families for Christmas, WA Premier Mark McGowan has struck an even tougher tone, with travel from Victoria, NSW and the ACT unlikely until next year.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
THE NT has declared the ACT, NSW and Victoria as Covid-19 hotspots.
All travellers from those declared hotspots require an exemption to enter the state and undertake supervised quarantine for 14 days at their own expense, unless they are otherwise eligible for the Territory’s home quarantine program.
From November 23, fully vaccinated travellers entering from a domestic Covid-19 hotspot will not have to do hotel quarantine – instead they will enter a 14-day home quarantine program.
ACT
THE ACT has closed its border to all of Victoria and much of NSW, outside of surrounding border postcode areas, like Goulburn and Bega.
From November 1, travel between Victoria and the ACT is set to be permitted for fully vaccinated people.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
TRAVELLERS from Northern Territory, Queensland, Tasmania and WA can enter SA without quarantine.
From November 23, South Australia will ease its border restrictions for doublevaccinated people and scrap quarantine for most interstate travellers.
Quarantine will only apply to travellers from LGAs with community transmission and less than 80 per cent fully vaccinated.