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Confusion reigned on Friday when newly appointed NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced that from 1 November, the NSW Government will remove quarantine requirements and caps for overseas arrivals, which the Commonwealth Government recognises as fully vaccinated with a TGA-approved vaccine.
You can read his announcement by CLICKING HERE
Great stuff and while he added, “Helping Australians stranded abroad get home before the end of the year”, he made one massive error in that he did not specify that this policy will only apply to Australian citizens.
Perrottet’s announcement sent the media, the travel industry and many others into a flurry of activity and excitement, believing or even interpreting, and many media reporting from what he said, that international travel to NSW was opening up fully on November 1, but of course, that was clearly not the case.
Why?
Well, most important is that the decision when Australian borders to travel in or out of the country open up again is a Federal responsibility and decision, not a State or Territory one.
Perrottet’s announcement should have been more specific and related to the removal of quarantine requirements and caps for overseas arrivals in NSW only, which it did, but it did not say that it meant Australians and their families only!
The Prime Minister had already announced on October 1, 2021, that fully vaccinated Australians will travel overseas when their state or territory reaches 80%, adding, “And that will enable Australians who are fully vaccinated, and Australians and residents [presumed to mean permanent residents, but also not clear] of Australia who is overseas, who are fully vaccinated, to travel again.”
You can read the Prime Minister’s October 1, 2021 announcement by CLICKING HERE
Back to Premier Perrottet, who had said that the easing of restrictions and return of overseas travellers would help reunite families and be a significant boost for the economy”, as this was also misleading in that he appeared to be referring to all overseas travellers and not just Australians and their families!
He added, “Welcoming back fully vaccinated travellers will not only mean families and friends can be home in time for Christmas, it will also give our economy a major boost”, again with one glaring omission in that he did not say this only applied to Australians and their families.

In the meantime, over in Kirribilli House, the alarm bells must have been ringing, because only shortly after the NSW Premier’s announcement, the Prime Minister made an appearance to announce that only Australians and residents [presumed to mean permanent residents, but also not clear] and their immediate families would be allowed to avoid hotel quarantine.

The Prime Minister also added, “I want to stress that, for the other states and territories and I have advised the premiers and chief ministers it is about Australian residents and citizens first,” adding, “The Commonwealth Government has made no decision to allow other visa holders to come to Australia under these arrangements”.
He said, “They are decisions for the Commonwealth Government and when we can make that decision down the track, obviously in New South Wales, they will do so if we vaccinated them without having to quarantine.”
Morrison was asked whether Perrottet jumped the gun in suggesting tourists and international travellers would be allowed in, saying the premier understood that was a decision for the Federal government, adding, “I will progress steadily but carefully and I welcome this first step” and “I think it is a good step.”
Morris confirmed that the NSW decision, however, would allow Australian residents [presumed to mean permanent residents and citizens, but also not clear] decide to travel abroad to fly into Sydney without having to isolate, adding that if they don’t live in New South Wales, it would be a matter for other state and territory leaders to determine whether they had to quarantine when they cross domestic borders.
You can read the Prime Minister’s 15 October 2021 announcement by CLICKING HERE
So, in summary for clarification, my interpretation is:-
From November 1, 2021, and applicable to NSW:

  • If you are Australian citizens [and presumably permanent residents, but also not clear] and you fly into NSW from overseas, you are fully vaccinated with a TGA-approved vaccine and have tested negative before departing, you and your family will not have to quarantine and there will be no hotel caps in NSW.
  • If you are Australian citizens [and presumably permanent residents, but also not clear] and you fly into NSW from overseas as above, but live in another state or territory and after arriving in NSW, you travel to that state or territory, abide by any conditions they require including border passes, hotel or home quarantine and caps.

General and applicable to all states and territories:

  • The Federal Government has said that when a State or Territory reaches 80% double vaccination, its residents can travel overseas and return to Australia, but will be subject to any quarantine applicable in any State or Territory. I have not advised how that will all be managed and also some states and Territories do not agree with that decision and may not accept it.
  • Other international travellers, who are not Australian, cannot fly anywhere into Australia, including NSW, unless provided with an exemption until the Federal Government has decided regarding inbound international travel.

I hope this clarifies this confusion–if not please ask me questions you wish in the comments box below.
In the meantime, when will our various governments speak with each other and get their communication acts together?
Written by John Alwyn-Jones, special Correspondent Travel and Tourism