New Zealand residents will soon be able to holiday in Australia as part of a one-way travel bubble the government hopes will provide a much-needed boost to the struggling tourism sector.
South Australia and New South Wales will be the first states to benefit because they have already removed domestic borders, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday.
"We'll be able to move on that very soon," he told 5AA radio. "New Zealanders being able to travel to Australia, that's good for Australian tourism."
During an address to the , he said New Zealanders were "very, very welcome" even if Australians are not permitted to travel across the ditch.
"That's their problem," he said. "I am happy for Kiwi tourists to come here and spend money in New South Wales and South Australia."
States insisting on quarantine for domestic travel would not be included in the bubble, Mr Morrison added, explaining that New Zealand tourists could not take up quarantine places.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern discussed the trans-Tasman bubble with Mr Morrison earlier in the week.
"There is a chance that we could have Australia simply open to New Zealand because of our status and where we are right now, which is pretty good," she said on Wednesday.
The update on the New Zealand travel bubble comes as the government enters talks with Singapore for a similar agreement that would allow citizens, excluding Victoria residents, to travel between the two countries from 8 October.
Singapore's Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said in a Facebook post on Thursday that he had spoken to deputy prime minister Michael McCormack about the move.
"Like Brunei and New Zealand, Vietnam and Australia have also very successfully controlled the spread of the COVID-19 virus," he said.
"We will hence lift border restrictions for visitors from Vietnam and Australia, excluding Victoria."
He said visitors would have to apply for an air travel pass and undergo a COVID-19 test upon arrival, with those registering a negative result not required to stay at home.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr on Thursday said he would support a travel bubble between Canberra and Singapore provided "all of the COVID-safe protocols are in place".
Singapore lifted border restrictions for travellers from Brunei and New Zealand a month ago. Since then 136 visitors have entered Singapore, all of whom have tested negative on arrival.
Additional reporting: SBS News
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