VH-VZE, a Boeing 737 800, at YMML (Victor Pody)
UPDATED 21 December 2020:
It’s been six weeks since our last update to this article and, against most expectations, Australia was almost fully open before a COVID outbreak in Sydney’s Northern Beaches on Thursday.
Here, we break down the latest rules. As ever, please visit the official sites for more detailed information, the latest updates (particularly from so-called hotspots) and directions for any permits or exemptions you might have to apply for.
Victoria
https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/travel-restrictions-covid-19#travel-within-australia
New rules will see a traffic light permit system introduced for anyone entering from NSW. Those from low-risk “green zones”, initially most of regional NSW, can enter freely; those from “orange zones” are encouraged to take a test on arrival; while those from “red zones” must undertake quarantine.
An update to the zones means that all of Greater Sydney is now a red zone, while the Northern Beaches is a “hot zone” meaning all travel is banned.
Non-Victorian residents who travelled from Greater Sydney face hotel quarantine from midnight Sunday (20 December). However, returning Victorians who cross the border can home quarantine if they come back before midnight Monday – a day later – but afterwards must quarantine in a hotel.
Otherwise, travellers from all states can now enter freely without the need for quarantine. After arrival though, everyone must observe new ‘COVIDSafe’ summer restrictions, which include carrying a face mask with you when you leave home, and wearing it while on public transport or in “large retail venues”, including shopping centres, supermarkets and department stores.
NSW
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/travel-and-transport-advice
NSW is open to all states.
Queensland’s rules are almost identical to Victoria’s (above) but the key difference is the cut-off point was 1am (not midnight) on Monday (for non-residents) and 1am on Tuesday (not midnight) for residents to avoid hotel quarantine.
The two states also seemingly define Greater Sydney slightly differently, with Queensland considering the area all of Sydney, and south down to Wollongong, Wollondilly, the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and the Central Coast.
Otherwise, Queensland is now open to all states and New Zealand. The state reopened to Greater Sydney and Victoria on 1 December, and to South Australia on 12 December.
Western Australia
https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/covid-19-coronavirus-travel-wa
WA has reinstated its “hard border” with all of NSW, meaning everyone from that state will be turned away. This also applies to anyone who may have been in NSW since 11 December and hasn’t completed 14 days in a lower risk state or territory. WA had only opened to NSW and Victoria on 8 December.
Otherwise, the state is now open to the rest of Australia, except SA, where arrivals now have to quarantine for 14 days on arrival. Should SA remain COVID-free, restrictions could potentially be lifted on Christmas Day.
ACT
https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/stay-safe-and-healthy/quarantine-and-isolation/quarantine-information-for-people-who-are-well
https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/community/travel
https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/community/travel/nsw
The ACT will now require all people entering the territory from Greater Sydney to quarantine at home for 14 days from Monday. Otherwise, the ACT border is now fully open to all other states and territories.
Northern Territory
https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/travel/quarantine/hotspots-covid-19
The NT is asking all those from Greater Sydney to hotel quarantine for 14 days, effective immediately. Otherwise, the territory is now open to all of Australia, though entrants must fill out a border entry form.
Tasmania
https://coronavirus.tas.gov.au/travellers-and-visitors/essential-travellers
https://coronavirus.tas.gov.au/travellers-and-visitors/coming-to-tasmania
The state has declared the Greater Sydney area as a medium risk zone, meaning all entrants must self-quarantine for 14 days on arrival. Those from the Northern Beaches are not permitted to enter the state at all.
Otherwise, Tasmania is now open to all other states, though all entrants must complete the Tas e-Travel form.
South Australia
https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/restrictions-and-responsibilities/travel-restrictions
Anyone who has visited a designated hotspot location, detailed here, must self-isolate immediately for 14 days and take COVID testing. This now includes Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong. Otherwise, SA is now open to all other states.
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51 comments
South Australia doesn’t exist?
Dear Adam, I live in South Australia and until today I was pretty sure that state was a part of Australia. Now I have my doubts…
What about SA? A glaring omission!
Last paragraph!
Is that the complete list of states and territories?
