Lexi Webster
Australia has had some of the world's strictest COVID-19 border controls, and its citizens have faced some confusion over whether they need to quarantine upon returning to the country. While some states like New South Wales (NSW) have pushed to reopen to international tourists, the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has been more cautious, emphasising that the country is not opening up to everyone coming back to Australia at the moment. However, vaccinated Australians returning to the country have been subject to quarantine requirements, with some states like South Australia and Victoria trialling home-based quarantine with smartphone apps that use facial recognition and GPS tracking technology to monitor compliance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Information available as of August 23, 2021, and November 8, 2021 |
| Returning Australians | Required to quarantine when entering other states |
| International travellers | Not allowed as of November 8, 2021 |
| Home-based quarantine | A trial is being run in South Australia with an app that uses facial recognition and GPS tracking technology |
| Quarantine app | People in home-based quarantine in South Australia must download an app and provide proof of their location within 15 minutes when contacted at random |
| Vaccination | Those in home-based quarantine in South Australia must be fully vaccinated |
| Quarantine capacity | Technology is being used to increase quarantine capacity and reduce reliance on police officers |
| Interstate holidays | Unlikely in the immediate future as of May 20, 2020 |
| State borders | Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, and Northern Territory had border closures in place as of May 2020 |
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What You'll Learn
Home quarantine trial in South Australia
Australia has implemented various quarantine measures for returning citizens and international travellers since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2021, South Australia commenced the nation's inaugural home quarantine trial for returning South Australian residents from interstate locations such as New South Wales and Victoria. This trial was intended to alleviate pressure on quarantine hotels and enhance the state's capacity for secure and safe home quarantining.
The trial involved 50 South Australian residents who volunteered to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine period in their homes. Participants were required to be fully vaccinated and have a suitable place for isolation, separate from other family members. To facilitate the trial, the South Australian Government introduced the Home Quarantine SA app, which utilised geo-location and facial recognition technology to monitor compliance. The app enabled users to access their testing schedule, perform daily symptom checks, access health resources, and confirm their location with regular check-ins.
The app's innovative technology ensured that participants remained compliant with their home quarantine directives and secured their personal information. If an individual could not verify their location or identity when prompted, SA Health would notify SA Police, who would conduct an in-person check. This electronic monitoring system aimed to reduce the need for physical police checks and provide more efficient alternatives to hotel quarantining.
Premier Steven Marshall emphasised that the home quarantine trial was a significant step in South Australia's COVID recovery efforts. He highlighted the state's successful utilisation of the COVID SAfe Check In feature in the MySA GOV app for contact tracing and outbreak management. Marshall also expressed his hope that the trial would pave the way for improved outcomes for future individuals requiring quarantine. The trial's results were to be reported to the national cabinet, with the potential for expansion to other states if deemed successful.
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International tourists not welcome in November 2021
Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic involved closing its international borders to all non-residents in March 2020. In November 2021, Australia began to reopen its borders, with a complete lifting of travel restrictions taking place in July 2022. However, international tourists were not welcome in November 2021.
On November 1, 2021, the Premier of New South Wales (NSW), Mr Perrottet, declared that the state was "opening Sydney and NSW to the world." He stated that NSW would welcome people from any country as long as they were fully vaccinated. However, Prime Minister Scott Morrison clarified that the borders were not open to everyone and that only Australian citizens, residents, and their immediate families could enter the country at that time. He explicitly stated, "We are not opening up to everyone coming back to Australia at the moment. I want to be clear about that."
Mr Morrison emphasized that the decision to open borders was the prerogative of the Commonwealth and Federal Government and not the state governments. Despite NSW's intentions, Australia did not issue tourist visas to travellers from most countries in November 2021. The country prioritized the return of its citizens and permanent residents, along with specific categories of fully vaccinated travellers, such as international students, skilled migrants, working holidaymakers, and refugees with humanitarian, temporary, or provisional family visas.
The gradual reopening of Australia's borders in November 2021, even without welcoming international tourists, had a significant impact on tourism statistics. There was a notable increase in international visitors, with a total of over 2 million tourists visiting Australia in 2022, marking an increase of more than 1200% compared to the previous year. However, the numbers were still significantly lower than the pre-COVID-19 period.
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Interstate travel discouraged in July 2020
As of July 2020, Australia has strict quarantine rules for both local travellers and international arrivals. Interstate travel was discouraged during this time due to the varying quarantine requirements of each state and territory, which travellers were responsible for complying with.
