Travel arrangements from high-risk COVID-19 countries will top the agenda today at the National Cabinet meeting after the federal government banned flights from India for at least two weeks.
Anyone wanting to travel to Australia will need to provide a negative PCR test within 72 hours before boarding their flight.
The National Cabinet will also discuss the status of the vaccine rollout.
Meanwhile, some premiers have made it clear to the federal government they want greater support for their quarantine programs.
Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said he did not want a costly, purpose-built quarantine facility – pointing to federal government properties such as defence facilities or detention facilities on Christmas Island as an alternative.
The Victorian government, however, suggested a purpose-built quarantine facility able to house up to 500 people to be constructed in north Melbourne.
The proposal also included the federal government paying for the facility.
Commenting on the plan, Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said, “we’re willing to work through the detailed options that they’ve put forward which are a bit of a contrast to some of the ideas that have come from the other states”.
“Victoria has to their credit gone through a process and put forward some detail around their proposals.
“There won’t be any quick responses the next day to something that we’ve only just received and is as significant as what they’ve come up with.”
