Australia is set to open its border to New Zealanders "very soon", according to the country's Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
It's believed an announcement could be made as soon as Tuesday, when the government's 2020 budget is presented to parliament.
The change would allow Kiwis to travel to Australia without the requirement to quarantine upon arrival - but that still won't be the case when returning to New Zealand, with a two-week quarantine remaining compulsory for all inbound travellers. This includes Australians wanting to travel here and any New Zealanders returning home from Australia.
"I can't tell you Australians will be able to holiday in NZ but that's their problem. I'm happy for Kiwi tourists to come here and spend their money in NSW and South Australia. They're very, very welcome," Morrison told an Adelaide radio station on Thursday.
South Australia and New South Wales are expected to be the first states to open up to travellers from Aotearoa, while states that require quarantine for domestic travellers would be excluded from the Tasman travel bubble.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said yesterday Australia opening up to visitors from New Zealand could only happen due to this country's COVID-19 status, "which is pretty good".
Australia recorded 19 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday and two deaths. However, New South Wales had its sixth consecutive day without any community transmission.
