Australia is in travel bubble discussions with Singapore

Australia is in discussions with Singapore about creating a travel bubble that would allow passengers to fly between the nations without quarantine.

The plan would mirror the bubble with New Zealand which is allowing Aussies to enter from today.

Singapore has escaped the worst of Covid-19 with just 30 deaths and has only been recording between 10 and 40 cases per day over the past two weeks.

Health Minster Greg Hunt said about 5,000 people were expected to fly between Australia and New Zealand on Monday

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the government has been in early discussions with Singaporean counterparts. 

‘We’re in discussions with Singapore. We’re having those chats, those initial chats with other countries as well, and as vaccines are rolled out here and elsewhere, these travel bubbles will be created, and it will get us back to some sort of pre-COVID normality,’ he told Nine’s Today Show on Monday. 

Last week Trade Minister Dan Tehan revealed the government will take a ‘systematic’ approach to opening the borders which will see travels bubbles set up with individual nations.

‘Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam have all been mentioned as potentials in that area,’ he said, without giving any dates for when bubbles may start.

As the first Australians left for New Zealand on Monday morning, Mr McCormack said the travel bubble was boosting economic activity. 

‘The activity that’s healing at our airports is on the up and up and up. Qantas, Virgin, they want to fly again. 

‘They want to get people back in their jobs. Planes in the air means jobs on the ground and that’s what it’s all about,’ he said.

‘It shows confidence. It shows we’re on the pathway out of COVID and back to some sort of normality. 

‘It’s going to benefit both nations. We love New Zealand. New Zealanders love Australia. And it’s a good thing.’    

Australia is in discussions with Singapore (pictured) about creating a travel bubble that would allow passengers to fly between the nations without quarantine

Health Minster Greg Hunt said about 5,000 people were expected to fly between Australia and New Zealand on Monday. 

Qantas boss Alan Joyce revealed his company has put on an extra 16 return flights to cope with demand. 

Mr McCormack also revealed a National Cabinet meeting on Monday will discuss the possibility of home quarantine for vaccinated travellers – instead of hotel quarantine.

But he warned it was only a proposal and would not be implemented anytime soon. 

‘Let’s face it, this is just a proposal. It’s just initial talks. This is what you would expect the Prime Minister and the Premiers and the Chief Ministers of the territories to be chatting about, to see where we can get to, to see where they can land,’ he said.

‘This is what the National Cabinet process has done all the way through, consensus, taking on the best health advice. 

‘That’s what it’s been about all the way through.’ 

Qantas boss Alan Joyce revealed his company has put on an extra 16 return flights to New Zealand to cope with demand