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Australia could form travel bubbles with South Korea and Japan after plans to travel to Singapore edged closer
Australia could form travel bubbles with South Korea and Japan after holding ‘productive discussions’ with Singapore.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said Australia is working with Singapore to set up a bubble in July and believes more bubbles will open up as the coronavirus vaccine rollout continues across the globe.
Australians would be allowed to travel to Singapore without approval from the Department of Home Affairs, provided they have been vaccinated for coronavirus.
Singaporeans who have had the the jab would be able to travel to Australia without having to complete two weeks of hotel quarantine.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said Australia is working with Singapore to set up a bubble in July
‘We have been in productive discussions with Singapore, and we have that travel bubble with New Zealand that is one way at the moment,’ Mr McCormack said.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has yet to allow Australians to freely travel to NZ, frustrated with Australian states flicking the switch from open borders, or ‘green zone’, to closed, or ‘red zone’, on short notice in response to NZ Covid-19 outbreaks.
New Zealand could be included in a three-way travel bubble with Australia and Singapore.
‘As the vaccine rolls out across Australia and elsewhere, we are confident that we will have these travel bubbles,’ Mr McCormack said.
‘And, who knows, after Singapore maybe South Korea or Japan?
‘Importantly, we get students back in and returning Australians back in.’
It may also be possible for people from other countries to enter Australia via Singapore after completing quarantine there.
Trade Minister Dan Tehan has already held talks with his Singaporean counterpart Chan Chun Sing about the plan.
‘Singapore are very keen to work with Australia on a proof of vaccination certificate and we agreed our officials should work together on this,’ he said.
‘I’m scheduled to travel to Singapore in the coming months and this will be a key topic of discussions as we seek to explore a travel bubble with Singapore.’]
The plan would help bring home some 40,000 Australians who are currently stranded overseas.
More to come
