Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks at a press confernece at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on August 23, 2021. Photo: Rohan Thomson/Getty Images
Australia on Friday announced plans to lift its travel ban for fully vaccinated citizens starting next month.
Why it matters: The announcement comes 18 months after Australia imposed some of the world's most severe border restrictions — trapping most Australians and permanent residents in the country, and preventing thousands of others outside the island nation from returning home.
Driving the news: The new policy will enable fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents to travel abroad when 80% of the local adult population is vaccinated, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
- Vaccinated residents returning to Australia will be required to complete a seven-day quarantine at home.
- No date has been set for opening borders to international tourists.
What they're saying: "We’ve saved lives. We’ve saved livelihoods, but we must work together to ensure that Australians can reclaim the lives that they once had in this country," Morrison said.
- "We’ll be working towards complete quarantine-free travel for certain countries, such as New Zealand, when it is safe to do so," Morrison said.
Go deeper: Cabin fever in "Fortress Australia" due to slow vaccination rate