Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Queensland opens border to New Zealand
The first flight of Kiwi travellers since Queensland reopened its border to New Zealand are set to arrive at Brisbane airport.
December 12, 2020
Families, loved ones and mates are set to be reunited when the first travellers from New Zealand since the COVID-19 crisis hit touch down in Queensland without the need to quarantine.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk opened the border to NZ residents from 1am on Saturday, with the first flight expected to land in Brisbane about 10.45am.
“I know that is going to mean so much to families that have been missing loved ones for such a long time,” she said.
The decision to lift travel restrictions for travellers from NZ came after the country clocked up 28 days without a locally-acquired virus case.
While people from NZ can now enter Queensland freely, they will still have to go into managed isolation or quarantine when they return home.
Ms Palaszczuk said she was optimistic the NZ government would soon remove mandatory quarantine requirements for arrivals from Australia.
Queensland is also set to open to travellers from Adelaide from 1am on Saturday meaning all Australians will be able to freely enter Queensland for the first time since March.
There were more than 200,000 Kiwis living in Queensland in the 2016 census, making them the largest group of foreign-born residents in the state.
With the easing of coronavirus health restrictions, Queenslanders will also allow socially-distanced dancing at indoor venues from 1am on Monday.