Border restrictions enforced in response to COVID-19 will be dropped this coming week, with arriving passengers no longer required to declare their vaccination status or obtain a travel exemption.
Changes to the Biosecurity Act, coming into effect from 12.01am on Wednesday, were made following advice from Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly that it was no longer necessary for travellers to declare their vaccination status.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said the changes will make it easier for travelling Australians to return home as well as allow more international tourists and workers to come.
It will also reduce delays that have plagued airports since travel resumed, O’Neil said.
“Removing these requirements will not only reduce delays in our airports but will encourage more visitors and skilled workers to choose Australia as a destination,” she said in a statement.
“And for Australian citizens, with the removal of these requirements, returning home will be much easier.
“I know anyone who has travelled internationally since the borders have opened will find this as one less thing to worry about – especially as more Australians get back to travelling overseas.”
Travellers must, however, still comply with any remaining COVID-19 requirements of airlines and shipping operators, as well as other countries and states and territories – including wearing masks on inbound international flights and domestic flights.
The Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) required people entering Australia to provide their contact details as well as declare their vaccination status, where they had been in the past 14 days, and commit to following quarantine and testing requirements.
The DPD will end on Wednesday but is expected to return in the future.
“While in time it will replace the paper-based incoming passenger card, it needs a lot more work to make it user-friendly,” O’Neil said.
Those arriving by sea will also no longer need to complete a Maritime Travel Declaration.
-7NEWS
