Tag Archives: oceania

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Full list of quarantine-free countries Australians can fly to

Australians will soon be able to travel to countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy, the US and Greece without having to spend a single day in quarantine.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has provided a list of countries in which Australians can travel to without having to spend time in mandatory isolation.

Each of the destinations require incoming Australians to be fully vaccinated, to have a valid visa or travel permit, and for COVID-19 tests to be performed prior to or on arrival to the destination.

LIVE UPDATES: Thousands of Aussie holidays cancelled despite border reopenings

Passengers at Melbourne Airport Terminal 3

Currently fully vaccinated Australians can travel to the following countries without having to quarantine:

  • United Kingdom
  • Italy
  • Greece
  • Germany
  • United States of America
  • South Africa
  • Canada

Other destinations, such as tropical hotspot Fiji, will require visitors to quarantine for two days in a resort hotel after 1 December 2020.

Travel to Singapore currently requires incoming visitors to quarantine, but quarantine-free entry will be allowed from 8 November 2021 if the traveller holds a Vaccinated Travel Pass and has COVID-19 insurance.

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Passengers at Sydney Airport. At present it is difficult to both leave or enter Australia.

Currently the quarantine requirements for international visitors arriving in Australia depend on which state or territory they arrive in.

This morning the Federal Government revealed that fully vaccinated Australians will no longer require an exemption, or have to apply to the Home Affairs department to leave the country from Monday.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said the decision to scrap travel exemptions was in line with Australia's rising vaccination rate and the Federal Government's reopening plan.

"Our first priority is Australian citizens and permanent residents and today we are delivering on that by removing restrictions on fully-vaccinated Australians travelling out of Australia," Ms Andrews said.

"The easing of these restrictions is possible thanks to our impressive national vaccination rates, and I thank all those who have done the right thing and rolled up their sleeve."

Australia's international borders have been closed to everyone but Australian citizens, permanent residents, immediate family members since March 2020.

However strict flight caps in place to handle mandatory hotel quarantine, which costs $3000, have prevented Australians from getting home.

Currently more than 40,000 are registered with authorities as wanting to get back.

However, NSW, Victoria and ACT are removing all quarantine from Monday. Quarantine rules for other states vary.

These borders are closed until December 17, 2021.

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Cruise firms cancel thousands more holidays amid ongoing uncertainty

Thousands of Aussies have had their cruises holidays cancelled for next year amid ongoing uncertainty about when ships will be allowed to sail again.

Cruise firms Princess and P&O have both announced cancellations well into 2022, meaning the $5b industry will then have been on hold for two years.

Ships remain banned from Australian waters until December 17, but the Federal Government has not said yet if and when that ban will be extended.

READ MORE: Fully vaccinated Australians will be able to leave the country without exemption from Monday

Princess is cancelling as far ahead until March 14, with four sailings on Coral Princess affected.

That is despite NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet saying he's keen to get cruising restarted.

The Federal Government also told 9News said there's "no reason" why they can't resume this summer once the nation hits 80 per cent fully vaccinated, which is just weeks away as the number is now at almost 75 per cent.

As a result of the uncertainty, cruise firms have been gradually culling cruises months ahead with the busy summer season now a washout.

P&O said in a statement it's now extending the stoppage until February 14.

Meanwhile, Princess is cancelling as far ahead until March 14, with four sailings on Coral Princess affected.

LIVE UPDATES: Warning for unvaccinated Victorians

A few weeks ago, another firm, Royal Caribbean said its cruises were off until the end of March, including for megaship Ovation of the Seas.

Cunard's flagship Queen Mary 2 in Melbourne is affected by the cancellations.

Carnival has cancelled until Feb 7 and luxury line Cunard has also cancelled its planned Australia sailings until March 9.

P&O Cruises Australia and Carnival Cruises Australia President Sture Myrmell said they were "disappointed" for guests but also suppliers who rely on the ships such as food suppliers, engineers, entertainers and travel agents.

