The government is hopeful that Australia may open its borders in 2022, and is banking on this as it prepares to deliver its 2021-22 Budget on Tuesday night.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack told Today that the government is “banking on, of course, international travel being back to some sort of pre-COVID normality next year.”
“We’ll take the best advice from medical experts as we’ve done the whole way through.”
Mr McCormack said, “We want our planes bringing migrants. We want planes bringing tourists. We want planes bringing people who seek permanent residency to fill those 43,000 jobs that are going in regional Australia right now.”
This was the latest comment in the government’s inconsistent messaging regarding the opening of Australia’s borders. In a Facebook post on Sunday, Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison said borders would be open only when it “is safe to do so” despite the media likening the country to “fortress Australia”.
Mr Morrison said there are many “uncertainties ahead”.
“Australia’s COVID suppression strategy has not changed to an ‘elimination’ strategy nor is ‘zero cases’ our goal,” he said.
“These statements were not made, were misreported in the article and have now been corrected on-line.
“There will always be cases as we return Australians home from overseas. International borders will only open when it is safe to do so. We still have a long way to go, and there are still many uncertainties ahead. Australians are living like in few countries around the world today. We will continue to do everything we can to work together prevent a third wave and roll out our vaccination programme. And, as always, we will continue to listen to the medical advice and make decisions in the best health and economic interests of all Australians.”
On Tuesday, the Federal Budget is expected to deliver 30,000 more jobs through spending on “vital infrastructure” including roads, rail and freight networks”.
The aged care sector will also see an $18 billion boost over four years, and $12 billion for the national disability insurance sector.