[Australia] Expats risk fines and jail time to return home via New Zealand

Australians with families or jobs overseas are exploiting a loophole in the trans-Tasman bubble to travel to a third country via New Zealand, contravening the government’s strict travel restrictions, Travel Weekly reports.

The bubble opened up on April 19, it allows Australians and New Zealanders to travel between Australia and New Zealand without undergoing 14 days of mandatory quarantine. (Link via original reporting)

However, on April 18 Health Minister Greg Hunt made an amendment to the Biosecurity Act. The amendment requires Australians travelling to New Zealand and then onto another country to provide a signed statement to officials on their return to Australia confirming they travelled beyond New Zealand for a ‘compassionate reason’ or ‘urgent medical treatment that was not reasonably available in Australia or New Zealand’.

Despite this, a spokesperson for Border Force reportedly told Traveller last week that New Zealand authorities would not prevent Australians from travelling to other countries. (Link via original reporting)

The spokesperson said, “Currently, New Zealand does not prevent Australian citizens from leaving New Zealand and travelling onwards overseas. However, anyone arriving into Australia or New Zealand from any other country must enter into quarantine or mandatory isolation as directed by the relevant government departments and health authorities.” 

Those who fail to follow the terms of the Act could face fines of up to $6,660 plus up to $66,600 or five years in jail for not complying with an emergency determination.

More than 4.4 million Australians are dual citizens, making the travel ban a particularly tough challenge for those with family, cultural ties or employment overseas.

The only way for Australians to get an exemption to the travel ban - apart from risking the loophole - is to be approved by the government for compassionate reasons (including serious illness or the death of a family member), urgent business or for trips in excess of three months.

Extensive reporting suggests that such exemptions are very difficult to obtain.

Source: Travel Weekly

Australians with families or jobs overseas are exploiting a loophole in the trans-Tasman bubble to travel to a third country via New Zealand, contravening the government’s strict travel restrictions, Travel Weekly reports.

The bubble opened up on April 19, it allows Australians and New Zealanders to travel between Australia and New Zealand without undergoing 14 days of mandatory quarantine. (Link via original reporting)

However, on April 18 Health Minister Greg Hunt made an amendment to the Biosecurity Act. The amendment requires Australians travelling to New Zealand and then onto another country to provide a signed statement to officials on their return to Australia confirming they travelled beyond New Zealand for a ‘compassionate reason’ or ‘urgent medical treatment that was not reasonably available in Australia or New Zealand’.

Despite this, a spokesperson for Border Force reportedly told Traveller last week that New Zealand authorities would not prevent Australians from travelling to other countries. (Link via original reporting)

The spokesperson said, “Currently, New Zealand does not prevent Australian citizens from leaving New Zealand and travelling onwards overseas. However, anyone arriving into Australia or New Zealand from any other country must enter into quarantine or mandatory isolation as directed by the relevant government departments and health authorities.” 

Those who fail to follow the terms of the Act could face fines of up to $6,660 plus up to $66,600 or five years in jail for not complying with an emergency determination.

More than 4.4 million Australians are dual citizens, making the travel ban a particularly tough challenge for those with family, cultural ties or employment overseas.

The only way for Australians to get an exemption to the travel ban - apart from risking the loophole - is to be approved by the government for compassionate reasons (including serious illness or the death of a family member), urgent business or for trips in excess of three months.

Extensive reporting suggests that such exemptions are very difficult to obtain.

Source: Travel Weekly