• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » Australia » Don’t Get Your Hopes Up About Traveling To Australia…
Australia

Don’t Get Your Hopes Up About Traveling To Australia…

Matthew Klint Posted onOctober 16, 2021November 14, 2023 36 Comments

an airplane flying over water

Fresh speculation about travel to Australia has made headlines in recent days after the Premier of New South Wales indicated his state, which includes Sydney, would re-open to international visitors starting on November 1st. But don’t get your hopes up, as the decision is not his to make.

Sydney Wants To Re-Open, But Australia Says Not So Fast…

Dominic Perrottet, the Premier of New South Wales (NSW), wants to re-open Sydney. His state now boasts an 80% vaccination rate and in a surprise move, he announced that that quarantine and travel restrictions would be lifted on November 1st, including for foreign visitors who are fully vaccinated.

1/2
80% in NSW! Been a long wait but we’ve done it.
Feels great to break this news. Huge thanks to all the nurses and vaccination hub staff at @NSWHealth, the GPs, the pharmacists, and each and every person who rolled up their sleeve to get us here.

— Dom Perrottet (@Dom_Perrottet) October 16, 2021

The move caught Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison by surprise. Although Morrison and Perrottet are both members of the same Liberal party (right of center party in Australian politics), the two are not exactly friends.

In any case, while the federal system in Australia reserves many policymaking decisions to the states, it is the federal government, not state governments, which control immigration. Thus, while NSW may be ready to welcome foreign guests, it will be up to the federal government to let them in, and Morrison has indicated that is unlikely to happen next month:

“We are not opening up to everyone coming back to Australia at the moment. I want to be clear about that. It is for the Commonwealth and federal government to decide when the border opens and shut at an international level and we will do that. In the first instance it will be for Australian residents and their families. We will see how that goes. The Commonwealth government has made no decision to allow other visa holders, student visa holders, international visitors traveling.”

And it’s really that simple. NSW can prepare to open as much as it wants, but it will be up to federal government to decide who is let in and who is not.

CONCLUSION

New South Wales wants to re-open to the world, but must respect the timeline of the federal government in order to do so. Consequently, any hopes that you’ll be able to fly to Sydney next month and enter Australia as a foreign tourist should be set aside. But NSW will scrap quarantine requirements and further re-open society, which ironically means other Australian states may tighten border controls against it. It may be that NSW sees far fewer visitors before it finally sees more visitors.

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article Odd: American Airlines Flight Attendant Decides To Skip Flight After Welcoming Passengers Onboard
Next Article Excellent Hotel Service Makes All The Difference

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Springtime Sydney Photo Essay

    Photo Essay: Springtime In Sydney

    December 7, 2023
  • a plane flying over water

    Booked! An A380 Australia Trip On Qantas

    November 6, 2023
  • a plane flying over water

    How Australia Justifies Blocking Qatar Airways Expansion

    September 7, 2023

36 Comments

  1. Acura Reply
    October 16, 2021 at 3:55 pm

    After seeing countless videos out of Australia like these six or seven, I’m not sure who would want to go there anyway.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CUknTF7lvLK/

    • UA-NYC Reply
      October 16, 2021 at 7:50 pm

      Anti vaxxers need not apply, so don’t even bother. Branson probably more your lane.

      • David Reply
        October 16, 2021 at 9:12 pm

        Maybe not as exciting as NYC but a hell of lot safer.

      • Acura Reply
        October 16, 2021 at 10:49 pm

        October 16, 2021
        The Unvaccinated Are Looking Smarter Every Week
        By Thomas T. Siler, M.D.

        https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2021/10/the_unvaccinated_are_looking_smarter_every_week.html

        • UA-NYC Reply
          October 16, 2021 at 11:05 pm

          Keep quoting your crackpot docs. A small tiny minority of scientists deny climate change too, why not quote them?

          And let me guess – this vaccine thing is a hoax, but you totally believe in Q right? Bet he’s your savior.

          • Acura
            October 16, 2021 at 11:11 pm

            Certainly NOT my savior. I have no idea who Q. That being said, Q spread truth to many. So whatever their purpose, whoever they are, malicious or not, they did wake millions of people up to the massive corruption we are all up against (yes, WE – because YOU”RE not exempt). WE are the plan. NO one is coming to save us except OURSELVES. Not Trump. Not ANYONE but the individual and then the larger collective. But we know you’re not onboard. You can sink with the Titanic. We’re all fine with that, trust me. Let’s go, Brandon. Enjoy that massive inflation with your side of shortages.

          • Acura
            October 16, 2021 at 11:28 pm

            Please follow up with us once you’ve had your 9th booster. No need to update us until then.

    • Hutch Reply
      October 16, 2021 at 7:54 pm

      I guess you could look at the countless selective shots of the much larger US protest violence…

      • Acura Reply
        October 16, 2021 at 8:42 pm

        And I do, but this is a travel article about Australia, so not understanding the point you are trying to make?

