Aust govt removes outbound travel ban exemption for overseas residents

[Lynda2475]

@SeatB perhaps son could plan to return to UAE via NZ, given after this trip he is unlikely to need to come back again until the next time his visa needs renewal (another 2 years) there unlikely to be repercussions to leaving that way by then.

 

[henrus]

@SeatB perhaps son could plan to return to UAE via NZ, given after this trip he is unlikely to need to come back again until the next time his visa needs renewal (another 2 years) there unlikely to be repercussions to leaving that way by then.

This is something that can't be betted on due to bubble pauses.

 

[mviy]

This is something that can't be betted on due to bubble pauses.

Also if ABF suspect you are going to NZ to fly on somewhere else they may take steps to stop you from travelling.

 

[Mattg]

Also if ABF suspect you are going to NZ to fly on somewhere else they may take steps to stop you from travelling.

I could be mistaken, but based on the wording in the relevant legislation, I think travelling via NZ may be allowed if you are not intending to return to Australia? But I agree that I wouldn't count on this as due to bubble pauses.

Here is the relevant part of the legislation which refers to automatic exemptions from the outbound travel ban:

Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Overseas Travel Ban Emergency Requirements) Determination 2020

6 Exemptions—general

(1) An exemption from the requirements of section 5 applies to the following persons:

(a) a person ordinarily resident in a country other than Australia; [note - this category is being removed from 11 August 2021]

(b) a person who is a member of the crew of an aircraft or vessel (other than the outgoing aircraft or vessel) or is a worker associated with the safety or maintenance of an aircraft or vessel (other than the outgoing aircraft or vessel);

(c) a person engaged in the day‑to‑day conduct of inbound and outbound freight;

(d) a person whose travel is associated with essential work at an offshore facility;

(e) a person who is travelling on official government business (including a member of the Australian Defence Force).

Certain travel to New Zealand

(2) An exemption from the requirements of section 5 applies to a person who:

(a) is travelling directly to New Zealand; and

(b) intends to travel from New Zealand only to return to Australia; and

(c) has been only in either or both of Australia and New Zealand for at least 14 days immediately before the day the flight or voyage of the outgoing aircraft or vessel commences.

(3) An exemption from the requirements of section 5 applies to a person who:

(a) is travelling directly to New Zealand; and

(b) does not intend to return to Australia; and

(c) has been only in either or both of Australia and New Zealand for at least 14 days immediately before the day the flight or voyage of the outgoing aircraft or vessel commences.

 

[Lynda2475]

I could be mistaken, but based on the wording in the relevant legislation, I think travelling via NZ may be allowed if you are not intending to return to Australia?

Thats was also my reading hence the suggestion, at least as a back-up if denied an exemption.

Since there is no exemption required to travel to NZ when the bubble is open, unlikley to be cross checking to see if you had a departure exemption denied when boarding an NZ flight. And if you book your ticket to UAE only once in NZ, even less risk.

But yes there is risk right now bubble may stay closed.

One would hope @SeatB's son would be granted an exemption as no history of coming and going and no plan to return again within 2 years. And we all certainly hope that in 2023 we are NOT still capping the number Aussies that can come home (even though we may still need to prevent unvaccinated foreigners from arriving).

 

[Mattg]

And we all certainly hope that in 2023 we are still capping the number Aussies that can come home

I hope this is a typo, as we all certainly don't hope this.

 

[Lynda2475]

I hope this is a typo, as we all certainly don't hope this.

Oops yep, fixed.

 

[Seat0B]

Thanks for advice, concern and sympathy everyone. Seat Son had decided that he simply cannot take the risk of being denied exit or even exit being delayed. His employer is not supportive. He had court deadlines and client obligations that could not be met without major drama if he gets stuck. Probably fair enough - it’s one of those large British/global law firms and they literally do not get the strictness of the rules we are suffering under.
I am so devastated. But I can’t argue. After all the horrible teenage years of outrageous risk taking, it seems Seat Son had grown up and developed an understanding of consequences and weighing immediate gratification against longer term objectives. I guess my job as parent is done. But the tug on the heartstrings is never done

 

[Flying mermaid]

Thanks for advice, concern and sympathy everyone. Seat Son had decided that he simply cannot take the risk of being denied exit or even exit being delayed. His employer is not supportive. He had court deadlines and client obligations that could not be met without major drama if he gets stuck. Probably fair enough - it’s one of those large British/global law firms and they literally do not get the strictness of the rules we are suffering under.
I am so devastated. But I can’t argue. After all the horrible teenage years of outrageous risk taking, it seems Seat Son had grown up and developed an understanding of consequences and weighing immediate gratification against longer term objectives. I guess my job as parent is done. But the tug on the heartstrings is never done

I wish I could give you a dozen hugs. I am so so sorry. I have sent all the info to Master FM, so I guess we will see what he says in the morning. He has a very flexible employer in Google and I do believe there is no risk, but he needs to make the decision himself. I can understand in these crazy times why your son wouldn’t want to take the risk.

I truly believe we are in the last stretch and 2022 will be better, but it sure doesn’t feel like it at the moment!

 

[Seat0B]

I wish I could give you a dozen hugs. I am so so sorry. I have sent all the info to Master FM, so I guess we will see what he says in the morning. He has a very flexible employer in Google and I do believe there is no risk, but he needs to make the decision himself. I can understand in these crazy times why your son wouldn’t want to take the risk.

I truly believe we are in the last stretch and 2022 will be better, but it sure doesn’t feel like it at the moment!

I hope your son gets here.

