mteb/FeedbackQARetrieval huggingface dataset:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for travellers
Travel within Australia
Australians must avoid all non-essential domestic travel.
State and territory restrictions
States and territories can apply their own restrictions, including closing
their state borders and additional quarantine requirements. Find out more
about restrictions in your state or territory:

Australian Capital Territory:ACT Government travel advice
New South Wales: NSW Government travel and transport advice
Northern Territory:Northern Territory Government remote work and travel
Queensland: Queensland Government travel advice
South Australia:Government of South Australia cross-border travel
Tasmania:Tasmanian Government travellers and visitors
Victoria : Victoria State Government Health and Human Services
Western Australia:Government of Western Australia travel advice
Norfolk Island: Norfolk Island Regional Council COVID-19 advice
Indian Ocean Territories: Advice from the Administrator of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Remote area restrictions
The Australian Government is restricting travel to certain remote communities
(designated areas). These restrictions aim to protect Community Elders and
those already sick.
Before you can enter a designated area, you must quarantine for 14
days.
If you are already in a designated area, stay there unless it is essential to
leave for medical treatment.
Find out how to access remote designated
areas.
To view the maps of designated areas and to find out more, see:

Maps of designated biosecurity (travel restricted) areas
Stay in your community and if you can, stay home
Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Emergency Requirements for Remote Communities) Determination 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for travellers
Travel to Australia
Australia’s borders are closed. Only Australian citizens, residents and
immediate family members can travel to Australia.
Travellers arriving from any country may undergo enhanced health screening on
arrival in Australia. All arrivals will be quarantined for 14 days and state
and territory travel restrictions may also apply.
The Information for international travellers fact
sheet is provided to travellers on arrival in Australia
and provides further information on current requirements.
Learn more about who can enter Australia from the Department of Home
Affairs.
Australian Border Force liaison officers at overseas airports will work with
airlines to identify anyone who should not board a flight to Australia.
Restrictions on international travel remain for now.
National Cabinet has agreed to a 3-step plan to create a COVIDSafe society.
Under Step 3, interstate travel and the possibility of travel to New Zealand
will be considered.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for travellers
Travel to Australia
Quarantine for arriving travellers 
Since 29 March 2020, all travellers arriving in Australia by air or sea must
be isolated in mandatory quarantine accommodation for 14
days from their arrival, with
few exceptions. After mandatory quarantine, they can transit domestically and
travel home.
These requirements are managed and enforced by state and territory governments
with Australian Government support, including from the Australian Defence
Force and Australian Border Force.
Travellers are quarantined in the city they arrive in for 14 days, even if
they don’t normally live there or plan to travel elsewhere in Australia from
there.
Most quarantine accommodation is being managed by state and territory
governments. They will:

handle transport for travellers from their arrival point to their quarantine accommodation
manage quarantine arrangements at the accommodation facility

To find out more about the quarantine requirements in your state or territory,
or to ask about someone you know who has been quarantined, contact your state
or territory government health department.
The Chief Medical Officer can, in consultation with the Australian Health
Protection Principal Committee, declare a
Human Health Response Zone (HHRZ) to support quarantine and isolation
procedures. Mandatory quarantine arrangements are mostly being managed under
state and territory public health legislation.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for travellers
Travel to Australia
Exemptions from mandatory quarantine
The following groups may be exempt from the 14 day mandatory quarantine
requirements when entering Australia. While these groups are exempt from
mandatory quarantine, all arrivals into Australia must continue to
practise physical distancing, cough etiquette and hand hygiene. Other
requirements, such as isolation, may still apply.
Unaccompanied minors
Unaccompanied minors will be allowed to travel domestically after entering
Australia to quarantine with a parent or guardian at their home.
Transit passengers

International transit passengers arriving into Australia are able to depart on another international flight if the following conditions are met: 
If the individual has up to 8 hours until the departing international flight, they must remain at the airport and be permitted to onward travel, maintaining social distancing and hand hygiene.
If 8-72 hours before the departing flight, they must go to mandatory quarantine at the state designated facility until the time of the departing flight.


No domestic onward travel is allowed, even if this is to meet a departing international flight. These people should go into mandatory quarantine at the state designated facility at the first point of arrival.

Diplomats


Australia has legal obligations under the Vienna Convention to ensure diplomats freedom of movement and travel, and protection from detention. Diplomats are not required to undertake 14 days of mandatory quarantine on arrival into Australia.


Diplomats should isolate at their mission or in their usual place of residence on arrival for 14 days.

Diplomats must continue to practise physical distancing, cough etiquette and hand hygiene.

