The end may be in sight for thousands of Australians stranded overseas as the international border reopens next week and, after 20 months of being shut out, some still feel abandoned.
Quarantine requirements will no longer apply to fully vaccinated international travellers from November 1, when New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT allow free inbound and outbound movement.
That means vaccinated travellers can fly internationally, to and from these states, without needing an exemption to leave Australia and, upon their return, they can walk off the plane without quarantining.
Unvaccinated travellers will still face quarantine restrictions.
Australia’s re-entry into the wider world has expats in tears of relief as they race to book tickets home after the ordeal of flight cancellations and missed family connections.
Listed as vulnerable by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), expats Gauri and Peter Davies have been trying to return home from London without any luck.
They’re now booked on a flight to Sydney next week to introduce their new baby son to their family.
“We cried,” Ms Davies told 7.30. “We were so happy when we heard the news, but we’re still cautious because we have commercial tickets, and commercial tickets can get cancelled.”
“It’s certainly been, I would say, the hardest last couple of years of our lives,” Mr Davies added.
SOURCE: ABC NEWS