Is the complete list of states and territories?
Hello. South Australia is still here?
No notes on South Australia? Disgrace.
South Australia dropped off the map?
South Aust ?
Apparently South Australia isnt part of Australia!
You’re happy to take money from subscribing South Australians but they don’t even rate a mention in your article.
South Australia ?
What about South Australia ?
EXPLAINED: BORDER CLOSURES IN EVERY AUSTRALIAN STATE AND TERRITORY……. except SA
South Australia?
South Australia?
You said that the report included every State. What about South Australia ?
Forget something? South Australia
Useful article but South Australia is missing?
Doesn’t South Australia exist .We here,don’t seem to have a pandemic if you go by the usual bias of eastern state news reporting.Thought you guys were above that.
WHAT ABOUT SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RESTRICTIONS FOR N.S.W. TRAVELERS
Has South Australia just dropped off the map?
South Australia?
Am I not reading correctly or has South Australia been left off the list?
Oops! I missed it. Saw it after writing the last comment. Apologies
What about South Australia?
South Australia?
To everyone (and there were *a lot* of you!) who commented on this, I’m genuinely sorry we didn’t have SA in! I may be a POM, but I didn’t forget you, I think I just forgot to paste it into our backend from Microsoft Word, and then added it in shortly afterwards.
I’m going to try and keep this article updated and also repost it from time to time. If you see any mistakes or things I’ve missed, then write down a comment. These rules are ridiculously confusing. I personally think there needs to be some consistency nationwide on these, too.
Surely it makes no sense that one state expects hotel quarantine, another is happy for you to be at home? And what is the legality around denying citizens the right to return home? I’ll keep my eye on this.
Thanks,
Adam
Tasmania is delighted to have been mentioned.
Adam I think you will find in a health emergency you can be directed in various ways to ensure your own and others safety. Note when at home quarantine was in vogue around 15% ignored it. Given the proportion testing positive in hotel quarantine it beggars belief for me that Australian Aviation would be questioning such a proven sensible precaution. As many have said the whole rights thing in this context is a furphy. What about people’s right to have their health and well being protected.
Hi Patrick,
I haven’t given an opinion on these at all, but just pointed out that it’s very confusing for passengers or residents when there is so much inconsistency between states within one country. We have, worldwide, seen planes literally turn around in mid-air because airlines are confused about the rules. For many passengers, it’s even harder to understand.
Thanks,
Adam
Adam your phase was ‘And what is the legality around denying citizens the right to return home?’ as I said the right to health and safety trumps that one, as do emergency regulations, which can change at short notice. These are not ‘normal’ times.
Adam I gather from your comments that you would prefer one rule across the entire country to provide clarity for all in the fight against Covid-19.
Clearly to be SAFE then, the only option is to set all rules to the worst current scenario within Australian borders, ie current rules set out in Victoria should be applied country wide.
According to Andrew Marshall, that is incorrect. South Australia DOES EXIST!
As I live in Victoria and can’t enter nsw can my partner still visit me ? I live country Vic and she lives in Albury. How can we make this work ? It’s getting to much now
Hi Brendan,
I *think* she can Brendan, but I would urge you to check the official sites. Sorry to hear that, too. I know this is a very tough time for many of our readers.
Thanks,
Adam
RIP South Australia
When qantas goes bankrupt the state premiers and cheif minister can pay the employees enttitlments
When will our Prime minister wake up that any state that wants to keep their borders closed apparently do not need or deserve jobkeeper or jobseeker payments as apparently their state is doing just fine Quantas tried to tell states they were struggling and they refused to open up now they get criticised for putting off staff and the leader of the Labour Party keeps on about extending payments to all these states .Mark my words when this is all over they will screaming for us to holiday in their states ,it’s all political labour against liberal
Thanks Adam. What you have done also, is informed us of the attention span of the average person who posts on the internet. Our attention spans have become alarmingly short. I find lately, that if you cannot provide most, with an answer in half a dozen words, they lose attention.
