Australian will stick to plans to start reopening the country only from the middle of next year amid pressure on the ruling conservatives to end the international border closure.
In a television interview on Sunday with the Australian Broadcasting Corp Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said they would follow the medical advice that has served them very well through this crisis.
Australia closed its borders to non-nationals and non-residents in March 2020 and has allowed only limited international arrivals in recent months, mainly citizens returning from abroad.
The closure, combined with snap lockdowns, swift contact tracing and public health compliance have reportedly made Australia’s Covid-19 pandemic control measures among the world’s most effective.
The government’s reopening plans, unveiled this week, have sparked criticism from businesses and industries, as well as politicians within Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s Liberal Party.
However, Tim Wilson, a Liberal Party Member of Parliament from Melbourne, was quoted as saying that international border closures had a temporary place, but was no longer sustainable.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton had also suggested that Australia must start thinking about a reopening strategy once there is high vaccination coverage.
In its budget unveiled last week, the government envisaged that all willing Australians will be vaccinated by the end of the year.
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