Travel bubble bursts: up to 17 kiwis detained in Melbourne

Up to seventeen people who came from New Zealand to Sydney and then took a connecting flight to Melbourne have been held at the airport until they were able to return to NSW.

The passengers are reported to have flown to Sydney under a new travel bubble with New Zealand and then took a connecting flight to visit family in Melbourne.

However, Victoria is not accepting overseas arrivals at this time and the move sparked an outcry from Victoria’s health authorities for allowing them to pass.

Travelers had been allowed to travel to Sydney without quarantine, as part of a travel bubble through Tasmania.

Under the agreement between the two nations, New Zealanders will be allowed to travel without quarantine to New South Wales and the Northern Territory if they have not been to a Covid-19 hotspot in the previous 14 days.

The Victoria Department of Health and Human Services has criticized the Morrison government after 17 travelers from New Zealand entered New Zealand and transferred to Melbourne.

In a statement issued overnight, the agency said “Seventeen passengers arrived at Melbourne airport tonight from New Zealand via Sydney.”

“Authorized DHHS officers do not have legal authority to detain travelers upon arrival.”

“Victoria has not accepted a travel bubble deal with New Zealand and did not expect to receive international travelers as a result of NSW making that deal.”

“The Victorian Government has made clear to the Commonwealth that we hope that New Zealand passengers who have not been quarantined will not be able to board flights in Sydney to Melbourne.”

The reaction on social media was quick.

“I don’t know why anyone would come to melb at the moment,” wrote another, referring to the months-long Covid-19 restrictions in the city after it was hit by a second severe wave of the virus.

Another was more welcoming and posted “Welcome to the Hotel Melifornia.”

Earlier Friday afternoon, Morrison said that some 230 New Zealanders had arrived in Sydney.

“We have already welcomed our first kiwis back to Australia for a holiday. That is fantastic,” said the prime minister.

“I understand that about 230 were on the flight this morning that it arrived, and I think it is now going through customs as we speak, and there are others that will come.”

“We welcome those Kiwis, Kia Ora to the Kiwis who have joined us today, I hope you enjoy your holidays in New South Wales or the Northern Territory or the ACT and tell your friends and we are looking forward to see more of you. “