        • Hutch Reply
          October 16, 2021 at 9:11 pm

          You’re basing your position of a country on “selective” shots from people peddling their own agendas. Good for you.

          • Acura
            October 16, 2021 at 9:51 pm

            have another drink. I’ll just continue to make my own points.

            There is a complete blackout in America and likely much of the rest of the world regarding Australia. My original comment was to shed light on what is going on there.

            Here’s more of what’s going on there:

            ‘If America was the leader of the free world, it would, of course, be standing for freedom. Instead, it’s pushing medical apartheid at home and abroad, as well as standing idly by as brave citizens of the world (who are standing for freedom) are being attacked by militant police’ (https://twitter.com/garretkramer/status/1441388921716236292)

            ‘Friends and family in Melbourne are in despair-depressed and angry because they are living under war-time restrictions enforced by soulless servants of fraudsters posing as government. The police rounding up innocent, healthy Victorians with glee. I escaped but my heart breaks.’ (https://postimg.cc/8fzGFVDk)

            Last time I checked we are all part of humanity and fellow humans. Therefore these issues might be a topics worth talking about, especially considering the complete media blackout.

            Other articles from 2020:

            South Australia Police Shock World After Forbidding Dog-Walking Under Coronavirus Restrictions (https://www.mediaite.com/news/south-australia-police-shock-world-after-forbidding-dog-walking-under-coronavirus-restrictions)

            Only 1 Per Family Can Leave Home In One Of World’s Toughest Lockdowns (https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/south-australia-coronavirus-lockdown-outdoor-exercise-dog-walking-banned-in-one-of-worlds-toughest-covid-19-lockdowns-2327233)

            Anything else?

    • Colin Reply
      October 16, 2021 at 10:17 pm

      I’m all for police arresting morons – makes it more appealing to visit knowing these people can’t just do as they please without consequence

      • Acura Reply
        October 16, 2021 at 10:24 pm

        Uh, yeah it’s much more than that but let me guess, you’re an American and completely unaware of what is going on in Australia due to the media blackout here. Perhaps unaware they broke ground recently on a COVID camp? Hitler would be so proud. Perhaps you should be their first visitor.

        ‘BREAKING: A dedicated regional quarantine facility will be built at Wellcamp Airport near Toowoomba. As we contend with the dangerous Delta variant, we need fit-for-purpose quarantine facilities. #covid19’
        (https://twitter.com/annastaciamp/status/1430685839994982400)

        • Hutch Reply
          October 16, 2021 at 10:42 pm

          Wow. You’re comparing a facility being built to replace hotel quarantine, with the actions of Hitler… Guess we know you can look at things through balanced eyes.

          Interesting about a media blackout when you can post a link to the politicians Twitter feed…. So many deep state secrets ha.

          Btw, my view is it an extremely odd thing to be built at this point… probably 12 months too late (unsurprising)

          • Acura
            October 16, 2021 at 10:44 pm

            I responded to your other comment with paragraphs of information and four or five direct links. Comment is awaiting moderation. Thanks.

        • Colin Reply
          October 17, 2021 at 3:52 am

          Nope. I live in Sydney. Very aware of what’s going here.

          • Hutch
            October 17, 2021 at 4:00 am

            Sorry Colin. You possibly couldn’t know more than Acura and their supporting articles.

            I would write more, but I need to go to the shops. I have to provide more time these days, so I can avoid the police checkpoints where they beat me senseless just because. Ha

          • Acura
            October 17, 2021 at 4:08 am

            Well then. Either way it’s a lose lose for you because it doesn’t seem like you and yours are coming back from this. That’s what happens when there’s no 2A. And to confirm, your previous comment was in support of the militant police. Hard to imagine people cheering on their own demise, but here we are. All the best.

      • Kevin Reply
        October 17, 2021 at 7:53 am

        Yeah, you forgot this;
        https://twitter.com/4Patrick7/status/1449421354466353162

        I’m stunned that the people in Australia are just sitting around and letting this kind of sh1t happen…

        • Acura Reply
          October 17, 2021 at 12:59 pm

          wow, it just gets worse there. Australians welcomed their comprehensive gun control regime back in 1996/1997. Hence why Beto O’Rourke was so insistent during the debates on taking all American guns from legal owners. He said what the rest of the libs and Dems want to do.

          • UA-NYC
            October 17, 2021 at 8:13 pm

            Do you have any clue how many gun deaths there are in the US vs any other country? See if your random Twitter quotes or anti vaxxing misinformation sites can spit that out.

            What a twat.

