The National Party is launching a petition calling on the Government to get a move on with the trans-Tasman travel bubble.
'There's no good reason why we can't have quarantine-free travel with Australia right now. Australia did it for New Zealanders last October, but our Government won't return the favour," says Leader of the Opposition Judith Collins.
'Australia has proven it can be done safely, but after nine months and 12 rounds of talks, our Government still hasn't moved.”
Collins says people arriving from Australia would be required to show evidence of a negative pre-departure test within 72 hours of travel, but not have to go into isolation on arrival in New Zealand.
'Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he's keen for Australians to come to New Zealand and support our tourism sector, so what are we waiting for?
'Our tourism industry is on its knees, a bubble would be the lifeline they need.
'Managed isolation is overrun with long delays because 40 per cent of places are being taken up by Kiwis returning from Australia where there is little, if any, risk of Covid-19
'A bubble will free up space, meaning more room for Kiwis abroad trying to get home and our critical workers.
'New Zealanders deserve a travel bubble with Australia and the benefits it brings. There's no reason for the Government to continue to delay.
'Like New Zealand, Australia has done a great job at eliminating Covid-19.
'It's time the Government takes the next step and opens up the trans-Tasman bubble.”
A link to the petition can be found here.



7 comments
Risk
Posted on 16-03-2021 10:12 | By Johnney
One of the greatest risks is lumping Covid free Australians in MIQ with the rest of the travellers from elsewhere
What's better
Posted on 16-03-2021 10:16 | By gottabekidding
A covid free nz or a few ozys coming here with no quarantine, get real judith
Hard Yards
Posted on 16-03-2021 10:22 | By gincat
We have done the hard yards keeping covid at bay. Be foolish to relax before time for vaccines to have an effect. Having a negative test before travel is nonsense, as shown with recent cases .Was it not Australia who closed the border on own last community out break?
WOW ?
Posted on 16-03-2021 10:50 | By kiwi_brat2003
Negative pre-departure test within 72 hours of travel. Leaves 3 days where person could be exposed with the VIRUS before flight.Not taking the time delay of the test as well. Would J. Colins take responsibility of virus spreading. NO she would blame the government. Speed in opening up the border now could and probably would remove all the good that everyone has been done .
Open or close
Posted on 16-03-2021 12:00 | By Merlin
Open or close the borders by National depending which week and which Leader National had.They have not thought this through at all has National the petition is purely to try and gain some momentum on their poor poll showing.If you read Chris Hipkins comments in detail you will see how tricky this is not to get peole stranded on either side of the Tasman should their be another lockdown .I am thankful we did not have National in government when the pandemic struck.Pause for a little while whilst the vacine program gets further down the track.
@gottabekidding
Posted on 16-03-2021 15:09 | By Slim Shady
The answer to your question is B. We need some money in the tills. The elimination strategy was always doomed.
A Petition
Posted on 27-03-2021 13:42 | By Merlin
A piece of paper blowing in the wind by National.
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