Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Bragg for the question. As we have done throughout the entire pandemic, the Morrison government has acted quickly but cautiously to protect the livelihoods and lives of Australians. On 28 November the minister for health signed a biosecurity determination preventing people who have been in an omicron high-risk country in the previous 14 days from entering Australia unless they are Australian citizens, permanent residents or immediate family members of a citizen or are otherwise exempt. Omicron high-risk countries for this determination are the eight southern African countries of Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Direct flights from these countries will not be permitted until 12 December. In addition, and based on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Australia, the national security committee of cabinet has taken the necessary and temporary decision to pause the next step to safely reopen Australia to vaccinated visa-holders, including skilled and student cohorts, until 15 December. This includes the reopening to Japan and Korea. This temporary pause will ensure Australia can gather the information we need to better understand the omicron variant, including the efficacy of the vaccine; the range of illness, including whether it may generate more mild symptoms; and the level of transmission. As is the case currently, all persons entering Australia must make an Australia Travel Declaration before they arrive. Again, on behalf of the government, I can assure all Australians we are taking the cautious approach we have had throughout the pandemic to protect the lives and livelihoods of Australians.