          • Acura
            October 17, 2021 at 9:21 pm

            Uh yeah, I do. I’m also aware that the majority of those shootings could have been stopped in advance and that most others were preplanned to enflame tensions in this country. How many of the shootings were from law abiding gun owners? Please, UA-CCP, we know that the CCP wants us disarmed. But luckily you weren’t able to achieve that goal. Can’t seem to achieve any goals in your administration, never mind gun control. Too bad, so sad. Yes, the CCP realized they couldn’t invade, so they had to infiltrate, and here you are. But we see you. And we’re not going down without a fight. Where’s Beto O’Rourke now?

  2. Joe Chivas Reply
    October 16, 2021 at 4:03 pm

    Love it!

  3. Santastico Reply
    October 16, 2021 at 4:07 pm

    Stupid Government. They will definitely not see my money.

  4. Jan Reply
    October 16, 2021 at 4:17 pm

    It’s a damn authoritarian police state over there, something creepy Joe aspires to do here in the US.
    Thankfully, Australia is not in my immediate plans because I don’t think they’ll open again, they’re still stuck in June 2020.

    • Hutch Reply
      October 16, 2021 at 8:09 pm

      Sorry for my delayed response. I had to get government permission.

      You’re completely correct. We have police shooting unarmed people left, right and centre… Best thing is, when they get fired they simply head up the road to another police department to get rehired. We have governments that seek to limit our ability to vote, who move boundaries around to make it near certain they get win next time… why play fair if you have the control? We are making laws to limit people’s right to do things with their own bodies…

      Yep, we got issues.

  5. Henry Reply
    October 16, 2021 at 4:25 pm

    Thanks for the realistic view. I just SMH at all the other bloggers and talking heads who gush about returning soon to OZ. It will be a long time before any unfettered return happens unfortunately.

    • Hutch Reply
      October 16, 2021 at 10:44 pm

      I would concur. It was a well written piece.

    • Mick Reply
      October 17, 2021 at 8:28 am

      Yes and no. If you can do it you may see Aus in a unique time without many tourists.

  6. Mitch Cumstein Reply
    October 16, 2021 at 5:06 pm

    It’s reverted to a penal colony. Crikey.

  7. emercycrite Reply
    October 16, 2021 at 7:48 pm

    Thank god.

  8. david Reply
    October 16, 2021 at 9:10 pm

    No way in hell I would go there unless I had family I really wanted to see. Their governments handling of this really opened my eyes. Australia…no thanks.

    • Mick Reply
      October 17, 2021 at 8:27 am

      Lol. I don’t get into the political debates. But you honestly wouldn’t visit australia (one of the greatest destinations in the world) because of their stance on Covid? Which included lockdowns to stop the virus spreading ? You must have a limited amount of countries you can visit. Maybe just USA? Didn’t Europe have lockdowns too? And crackdowns on protests?

      • S Reply
        October 17, 2021 at 10:13 am

        Australia had government officials telling you you couldn’t leave your home without a pass. They told you you could have 30-60 minutes of outside time a day as long as you wore a mask while being near no one. They told you to not say a word to anyone if you left your house for grocery shopping.

        They were extreme. They also did this into fall 2021, when most places realized in 2020 or early 2021 that lockdowns don’t work and it’s time to just move on to a sense of normality with the tools we have.

        Australia and NZ will not be getting my money anytime soon. Not that they care what I have to say, but for me, it’s a principles thing. I refuse to support governments that were this extreme.

        • Acura Reply
          October 17, 2021 at 10:09 pm

          Glad to see someone else on here knows the truth.

  9. Bobby Reply
    October 24, 2021 at 12:56 am

    I hope Australia never opens up. There are a million better places to go where freedom is respected. The rest of the world will be better off as these totalitarians stay home while demonstrating to the rest of us how not to act. Let them be the next North Korea. And the hordes of low class Aussies (is that redundant?) that descend on Bali will be held back. Bali is such a better place right now. It’s amazing. Please please stay home Aussies!

Leave a Reply to UA-NYC Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for June

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • Qatar Airspace Closed
    Iran Launches Retaliatory Attack Against US: Qatar Airspace Closed June 23, 2025
  • United Airlines Asian Lawsuit
    United Airlines Accused Of Kicking Off The Wrong Asian Passenger—For Looking Asian June 23, 2025
  • Hyatt Outsources Call Center
    Sad Report: Hyatt Outsources Call Center, Fires US Phone Support Agents June 23, 2025
  • JetBlue Madrid
    The JetBlue Mosaic Challenge And Why I Can’t Pass It Up June 22, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Qatar Airways Economy Class Breakfast
    Economy Class Breakfast On Qatar Airways June 7, 2025
  • Favorite Airline Commercials
    My 10 Favorite Airline Commercials June 15, 2025
  • Qantas Lounge Review Hong Kong
    Review: Qantas Lounge Hong Kong (HKG) June 14, 2025
  • Israel Flight Cancellations
    Major Carriers Extend Flight Cancellations To Israel: Here’s The List June 6, 2025

Archives

June 2025
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  
« May    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.