 

[dajop]

I was reflecting on this, and certainly @Seat0B for your son’s situation and for many others too (me included) it would be far better to allow people to who want to be able to leave Australia again to be able to apply well in advance of returning to Australia so there is certainty.

I guess those who are planning to leave Australia within about 6 weeks or their arrival can. (You can apply up to 2 months in advance .. so if someone was to apply two weeks before getting on the plane , it took say 11 days to process and get the approval, then you have certainly to get the swab test and jump on the plane 3 days later).

 

[Flashback]

I was reflecting on this, and certainly @Seat0B for your son’s situation and for many others too (me included) it would be far better to allow people to who want to be able to leave Australia again to be able to apply well in advance of returning to Australia so there is certainty.

I guess those who are planning to leave Australia within about 6 weeks or their arrival can. (You can apply up to 2 months in advance .. so if someone was to apply two weeks before getting on the plane , it took say 11 days to process and get the approval, then you have certainly to get the swab test and jump on the plane 3 days later).

Just adds more stress, on top of what already is a flipping stressful situation.

 

[dajop]

Just adds more stress, on top of what already is a flipping stressful situation.

Way past that. I’ve stopped stressing. Stopped getting angry.

Que Sera Sera.

 

[Flashback]

Way past that. I’ve stopped stressing. Stopped getting angry.

Que Sera Sera.

Yeah, me too. I recognise that my journey is a few months away so things will change many times between now and then. It's definitely continuing to move in the wrong direction with each change though. Haven't seen my family in 3 years, so amongst other things that's either a curse or a blessing

When we booked the flights, I said from the beginning that we'd more than likely be making a call on it 1 week out from departure (if even that).

 

[Flying mermaid]

I was reflecting on this, and certainly @Seat0B for your son’s situation and for many others too (me included) it would be far better to allow people to who want to be able to leave Australia again to be able to apply well in advance of returning to Australia so there is certainty.

I guess those who are planning to leave Australia within about 6 weeks or their arrival can. (You can apply up to 2 months in advance .. so if someone was to apply two weeks before getting on the plane , it took say 11 days to process and get the approval, then you have certainly to get the swab test and jump on the plane 3 days later).

This is the problem Master FM has - he is coming for 2 months, so he can’t apply for an exemption before he leaves the USA, so has to enter Fortress Australia and then apply for an exemption to leave again.

However I continue to be confident that this is not meant to stop someone like him who has a job and partner overseas and who hasn’t left before. He has a compelling reason to leave - a job that he has held for nearly 8 years and he will be gone for way more than 3 months.

I blame all this on the loony Queensland PM who rabbited on and on about people leaving multiple times, as a deflection for Queensland’s own failures. This feels like a sop to her, so the feds can say we have stopped any abuse.

 

[dajop]

However I continue to be confident that this is not meant to stop someone like him who has a job and partner overseas and who hasn’t left before. He has a compelling reason to leave - a job that he has held for nearly 8 years and he will be gone for way more than 3 months..

Having not visited before you think would make the exemption much easier.

Reading the comments in The Age it’s to stop everyone coming back to Australia for holidays all the time. Who in their right mind would come back to Australia for a holiday? It’s the last place on earth, even coming from fortress Singapore, that I’d try to come to just for a holiday. Lot cheaper, a lot less stress ( as fully vaccinated) to just go to Greece, the Maldives or the US or Mexico than try to visit the DPR of Australia for a holiday, where there’s always a high chance of being locked down anyway.

 

[Pushka]

Having not visited before you think would make the exemption much easier.

Reading the comments in The Age it’s to stop everyone coming back to Australia for holidays all the time. Who in their right mind would come back to Australia for a holiday? It’s the last place on earth, even coming from fortress Singapore, that I’d try to come to just for a holiday. Lot cheaper, a lot less stress ( as fully vaccinated) to just go to Greece, the Maldives or the US or Mexico than try to visit the DPR of Australia for a holiday, where there’s always a high chance of being locked down anyway.

Great point. With all the damn restrictions in place here, requirement to quarantine, getting put into med hotels in SA anyway simply for having a meal at a Zone 1 location, in reality the only ones coming here are people desperate to see family and to attend to visa issues.

 

[louie-m]

This is the problem Master FM has - he is coming for 2 months, so he can’t apply for an exemption before he leaves the USA, so has to enter Fortress Australia and then apply for an exemption to leave again.

Of course, his plans might change after he arrives . It's probably easy enough to extend your stay after all. Let's say that on second thoughts, he might decide he was only coming for one month. That would enable him to apply for exemption a month before he arrived. He could then find that he was having such a great time, that he wanted to stay another month, which would be fine as the exemption is valid for three months....

 

[glasszon]

It's clear the government wants to do whatever it can to reduce the number of Australians stranded overseas without actually increasing the incoming flight cap, this would have a minimal impact given how difficult it is to get a flight to Australia post the halving of flight cap.

For those who are based overseas, I would strongly reconsider the need to travel to Australia. It is getting harder and harder to get an exemption to leave Australia even with a statutory declaration stating you will be away for three months or more, it's not uncommon for people to be denied again and again trying to leave Australia even with a statutory declaration.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Of course, his plans might change after he arrives . It's probably easy enough to extend your stay after all. Let's say that on second thoughts, he might decide he was only coming for one month. That would enable him to apply for exemption a month before he arrived. He could then find that he was having such a great time, that he wanted to stay another month, which would be fine as the exemption is valid for three months....

I must say I don’t have a devious enough mind. . Of course they might want to look at his ticket…..