Most people on the net, merely read a few lines, and rush into print. SA. gone? Indeed! Not that I am canvassing the matter that it should be. 😉 Under D. Dunstan, even a few of my SA navy mates, reckoned it “shoulda been”. 😛
At school, in English Comprehension classes, we were taught to read, consider, reread, and then lay out the “skeleton”.
Then , and only then, write your reply.
I think this is what makes successful commercial pilots such special animals, they read in detail, and also comprehend.
Regards….Marum Katze.
Those of us of a certain age might remember a plan by Western Australia to secede from the rest of Australia.
Upon observing the machanisations of the various State governments, including but not limited to the comment by the Queensland Premier that “Queensland Hospitals are for Queenslanders”, one could be forgiven for thinking Australia is a continent of seven countries.
Hopefully, when the Virus Crisis eventually ends, sanity will once again return with respect to a united Australia.
@MacC….God mate! I even remember Prince Leonard of Hutt. WA.
Founded 21 April 2020.
WA. would have to be the most parochial state, followed by Queensland. (I am an Queenslander)
Just look at the way Anastasia Pal-a-no-one goes on, closely followed by Gladys Be-a-jerk-again.
Honestly. One would wonder if any of these state premiers ever look in a mirror. You can see how, if it were not for the process of democracy, they would soon become tyrants.
Regards….Marum.
The AHPPC are the experts, and they have never recommended the closure of State borders.
Border closures should be considered unconstitutional and the federal government should have the right to override state governments and strike down every border closure! Last time I read, Australia is a country, not an EU-like supranational union of multiple sovereign states sharing the same continent!
The last 6 months has been all the case needed to get rid of states.
States have playing appalling politics of the basest level and cost the country billions.
The majority of State Premiers, with the exception of NSW have panicked and wrecked big chunks of their own states and collectively caused a huge headache for future generations of Australians.
Many have been cruel and callous and cynical in their management, others have been sheep like and bleated “I’m following the CHO or CMO like sheep as if that was the only factor.
It’s been an embarrassment to be both a Queenslander in particular, and an Australian.
If we don’t learn from this shambolic slow moving car smash the country has no hope…
SA resident since 21 March, needing to return to Batemans Bay NSW, after fire destroyed our home. Checking to see if we can do this now. Thanks.
To Stuart Lawrence, above…..
To quote you, ‘when QANTAS goes bankrupt’. Really? Don’t know who’s feeding you that falsehood, but you should really get your facts’ straight, before outlandishly commenting.
That won’t be happening, due multiple reasons’.
The only airline that’s ‘bankrupt’ is Virgin, who’s been in that state for months’ now. They were just about to shutdown, when COVID-19 struck the final blow.
Why do you think NZ bowed out from them Oct 2019?
Bain’s not signed off on their purchase yet. Still along way to go. That’s why its’ former CEO & CFO are still working, trying to sort out the huge mess that is its’ finances, or lack thereof.
No supplier will allow ‘credit’ to them now, & possibly into the future.
In 1788 Captain Arthur Phillip became Governor of New South Wales, which at that time included all of present Australia except Western Australia. It also included New Zealand!! The Colonial Office in its wisdom (!) subsequently approved NZ to leave and separate colonies to be established – Tasmania was the first then others followed and the results of this are the States as these are now. Now all of this was fine until something really went wrong as it has now, and the States have decided to do their own thing, to the detriment of the country and its citizens. I am currently a resident of Queensland but have been a resident of NSW, Victoria and the ACT (as well as some overseas countries), but I am a citizen of AUSTRALIA!!!
Listening to the WA Premier today bragging about how his state was “carrying” the other states, how the WA isolation strategies were somehow superior, totally ignoring the accident of geography. So, someone living in Albury NSW, or Grafton, both situated 600km from Sydney’s Northern beaches, is now banned from WA unless you are prepared to quarantine for 14 days on arrival.
Why ‘so called hotspot’. Are you suggesting the northern beaches is not a hot spot. They are so labelled by governments. One thinks that Australian aviation thinks Australian governments are over reacting such as references to sensible precautions as being ‘bizarre’. Good to check what is happening in the rest of tge world right now. These places called hotspots are exactly that.