Australians will be able to travel between all states and territories except Western Australia by Christmas, under a new agreement struck between the nation’s leaders.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said National Cabinet had also agreed to public health measures to ensure states and territories remain open in 2021.
Western Australia is easing some border restrictions, but travellers from NSW and Victoria must continue to quarantine upon arrival.
“It also is a plan that importantly embeds public health metrics in ensuring that when Australia opens safely it remains open safely,” Mr Morrison said.
“That’s incredibly important.”
The Prime Minister said states that were reopening could learn lessons from NSW, which he dubbed as “battle hardened” from recent months.
Mr Morrison said Australians also needed to accept that checking into venues, maintaining social distancing and adhering to COVID–safe measures were new normal parts of life.
“The task is to reopen safely and then to stay safely open,” he said.
“By staying safely open you’re giving confidence to businesses, to people in jobs, to people who are making decisions about their future and what they’re going to do.
“Stop-start, stop-start, does not provide that.”
The National Cabinet agreement was announced ahead of South Australia confirming it would reopen its border to Victoria on December 1.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also announced a major overhaul of COVID-19 restrictions in her state.
Queenslanders will be allowed to gather in greater numbers, but there is no easing of its hot spot declarations, which dictate who can travel into the state freely.
Sourced By: ABC News
