Covid 19 coronavirus: Australian MP asks why New Zealand travelers detained in Melbourne

Liberal MP Tim Wilson has said that he “doesn’t really understand what the problem is” with the 17 New Zealand travelers detained in Melbourne, who have entered Australia via Sydney.

Passengers traveled to NSW from New Zealand under the new travel bubble arrangement, which allowed them to fly to Australia without needing to be quarantined in a hotel for 14 days.

But the travel bubble does not extend to Victoria, only to New South Wales and the Northern Territory, leading authorities to attack the Federal Government.

Speaking on ABC, Wilson said he couldn’t see the problem.

“To be frank, I really don’t understand what the problem is. NSW is accepting flights as part of New Zealand’s transtasman bubble. There are no quarantine obligations when people go from NSW to Victoria,” Wilson said.

“There is the reverse. So once people have gotten here and it’s been ultimately assessed as safe, then the ordinary roads for people to travel to Victoria, if they want to. So I want to know which one is the Is there a new requirement to enter Victoria? I am in the ACT right now, and I am not clear what the basis is. If I go to Victoria, I am not expected to quarantine myself, because it is not a source of Covid-19 “.

The Herald previously revealed that the 17 travelers from New Zealand have yet to ask for consular assistance. The Foreign and Trade Ministry said it had not yet been contacted for “consular assistance.”

The Victoria Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that it “had no 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,” said DHHS.

“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 Australian Border Force said “restrictions on national borders are a matter for states and territories.”

The statements made it unclear exactly where the travelers were being held.

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.

Meanwhile, the reaction to the news of the kiwis trapped in Melbourne was swift.

“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, publishing “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 pray 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 it. see them more.. “