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Seventeen Kiwi travelers who landed in Sydney were caught entering Melbourne on the first day of a travel bubble established between the Australian state of New South Wales and New Zealand.
Late on Friday, the Victoria Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) confirmed the group’s arrival in Melbourne, but said its authorized officers had no authority to detain them.
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, “DHHS said in a statement.
“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.”
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It is unclear if the 17 travelers were allowed to stay in Melbourne or if they were sent back to Sydney, where they would be required to isolate themselves for 14 days.
PAUL ROVERE / The age
Friday was the first day of “travel bubble” deals between Australia’s New South Wales and New Zealand.
Victoria is not currently accepting any international travelers after the state hotel quarantine program for travelers was suspended.
Earlier on Friday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison warmly welcomed the hundreds of New Zealanders who arrived in his home state, the first cohort under the new “bubble” deal between the two countries.
“Today, we have already welcomed our first kiwis to Australia for a holiday. That is fantastic,” he said on Friday.
“We say ‘Kia Ora’ to Kiwis who have joined us, we hope you enjoy your New South Wales or ACT holidays and we hope to see more of you, please tell your friends.
SAM MOOY / The Age
There were emotional scenes at Sydney airport on Friday when the first flight landed in Australia from New Zealand.
“We have some Australians in New Zealand right now for the Bledisloe (Cup) at the weekend.
“There will be some Kiwis headed here for Bledisloe’s comeback matches here in Australia in a few weeks.”
Australia’s prime minister described the arrival of the first international tourists to the country in six months as a turning point.
“Here we are, already, before the end of the year, reaching at least a new point of normality when it comes to safe travel for Covid,” he said.
Airport staff greeted New Zealand travelers with Tim Tam cookies, gelato and sunscreen on Friday.
Passengers were required to complete a health statement, confirming that they had only been to New Zealand in the past 14 days, and a health examination upon landing in Sydney.
Those arriving in Australia under the scheme will need to be quarantined for two weeks if they return to New Zealand.
Two flights arrived in Melbourne from Sydney on Friday: a Virgin flight scheduled to land at 11 a.m. and a Jetstar flight scheduled to arrive at 4.50 p.m.
Border Force declined to comment on the matter, directing Age Y Sydney morning herald to state authorities.
Spokespersons for the Victorian government directed any inquiries on the matter to DHHS.
A Melbourne Airport spokeswoman said she had also been unable to reach Victoria DHHS to understand the situation and was therefore unable to comment.
A Victoria Police spokesman declined to comment, stating that the force had no jurisdiction over travelers at the airport.
The New South Wales government, the federal government and Sydney Airport have been contacted for comment.
-With Laura Chung
