Australia bubble finalised – borders open in two weeks

Australia has finalised a trans-tasman bubble deal that will see Newzealanders allowed to cross the ditch without having to quarantine once there. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern yesterday, with the borders set to reopen on Friday, October 16, the ABC reported. Deputy Prime Minister Michael Mccormack later told media the first stage of the limited travel bubble would see Newzealanders able to travel quarantine-free into Newsouth Wales and the Northern Territories. ‘‘This is the first stage in what we hope to see as a transTasman bubble between the two countries, not just that state and that territory.’’ Mccormack said it was for Ardern to determine hownewzealand might welcome and manage Australians coming to Newzealand. A spokeswoman for Ardern said Newzealanders who travelled to these Australian stateswould still need to have the appropriate managed isolation booking upon return, spend twoweeks inmanaged isolation, and pay the fee that applies to anyone who left Newzealand after August 11. ‘‘I want Newzealanders to keep in mind that even if Australia [opens up its borders for Newzealanders], that doesn’t mean they won’t have to go into quarantine on return. In fact, at this stage they will,’’ she said during a press conference earlier yesterday. ‘‘In our view, we are not ready to have quarantine-free travel with Australia. They have a very different strategy to us, and so they’re making that decision and that is their prerogative, but for now, we of course have to keep Newzealanders safe.’’