Compassionate or medical grounds
Applications on medical or compassionate grounds should be submitted to the
relevant state or territory who will consider requests on a case-by-case
basis.
See contact details for state or territory public health agencies.
Industry exemptions
The following industry groups may also be exempt from mandatory quarantine:

Aviation crew
Maritime crew (excluding cruise ships).

For further information on industry exemptions, please refer to our COVID-19
resources for the travel industry.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for travellers
Travel to Australia
Cruise ships
Since 27 March 2020 additional restrictions on cruise ships, including
domestic cruises, have been in place. All foreign cruise ships are legally
required to leave Australian waters and no foreign cruise ships may enter
Australian waters (except for some limited exceptions).
Before this, on 15 March, the Government announced a ban on the entry of
cruise ships that had left a foreign port. Cruise ships could apply for an
exemption to arrive at an Australian port if they were already underway and
returning home.
Australian Border Force and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are
working to bring people back to Australia who were on a cruise when the ban
was announced. They will then work to get passengers to their home
destinations, either in Australia or overseas.
Cruise ship crews are not exempt from the mandatory quarantine requirements.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Australia – Pandemic Health Intelligence Plan
Why we need a pandemic health intelligence plan
We must remain vigilant to prevent a ‘second wave’ of infection as public
health-related restrictions are relaxed.
While the current number of COVID-19 cases in Australia is low, it is likely
there are people who are unknowingly infected and could spread the virus.
The Pandemic Health Intelligence Plan is designed to inform
decisions on adjusting the measures in place to suppress the spread of
COVID-19 in Australia. By using intelligence and surveillance we can consider
both our readiness to adjust restrictions and the outcome of changes we have
already made.
The plan includes 4 broad intelligence inputs, delivering objective measures
and indicators which will be the basis for decisions about safe, gradual
adjustment of our response measures.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Australia – Pandemic Health Intelligence Plan
Community acceptance and adherence

Effectiveness of measures depends on the community understanding, accepting and following public health advice.
The plan includes monitoring how well the public is adhering to health guidance, including community attitudes, transport and traffic movements, and movement data.

Gathering this information will allow Australian governments to make evidence-
based decisions about the measures required to continue to suppress the spread
of COVID-19 during the next phases of our response.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support
Coronavirus Supplement
On 22 March 2020, the Government announced it will provide a temporary payment
of $550 per fortnight, known as the Coronavirus Supplement, to new and
existing eligible income support recipients. On 24 March 2020, the Government
extended the eligibility criteria for this payment to Australians receiving
student support payments including Youth Allowance, Austudy and ABSTUDY.
Eligible recipients will receive the Coronavirus Supplement from 27 April 2020
along with their usual payment.
Eligibility for the Coronavirus Supplement is for people receiving the
following payments:

JobSeeker Payment (formerly known as Newstart Allowance)
Youth Allowance
Sickness Allowance
ABSTUDY (Living Allowance)
Austudy
Parenting Payment
Partner Allowance
Widow Allowance
Farm Household Allowance
Special Benefit.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support
First Economic Support Payment
On 12 March 2020, the Government announced it will provide an Economic Support
payment of $750 to approximately 6.8 million existing payment recipients and
concession card holders that are eligible as at 12 March 2020. On 22 March
2020, the eligibility criteria for this payment was extended to new payment
recipients who are eligible for their payment or card between 12 March 2020 to
13 April 2020 (inclusive). As long as someone had lodged a claim for an
eligible payment and was eligible for that payment by 13 April 2020, they
should have already received this economic support payment via Services
Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Payments were made from 31
March 2020 and would have been received by the majority of recipients by 17
April 2020.
Eligibility for the first Economic Support payment was for the following
payment recipients and concession cardholders, given that they resided in
Australia and were eligible as at 13 April 2020:

