Health Minister Greg Hunt extends human biosecurity emergency period.
Australia’s ongoing bans on outbound international travel and the movement of cruise vessels will remain in place until mid-March, according to an update from Health Minister Greg Hunt this afternoon.
The human biosecurity emergency period under the Biosecurity Act 2015 will now be extended for three more months, Hunt said, giving the Government continued powers to take “any necessary measures to prevent and control COVID-19 and protect the health of all Australians”.
The emergency period, which has been in place since 18 March 2020, is now set to extend until 17 March 2021, with the recommendation informed by specialist medical and epidemiological advice, the Minister said.
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee has advised that the international COVID-19 situation continues to pose an unacceptable public health risk, with the three month extension of the emergency period “an appropriate response to that risk,” Hunt said.
The restrictions on the movement of cruise vessels and outbound international travel are “reviewed regularly and take into account the latest medical advice”.
“They can be amended or removed at any time based on the expert medical advice,” Hunt added, with the proposed extension to be considered and formalised by the Governor General this week.
More details in tomorrow’s issues of Cruise Weekly and Travel Daily.