Each state and territory has its own regulations for international travellers arriving in Australia, with some states mandating a 14-day quarantine period at designated facilities in the port of arrival. These states include Queensland, where travellers will be transported to their arranged hotel upon arrival, and the Northern Territory, where the quarantine fee for an individual is $2,500 for the full 14-day period. In South Australia, travellers were required to quarantine at a location nominated by South Australia Health for 14 days from the date of arrival in Australia. Travellers were also required to pay quarantine fees, with an individual adult being charged $3,000.
Travellers were not permitted to travel domestically until they had completed the mandatory quarantine period. This included travel to their homes and places of work. They were also required to fill out a form confirming their understanding of the mandatory quarantine period.
In addition to quarantine requirements, there are restrictions on what travellers can bring into the country, a particular state, or even a specific agricultural area. For example, at the time, fresh fruit was confiscated when crossing the state border into South Australia, even if it had been purchased within the exclusion zone.
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Hotel quarantine in Victoria ended in September 2021
As of November 2021, Australian citizens, residents, and their immediate families who are fully vaccinated can return to Australia without quarantining. However, they will still face quarantine requirements when entering other states. For example, those entering Queensland or Victoria from another state will still need to quarantine.
In August 2021, Victoria went into a seven-day lockdown, which was its sixth lockdown. This was due to a COVID-19 case that was picked up in quarantine. The state's Public Health Director, Mark Veitch, stated that the infected person went straight into hotel quarantine via taxi and that there was minimal risk of exposure to the community as infection control procedures were in place.
Hotel quarantine workers in Victoria who have face-to-face contact with returned travellers had received their first vaccine doses by the first week of April 2021. However, the quarantine system in Victoria has had its limitations, with 22 system failures identified by June 2021, one of which caused the "second wave" in Victoria, resulting in over 800 deaths.
In September 2021, it was announced that a purpose-built quarantine facility would be constructed in Victoria, similar to the successful Howard Springs facility near Darwin. This new facility aims to improve infection control and avoid the risks associated with CBD hotels and inappropriate ventilation systems.
As of November 1st, 2021, hotel quarantine is no longer required for international arrivals into NSW, including Sydney. NSW Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres stated that fully vaccinated people from any country would be able to visit or work in Australia without needing to quarantine. However, Mr. Morrison clarified that this decision was made by the state government and that the border remains closed for non-citizens and non-residents.
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Self-isolation requirements for WA and SA residents
As of June 2021, Sydney residents were free to travel to Western Australia (WA), although anyone who had been to an exposure site was barred from entering the state. However, travellers from WA to NSW were subject to quarantine requirements when entering other states.
In March 2020, WA officials stated that anyone returning from Queensland would need to take a Covid test immediately, self-quarantine for 14 days, and present for a test on day 11. At the time, WA's government deemed every state and territory except Victoria as "very low risk", meaning there were no quarantine measures for arrivals from those areas. However, WA struggled to keep track of the tens of thousands of people in mandatory self-isolation.
In June 2021, travellers from Victoria to WA had to complete a travel declaration within 24 hours of arrival and follow the rules on casual and close contact exposure locations. In the same month, all travellers to South Australia (SA) had to complete the Cross-Border Travel Registration form before their trip. People from greater Melbourne were not permitted to enter SA, while those from regional Victoria had to get a Covid test on day one and self-quarantine until receiving a negative result.
In August 2021, the South Australian government introduced a home-based quarantine app as part of a national pilot program. People wanting to return to SA and home quarantine had to apply to SA Health, prove they had a place to isolate, and be fully vaccinated. Those approved had to download the app, which used geo-location and facial recognition software to track those in quarantine.
As of November 2021, the Australian border remained closed, with the government stating that only citizens, residents, and their immediate families were allowed to enter the country.
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Frequently asked questions
Quarantine requirements for Australians returning from overseas depend on the state. In 2021, New South Wales removed quarantine requirements for international arrivals, but Australians returning to other states may still have to quarantine.
Quarantine requirements for interstate travel depend on the state. In 2020, you could fly into New South Wales, Victoria, and the ACT without needing to quarantine, but if you were coming from any other state or territory, you would need to quarantine when you arrived back.
As of 2021, those returning to South Australia must apply to SA Health and prove they have a place to isolate. They must also be fully vaccinated and download the South Australian Government home quarantine app, which uses geo-location and facial recognition software to track those in quarantine.
As of 2021, Victoria was running a home quarantine trial for residents over the age of 18 who have access to a smartphone. Participants must be fully vaccinated and will be asked to take photos of themselves and upload them to a smartphone app.
