Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt has said that the federal government does not support the long-term closure of borders and has asked that community groups should increase pressure on their state governments on this matter once a COVID-19 vaccination is rolled out.

The minister who was speaking at an online roundtable meeting with community leaders said: “As the vaccination program is rolled out, community groups should step up their representations with State Governments about the ability to leave and return to Australia. I and the Federal Government do not support the long-term closing of our borders. The effect on family reunions and our economy has been hard.’

Mr Hunt’s comments came in response to a question posed to him by Bill Papastergiadis, the president of the Greek Community of Melbourne.

“The effect on family reunions and our economy has been hard, Mr Hunt added. ”In terms of a time line, Australia will continue to open up green lanes with countries that have low levels of cases.

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“Next, as cases subside overseas, then Australia will continue to progressively open up channels with other countries. All of this will be staged, and much will depend on transmission rates overseas, albeit the results from the U.K that are coming out now seem somewhat positive.  Progressive steps will be made on opening up Australia which will take place during 2021,” Mr Hunt said.

The minister said that Australia had secured an extra 10 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine and that every person in Australia, whether they were on a visa or were citizens, would have free access to the vaccine.

Mr Hunt said that the government would fund community groups to help publicise information concerning the roll out of the vaccines.

Mr Papastergiadis told Neos Kosmos that also attending were the Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd and Dr Monique Stone, the head of the Therapeutic Goods Administration(TGA) which is responsible for assessing the quality of the vaccines.

“Professor Michael Kidd said that by late February, the first doses (of the COVID-19 vaccines) will be given for Pfizer. In March, the Astraveneca vaccines will arrive from overseas (assuming they are TGA approved). CSL will produce the Astraveneca vaccines from late March here in Australia,” said Mr Papastergiadis.

Dr Stone told the meeting that the TGA had taken all the correct steps for approval of the COVID-19 vaccines.