Interest in transtasman bubble idea growing

Night flights to Queenstown Airport are expected to lift passenger numbers in the next 12 months....
Photo: Blair Pattison.
The idea of creating a joint New Zealand-Australia "bubble" to help the tourism industry back on to its feet appears to be gaining momentum.

NZSki boss Paul Anderson said yesterday a group of business leaders raised the idea with Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis and Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford at a meeting in Queenstown on March 19.

"I raised the point that ... a common border with Australia would be critical to our recovery.

"I suggested to them that if we could get that part of our tourism market operating quickly, it would provide us with a bit of continuity."

The ministers "scribbled it down and nodded" and while Mr Anderson had heard nothing since, he "trusted it would get fed back" into Government decisions.

Leading business commentator Bryan Gaynor, in a BusinessDesk article last week, picked up on the idea, suggesting the two countries join in a "post-lockdown bubble" once the virus was under control on both sides of the Tasman.

And, on Monday Auckland International Airport chief executive Adrian Littlewood told the NZ Herald the New Zealand and Australian Governments should start planning now for a transtasman travel "bubble".

The Herald also reported Mr Littlewood’s comments coincided with the Australian federal tourism minister, Simon Birmingham, predicting Australia’s ban on international travel was likely to continue until the end of the year, but with potential to ease restrictions on travel within Australia and that there "might be a little bit to New Zealand".

Mr Anderson said the ski industry was still waiting for Government decisions on alert levels.

It would be "impossible" for skifields to operate under the current Level 4 and improbable under Level 3.

He believed they could operate under Level 2 but even in a "best-case scenario" skier numbers were expected to be down by at least two-thirds.

Comments

I would strongly advise against any such bubble until it shows that it is going to start treating Kiwis in Australia with respect and compassion. It would be a mistake to regard the Australian Government as being open and honest. New Zealanders have to get over the idea that Australia has New Zealand's back. Having lived in Aus for 31 years now I can tell you that they are not trustworthy when things get tough, individually or as a Nation. New Zealand should never forget that Australia helped the French Terrorists escape after the attack in Auckland Harbour. The underarm bowling incident was actually representative of Australia rather than an anomaly. Sure, If Australia gets rid of the virus, allow trans tasman travel, but be ready to slam that door shut because Australia will be more interested in letting Americans, Chinese and British travelers in to Australia than worrying about Kiwis.

 

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