Transport and Infrastructure Minister Michael McCormack has been ousted as leader of the Nationals and will be replaced by former leader Barnaby Joyce.
Australia’s international border restrictions are likely to be eased via a Europe-style traffic light system that will first be trialled on overseas students, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said at the weekend.
Hopes domestic aviation could rapidly recover from Victoria’s latest lockdown were dashed on Wednesday when the state announced Melburnians won’t be allowed to travel further than 25km from their home when restrictions ease.
Victoria’s lockdown was first imposed last Thursday and was due to last seven days, however, since then the cluster has increased to 67 active cases in the local community.
Health Minister Greg Hunt has reportedly set up a task force to examine how successful vaccination rates would interact with travel rules, and the new incentives could roll out in as little as six weeks’ time.
Australia and New Zealand are currently in discussions over the possible expansion of their existing travel bubble arrangement to the Pacific islands, including New Caledonia, Tahiti and the Cook Islands. According to Trade and Tourism Minister Dan Tehan, the federal governments of Australia and New Zealand are currently deliberating expanding the existing quarantine-free travel bubble