Unvaccinated Australian Citizens Can (FINALLY) Leave the Country Without a Travel Exemption April 18th

Unvaccinated Aussies haven’t been able to leave the country without a government-approved travel exemption for roughly two years. 

That immoral policy ends next week, and Australians who didn’t bow down to COVID-19 tyranny can finally leave the country without an exemption.

“From 18 April 2022, unvaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents can leave Australia without an individual travel exemption,” an Australian government page stated.

How many Aussies will leave and never come back after the past two torturous years?

@MelissaLantsman https://t.co/AX2kUIXE5E pic.twitter.com/CNcjLXxzef

— Thoughtfulpawz🇨🇦 🇬🇧🇳🇱 pronoun free (@Thoughtfulpawz) April 14, 2022

https://twitter.com/James90128061/status/1514665896442314757

Aus 🇦🇺 Finally 💣🔥 This news lines up exactly with my story about the April End of the VAX Mandates…As of April 18, Unvaxxed Aussies can leave Australia without Exemption….👇👊 pic.twitter.com/9azdeyYZ2r

— 𝙍𝙄𝙎𝙀𝙈𝙀𝙇𝘽𝙊𝙐𝙍𝙉𝙀 (@Risemelbourne) April 14, 2022

While leaving the country will be doable for unvaccinated Aussies, returning home could still pose challenges.

Check out this language from the Australian Government:

All incoming travellers will need to comply with the testing and quarantine requirements of the state or territory of their arrival, and any other state or territory to which they plan to travel.

International travellers who arrive in Australia without meeting vaccination requirements, and without an exemption, may be considered for visa cancellation, detention and removal.

It’s unclear if this policy also applies to arriving Australian citizens and permanent residents.

It appears a Digital Passenger Declaration is still required for entry into Australia.

All passengers arriving by air into Australia should ​​complete the Digital Passenger Declaration

​​​​​​You can start your DPD seven days before your flight and submit it within 72 hours before your departure for Australia. This is because you must provide your health information and declaration (vaccination status and COVID-19 test result) within 72 hours before your flight.​

Twitter users expressed their concerns with the policy change:

Indeed. It says now in bold: Unvaccinated travellers with an approved travel exemption are still subject to incoming passenger caps when they re-enter Australia and must meet state and territory arrival requirements. https://t.co/mXEpP4DVBD

— @bitcoinmelbourne (@bitcoinmelbour1) April 14, 2022

From the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs:

Unvaccinated travellers with an approved travel exemption are still subject to incoming passenger caps when they re-enter Australia and must meet state and territory arrival requirements.

While unvaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents can leave Australia starting April 18th, it’s plausible to think they won’t be able to return without meeting COVID-19 jab requirements.

How many would even want to return after the past two years?

That’s my question.

Greek City Times provided additional info:

On Facebook, Senator Gerard Rennick wrote: “I’ve checked this with the Ministers office and can confirm this true. Don’t all leave at once now will you. 👋”

This can also be independently verified by Greek City Times.

Elsewhere, vaccinated Australians and permanent residents can enter New Zealand if they have had a negative pre-departure test.

On arrival, they must self-test for Covid-19, and unless it comes back positive for the virus, there is no requirement to enter quarantine or self-isolation.

Wednesday marks the first step in re-welcoming international visitors back to the country – a long wait for many, which was evident as family and friends greeted arrivals with tears and embraces, to the backdrop of waiata (Māori song).