Age Pension
Disability Support Pension
Carer Payment
Parenting Payment
Wife Pension
Widow B Pension
ABSTUDY (Living Allowance)
Austudy
Bereavement Allowance
JobSeeker Payment (formerly Newstart Allowance)
Youth Allowance
Partner Allowance
Sickness Allowance
Special Benefit
Widow Allowance
Family Tax Benefit, including Double Orphan Pension
Carer Allowance
Pensioner Concession Card holders
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders
Veteran Service Pension; Veteran Income Support Supplement; Veteran Compensation payments, including lump sum payments; War Widow(er) Pension; and Veteran Payment
DVA PCC holders; DVA Education Scheme recipients; Disability Pensioners at the temporary special rate; DVA Income support pensioners at $0 rate
Veteran Gold Card holders
Farm Household Allowance.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support
Temporary Exemptions From Mutual Obligations
On 14 May 2020, the Government announced that mutual obligation requirements
will continue to be suspended until 1 June 2020 as a result of the impact of
COVID-19. This extends the exemptions which were due to end on 22 May, as
announced on 22 April 2020.
This means that during this period no compliance action will be taken for job
seekers who do not report their attendance at appointments or activities,
which means no one's payments will be suspended. The Government will continue
to review these arrangements regularly.
Please visit the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business's
webpage for further
Ministerial announcements.
The Government also announced a number of changes to mutual obligation
requirements to reduce or eliminate the need for face-to-face contact, when
requested by a job seeker or job service provider. The changes include:

Job seekers will have the option to request that face to face meetings with their job service providers take place over the phone or via an online channel such as Skype;
Job seekers will be able to complete activities such as online training, creating job plans, writing a CV and preparing job applications online;
Job Plans will be adjusted to a default requirement of four job searches a month (or fewer, at provider discretion) to reflect the softening labour market conditions.
Work for the Dole and other activities delivered in group settings that cannot be delivered online will be suspended until further notice;
Jobs Fairs and other large events will be postponed; and
Job service providers will be required to perform new risk assessments for a range of activities like Youth Jobs PaTH internships.

Current income support recipients who cannot meet mutual obligation
requirements due to isolation should call Services
Australia and can be granted a Major
Personal Crisis exemption, without having to provide evidence such as a
medical certificate.
Students receiving Youth Allowance (student) or other study related payments
who are in Australia but unable to attend studies due to coronavirus would be
taken to have a reasonable excuse for not meeting study activity requirements
for their payments. Individuals in this situation must contact Services
Australia to advise them of the circumstances.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support
People with disability
The Government released the Management and operational plan for COVID-19 for
people with disability on 17 April. This plan sets out a national approach to
ensure that the healthcare needs of people with disability, their families and
carers can be met during the pandemic, including access to appropriate
screening, prevention and health care. You can find the full details of the
plan on the Department of Health
website.
The department understands that people with disability, their carers and their
families may be particularly affected by coronavirus.
People with disability who need help because of coronavirus can contact the
Disability Information Helpline on 1800 643 787. More information, links,
resources and support are available on the department’s Disability and
carer's webpage.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support
Whole of Government Response to coronavirus
The Australian Government is providing a range of measures to address the
global health crisis related to coronavirus. Please visit The Treasury's
webpage for information on the
economic response to coronavirus including details of the JobKeeper payment
scheme and an overview of the Government's targeted economic response
packages.
For Department of Social Services specific related measures, please visit the
Minister for Families and Social Services'
webpage for Ministerial
announcements.
For general health information and advice on coronavirus, please visit the
Department of Health's webpage.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support
Reduction in the Partner Income Test Taper Rate
The Government has decided to reduce the JobSeeker Payment Partner Income Test
taper rate from 60 cents to 25 cents from 27 April 2020. This will allow more
couples to access payment where one of the couple loses their job and goes
onto JobSeeker Payment, and the working partner is on a more modest income.
The Government is committed to assisting Australians affected by the
coronavirus outbreak through a range of measures in the social security
system. A temporary change to the partner income test will ensure that couples
who experience an economic shock that results in one partner losing their job
or having their earnings reduced, are able to access income support or have
their existing entitlement increased.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support
Expanding Eligibility and Qualification for Payments
The Government also temporarily put in place expanded eligibility and
qualification criteria from 25 March 2020.
Eligibility for JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance for jobseekers have been
expanded to assist:

sole traders and self-employed people. They will be able to meet mutual obligation requirements by continuing to operate their businesses.
permanent employees who have been stood down or lost their job.
people caring for someone infected or in isolation as a result of contact with Coronavirus.

The following eligibility criteria have also been temporarily waived, for
certain payments:

the assets test
the Ordinary Waiting Period (already waived until 12 June 2020)
the Liquid Assets Waiting Period
the Seasonal Workers Preclusion Period
the Newly Arrived Residents Waiting Period.