READ MORE: Aussie actress who had stroke after COVID-19 jab still fiercely supports vaccination, says husband

"With society rapidly reopening including social gathering and travel just weeks away, there is a vital need for a pathway for the staged resumption of domestic cruising," he said.

"Our guests have made it clear they want to cruise again and we look forward to welcoming them on board as soon as possible supported by comprehensive protocols based on the world's best public health practice and standards."

Guests will have to be vaccinated to sail, and testing rules will also be in place.

READ MORE: Aussie companies call for urgent re-start of cruise industry

As reported by 9News, cruises have restarted in the rest of the world, and with Aussies allowed to leave the country without permission from Monday, people could take a cruise overseas before at home.

Joel Katz, Managing Director Australasia, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said they need answers from the government so they can prepare ships to return, which will take a few months.

"These latest cruise cancellations are the result of the uncertainty our industry faces in Australia while there is no agreed plan in place for cruising's resumption," he said.

"Australia is now one of the only major cruise markets in the world where governments have yet to confirm detailed arrangements for future cruise operations.

"In other countries, around three million people have already sailed successfully under stringent new health measures."

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P&O cruise ship Iona arrives in Southampton, England where cruising has resumed.

A spokesman for the Australian Government said the resumption of cruise operations "continues to be considered".

"Once 80 per cent vaccination has been reached there is no reason why domestic and international cruising cannot begin this summer in a similar way to the opening up of international aviation," he told 9News.

"The Government continues to work with the states and the Northern Territory on the process moving forward, including quarantine arrangements for the predominantly international crew and for foreign passengers."

According to the Port Authority of NSW, 1240 cruise ships visited 47 Australian ports in 2019.

Passengers, crew and cruise firms spent $2.5 billion, with Sydney the main port but regional areas also benefitting.

READ MORE: International travel opens up for fully vaccinated Australians

Almost 30 passengers on the Ruby Princess ship died after the virus spread on board at the start of the pandemic, with NSW Health blamed after it then tore through the country when passengers disembarked.

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Expert explains 'giant' hail phenomenon

The Sunshine State has been lashed by severe thunder and hailstorms in the last week, including 16cm chunks of ice that broke Australian records and wreaked havoc on the Mackay region.

Last week, a teenager was struck by lightning in the Gold Coast and last night, a suspected tornado and more hail touched down near Bundaberg, adding to the slew of freak weather events.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) confirmed the period of wild weather isn't over, warning residents to prepare for more bouts of "giant" hail.

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A leading hail researcher from the Bureau of Meteorology, Dr Joshua Soderholm, has explained the unusual phenomenon.

"This is a time of the year when surface temperatures are warm enough to promote the development of intense thunderstorms, but you also need the accompanying ingredients of strong winds and cool air in the upper atmosphere to support hail growth," Dr Soderholm said.

He added that severe hailstorms, like the ones experienced in parts of Queensland and New South Wales, are most common in spring and early summer, requiring very specific conditions.

READ MORE: International travel opens up for fully vaccinated Australians

Flooding Coffs Harbour hail wild weather

The BoM confirmed the giant hail measuring 16cm in Yalboroo, near Mackay, last week had eclipsed previous Australian records of 14cm.

Recent storms in Coffs Harbour, in NSW, also produced small drops of hail, which accumulated like snow on the ground.

"Hail starts as water vapour near the ground. This condenses into tiny water droplets, cooling as it rises inside a thunderstorm updraft, collecting really cold water that's below freezing," Dr Soderholm said.

"This freezing water is called supercooled water and the longer the droplets – and eventually ice – fly through the supercooled water within the hailstorm updraft, the bigger it grows.

"So, whenever you see giant or large amounts of hail on the ground, a lot has had to happen for it to get there.

"It is also why there is not hail in every storm."

https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1452911372468097025

The BoM has warned that more severe thunderstorms are predicted for parts of the country this week.

The severe weather season is predicted to last until April 2022.