Australia borders to stay closed until mid-2022

Australia’s federal government doesn’t expect the country’s border to open until mid to late 2022, according to a note within the 2021 federal budget.  “Inbound and outbound international travel is expected to remain low through to mid-2022, after which gradual recovery in international tourism is assumed to occur.” Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison previously raised hopes that the borders would reopen in October this year, but a slower than expected vaccine rollout has caused delays to that timeline. At the moment, the only avenue for Australians to travel overseas for holiday is through the Trans-Tasman travel bubble with New Zealand, which has been open as of April.  Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said it was a cautious assumption that the international borders will gradually reopen from the middle of 2022.  (ABC News)  (9 News)