“Not clear where it goes next”: UK’s COVID battle helps ScoMo’s international travel argument

While some might have hoped the G7 leaders’ summit would prompt Australia’s Prime Minister to change his tune on international travel, it appears to have had the opposite effect.

During a meeting with US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday, Scott Morrison said the federal government was committed to sticking to “an Australian path” in regard to border closures, saying that Aussies should only be allowed to travel overseas “when the medical advice suggests that we should”, according to ABC News.

“We are already seeing here in the UK that that high level of vaccination is preventing those hospitalisations, which is its purpose and that’s welcome, but we’re also seeing very high numbers of cases, and at this stage of the pandemic, it is not clear where it goes next,” he said.

“I’d rather be living in the arrangements we have in Australia than anywhere else in the world.”

Morrison’s comments are hardly surprising, given Health Minister Greg Hunt recently extended Australia’s human biosecurity emergency period for a further three months until 17 September.

The emergency period, which has been in place since 18 March 2020, restricts the entry of cruise vessels within Australian territory, as well as both outbound and inbound international travel.

And, it appears ScoMo was on the money with his observations on the UK’s battle against COVID, with the UK Prime Minister this morning announcing a delay in removing the final few restrictions for England due to concerns over the spread of the Delta variant.

“Freedom Day”, which Boris Johnson was hoping to deliver to those in England on 21 June, has now been pushed back a few weeks to 19 July.

Featured image source: ABC News