From the BBC:
“Australia to ease border ban
on some foreign citizens”
Australia says it will begin
significantly relaxing bans on foreigners entering the country, prioritising
certain groups. Skilled migrants and international students, as well as Japan
and South Korean citizens, will be among those allowed entry from 1 December. All
must be fully vaccinated. Australia has implemented some of the world's
tightest border controls since March last year, including on its own citizens. Prime
Minister Scott Morrison called Monday's announcement an "important step
forward". Under the relaxed rules, eligible visa holders will be allowed
to return to Australia without needing a special exemption. That will be an
estimated 200,000 travellers between December and January, the government said.
"Eligible visa holders include skilled workers and student cohorts, as
well as refugees, humanitarians, temporary and provisional visa holders,"
Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews said. They must return a negative Covid
test in the three days before arriving, she added. Fully vaccinated South
Koreans and Japanese who hold a valid visa will also be able to enter without
undergoing quarantine.
The country has begun a phased
re-opening since reaching vaccination targets. More than 85% of Australian
over-16s are now fully vaccinated. The pandemic's chokehold on international
travel has highlighted Australia's economic dependency on foreign labour and
international students. The international education sector earned Australia an
estimated A$40bn (£21bn; $29bn) in 2019, making it the country's fourth-biggest
export after iron ore, coal and gas. Until recently, Australia barred even its
own people from leaving the country under a strategy sometimes dubbed
"Fortress Australia". The policy was praised for helping to suppress
Covid, but it has also controversially separated families. The measure was only
eased in November this year, giving long-awaited freedoms to vaccinated
citizens and their relatives.
^ This is a good sign for both
Australia and the world. ^
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