Fairfax reports that the federal government has announced an extension of Australia’s international border closure until at least 17 June 2021. This will mean that Australia’s international border will have been shut for 15 months after initially closing on 17 March 2020.
Health Minister Greg Hunt says the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee had recommended the three-month extension of the emergency measures due to factors including the emergence of new COVID-19 variants overseas.
Labor criticised the move, with shadow foreign minister Penny Wong claiming some 40,000 Australians are still stranded overseas. Wong has called on the federal government to take control of quarantine to allow more people to return.