Also from 25 March 2020, access to payments will become easier with a
temporary removal of the requirement for an Employment Separation Certificate,
proof of rental arrangements and verification of relationship status.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support
Employment Fund
To further assist job seekers to prepare for and move quickly back into work,
the Morrison Government is also bringing forward the Employment Fund credit
for the most job-ready job seekers to be available immediately, rather than
after 13 weeks, which is currently the case.
This change will apply to job seekers who commence in jobactive from 4 May
2020.
The Employment Fund can be used by employment service providers to purchase
work-related items including licenses, equipment, training or qualifications
to ensure workers are prepared and able to take up critical roles in the
economy.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support
Emergency Assistance and Support
Information on immediate emergency assistance or support available for those
affected by coronavirus:

For national emergency relief services, including food, clothing, vouchers or help with bills, contact your local arm of The Salvation Army or St Vincent De Paul.
For local emergency relief providers search 'Financial Crisis and Material Aid – Emergency Relief' at serviceproviders.dss.gov.au. Please note provider details are updated regularly but may not be current at the time of your search.
For financial counselling, including advice on managing debt, contact the free and confidential National Debt Helpline by calling 1800 007 007. Or visit MoneySmart for advice to help you manage your money.
• For those experiencing domestic violence, please contact 1800 RESPECT. Mensline Australia and the Men's Referral Service also offer support to people using violence. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 000
Lifeline offers personal crisis support services. Call 131 114 at any time. Kids Helpline is a free service for young people aged 5 to 25. Kids, teens and young adults can call 1800 551 800 at any time.
Those on a low income may be eligible to apply for a 'No Interest Loan'. For more information and details on how to apply, visit Good Shepherd Microfinance.
To test eligibility for income support payments including JobSeeker, contact Services Australia by visiting servicesaustralia.gov.au.
For more information on how the JobKeeper payment impacts Disability Support Pension (DSP) and Carer Payment (CP) recipients, please see COVID-19 Impact on DSP and CP and JobKeeper Recipients - Fact Sheet
For advice on how to seek medical help or to get tested for coronavirus, contact your state or territory health authority, or call the coronavirus helpline on 1800 020 080 at any time.
Latest news, advice and public health information is available at Australia.gov.au, or download on the 'Coronavirus Australia' app from the Apple and Google Play stores.
There are a number of Government funded crisis and support services to help people during the coronavirus pandemic. Download a list of dedicated online and telephone-based services for people with disability, older Australians, carers and for people experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support
Second Economic Support Payment
The Government announced on 22 March 2020, it would provide a second Economic
Support payment of $750 to approximately 5 million recipients under the same
eligibility criteria as the first Economic Support payment, provided the
recipient does not receive the Coronavirus Supplement with their payment. If
recipients are eligible at 10 July 2020, this second Economic Support payment
will be automatically paid via Services Australia or the Department of
Veterans’ Affairs. Payments will be made from 13 July onwards.
Please visit the Services Australia
website for more information on each
individual payment.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support
Reduction in the Partner Income Test Taper Rate
What is the change?

Under the current allowance income test, the income a person's partner earns is taken into account when determining their rate of payment. Over the partner income free area of $994 per fortnight, every dollar of income reduces the person's JobSeeker Payment by 60 cents. 
For JobSeeker Payment (including Energy Supplement), the current cut-out for a couple in which only one partner earns income is $1,858.50 per fortnight or $48,321 per annum.
From 27 April 2020 the taper rate for the partner income test associated with JobSeeker Payment will change from 60c to 25c. This change is temporary and will operate until the Coronavirus Supplement ceases to be payable. As a result of this change, the new partner income test cut-out for JobSeeker Payment will be $3,068.80 per fortnight, or $79,788.80 per year.
New and existing JobSeeker Payment recipients whose payment rate is adjusted because of partner income will benefit from this proposal.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for employers
Subsidised infection control training fast-tracked for re-opening businesses
The Australian Government together with state and territory governments have
established a new $80 million Infection Control Training Fund to fast-track
fee free (or low cost) infection control training to support the re-opening of
customer-facing businesses nationwide. The infection control short courses are
the first national training products developed by the new Australian Industry
Skills Emergency Response Sub-Committee in response to COVID-19.
Employers are encouraged to visit
training.gov.au to find out
more information about the training and contact their local training providers
or skills departments in their state and territory to find out where this
training is available for their employees.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for employers
Looking to hire?
While many businesses have been adversely affected by COVID-19 and are
reducing their workforces, there are some areas of the economy which have an
increased demand for workers. In this rapidly changing jobs market the
Australian Government has increased the support available for businesses
looking to hire.
If you are looking to recruit, you can email our Workforce Contact
Centre who can add your advertised vacancies to
the Jobs Hub or provide guidance on how to
post a vacancy on jobactive.gov.au.
If you have large recruitment needs a departmental representative will talk to
you about other options to assist with your recruitment such as connecting you
with an employment services provider or recently retrenched or stood down
workers.