Australia likely to keep its borders shut to international travellers till 2021

Australia is likely to keep its borders shut to international travellers till 2021 to contain the spread of COVID-19. Australian Trade Minister Simon Birmingham has announced that one of the reasons that helped Australia to contain the virus successfully was its decision to close down the borders. He added international border restrictions are likely to be there for some time to come.
While talking to the media personnel, he maintained that in terms of open tourist-related travel in or out of Australia, which now remains quite off-the-hook, because of the practicalities of the volumes that are involved and the need for us to keep putting health first. When he was specifically asked if it was more likely to happen next year, he added, "I think that is more likely the case".

It has been three months since an indefinite ban was implemented on international travel due to COVID-19, which made it essential for the Aussies to leave the country only in very limited circumstances. Now, when all the other restrictions across the country are being gradually relaxed as part of the overall roadmap of Australia out of lockdown, jetting overseas doesn’t seem to be on the agenda any time soon.
Therefore, with borders remaining closed, Australian citizens will not be allowed to travel overseas, unless under special exemptions for limited business travel. Referring to this, Birmingham added that the government is looking to ease entry rules for returning citizens, students and other long-term visitors.
He emphasised that as of now, they can simply work through the 14-day quarantine periods that have worked so well till now in terms of returning Australians to this country safely.