As of April 18, international arrivals into Australia will no longer need to produce a PCR or RAT result before boarding their inbound flight. Previously, a negative test was required within 72 hours of departure in order to be eligible for entry into Australia. All arrivals will still be required to show proof that they have received at least two doses of a vaccine before they enter the country, and some airlines are maintaining their own policy of requiring a negative test result to board an aircraft. Passengers will also be subject to the rules of any layover destinations they transit through on a long-haul journey.
The shift away from the federal government’s once strict Biosecurity Emergency Determination policy is also good news for the return of cruises to Australia, since they were banned on March 15, 2020, in the wake of the Ruby Princess snafu, which allowed hundreds of passengers infected with coronavirus to enter Central Sydney. The first ship to dock in Sydney Harbour since borders were closed more than two years ago arrived in port at the previously dormant Overseas Passenger Terminal on Sunday, April 17. Tug boats carrying celebratory water canons added some fanfare to the arrival of P&O’s Pacific Explorer as it dropped anchor at around 10.30am, although only 250 crew were on board and no passengers. It’s the first vessel of the various cruise fleets that once serviced Pacific voyages to arrive back in the Southern Hemisphere after spending much of the past two years mothballed in Cyprus. It will make its first journey with passengers on May 31, when it sets sail to Brisbane.
However, while federal red tape has been wound in, individual states will also be able to block cruise ships from entering local waters if they choose. NSW, Victoria and Queensland have already given cruises the green light to recommence, but South Australia, the NT and Western Australia have yet to signal which cruise ships will be welcome on their shores.