Australian Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, has decreed that the restrictions on outbound international travel and the entry of cruise ships in Australian territory, will be extended to 17th June.
The original ban was introduced on 18th March last year and was set to run until 17th December, before being extended to 17th March and now 17th June, 2021.
Hunt (pictured) said the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer had advised the government that the COVID-19 situation overseas continued to pose an unacceptable public health risk, including the emergence of more highly transmissible variants.
He also said the Government continued to work closely with state and territory agencies, national health committees and the cruise industry to develop a framework for the staged resumption of cruise ships in a manner that is proportionate to the public health risk.