20 January, 2026, 10:28 pm Central - 25°C Rain

Australian borders likely to stay closed until next year

Australian borders likely to stay closed until next year

By Dhanjay Deo
19/06/2020
An empty Sydney Airport. [image: Yahoo Finance]

Australia’s Tourism Minister, Simon Birmingham says the nation's border is likely to stay closed until next year.

Simon Birmingham said the decision to shut the border was one of the main reasons for Australia's success in suppressing COVID-19 and it would not be lifted for general travel any time soon.

Birmingham says tourist-related travel in or out of Australia, remains quite some distance off.

Asked whether that meant the border would not open until next year, he said, he thinks that is more likely the case.

The Australian Government is working on a couple of exceptions to Australia's border closure, including allowing travel between Australia and New Zealand.

Talks between the two countries are underway and an expert panel has submitted a report to both governments on how it might work.

There is still no time-frame on when it might happen though, with New Zealand's Foreign Minister warning the plans are being held up by state border closures in Australia.

[Source: ABC]


FEATURE NEWS
FNU requested this move, it is not a takeover - VC
Although the reassignment of the Fiji National University to the Prime Minister is yet to be done through a Bill to amend the FNU Act in parliament, V...
5 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Free children’s heart screenings at Ratu Sukuna Park tomorrow
The Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Heart Screening Centre will conduct free heart screenings for children aged 16 and below at Ratu Sukuna ...
4 hours ago

Supermarket under investigation after Anchor Butter sold at $20.58 instead of $15.69
A prominent supermarket in Laucala Bay has readjusted the price of a 454g salted Anchor Butter after it was found selling the price-controlled item ...
5 hours ago

Consolidation hearing for Flagstaff and Rewa Street drug cases on Thursday
The hearing on consolidating charges against Flagstaff drug accused Joshua Ravula with Rewa Street drug accused Yu Yang Feng, Minghui Dai and Zhou ...
5 hours ago

UniFiji medical students gain rare access to live heart surgeries at PSH
Senior medical students from the University of Fiji are gaining rare hands-on exposure to complex heart surgeries at PSH Hospital under the guidance ...
5 hours ago

Referendum Bill falls short on democratic standards - FCOSS
The Fiji Council of Social Services has warned that the National Referendum Bill, while strong on procedure and anti-fraud safeguards, falls short of ...
5 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Referendum Bill risks undermining democracy - Dialogue Fiji
The National Referendum Bill risks undermining democracy by criminalising political expression, enabling state overreach and excluding young people ...
7 hours ago

Shocking move : FNU reassigned under PM
The Fiji National University is being reassigned under the Prime Minister's Office Ministerial Portfolio via the Ministry of Strategic Planning, ...
10 hours ago

Shocking move : FNU reassigned under PM
The Fiji National University is being reassigned under the Prime Minister's Office Ministerial Portfolio via the Ministry of Strategic Planning, ...
11 hours ago

TOP