News

From 21 February 2022 Australia is open for quarantine-free travel, to all states apart from Western Australia (closed until 3 March).

On Monday the 21st of February the drawbridge came down on ‘Fortress Australia’ after 100 weeks of self-imposed isolation.

For the first time since March 2020 vaccinated non-residents and international travellers can enter Australia quarantine-free, without a travel exemption. There were approximately 1.2 million visa holders who until today were locked out of the country.

Australia is suspending its green zone travel bubble with New Zealand for at least 72 hours — effective immediately — over a “significant” concern.

Australia suspended its green zone travel bubble with New Zealand for at least 72 hours from yesterday (Monday, 25th January 2021) out of an “abundance of caution” over a highly infectious strain of COVID-19.

25 February 2021
Quarantine free travel from New Zealand to Australia has resumed

All of New Zealand is now at alert level 1. Face coverings are mandatory for all public transport and domestic flights in New Zealand. The Safe Travel Zone allowing quarantine free flights from New Zealand to Australia resumed on 21 February 2021. If you’re travelling on a green zone flight and have been in Auckland in the last 14 days, you’ll need a negative COVID-19 test in the 72 hours prior to departure. These conditions will apply until 1 March 2021.

More info: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/pacific/new-zealand.

The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee advised the federal government of a “significant case of concern” in New Zealand regarding the South African variant.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said, “The possibility that that may lead to a transmission event, and out of an abundance of caution, the AHPPC has recommended to the government … that there should be a suspension,” he told reporters on Monday.

“This will be done out of an abundance of caution whilst more is learnt about the event and the case.” Mr Hunt said the suspension would begin immediately.

“It’s recommended that all passengers from NZ with a green safe travel zone flight scheduled in the next 72 hours reconsider their need to travel. They will, as a consequence, have to go into hotel quarantine,” he said.

Anyone arriving from New Zealand on or since January 14 must also be isolated and tested.

“We apologise to those who may be inconvenienced. This has been taken on the basis of strong, clear, immediate medical advice,” Mr Hunt said.

Deputy chief medical officer Michael Kidd said authorities were advised on Sunday about a NZ case of COVID-19 involving a person who had completed hotel quarantine in Auckland and developed symptoms a few days later. But it was only revealed on Monday that the person had contracted the highly contagious South African strain.

“The infected person visited at least 30 locations. This new variant is more transmissible and presents a heightened level of risk.”

Professor Kidd said 72 hours would allow authorities to find out what actually happened in NZ.

“This case, of course, has only been detected over the last two days. People who have been to … those 30-odd venues in NZ are now doing as we would be doing in Australia — they’re isolating at home and arranging to get tested. We are waiting for those test results to come back.”

Professor Kidd said two green zone flights from New Zealand were due to travel to Australia later on Monday. It is not yet clear how many people have arrived from NZ since January 14, 2021.

Asked if there were concerns that some variants had a longer incubation period than 14 days, Professor Kidd said the advice coming from NZ authorities was that it was probably an infection that occurred while the person was in quarantine.

“We’re waiting for further advice from the NZ authorities on that. We are concerned about these variants,” he said.

Mr Hunt said Prime Minister Scott Morrison had a “very productive and convivial conversation” with his NZ counterpart.

He also described NZ as a global success story and said Australia would not usually suspend travel as a result of one case.

“We have the absolute highest belief in NZ’s quality and ability to contact trace. It’s just the combination of the transmissibility of the variant and the circumstances of the particular case … which led the AHPPC to give us categorical strong, clear, unanimous advice,” Mr Hunt said.

News.com.au article: https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/australia-suspends-green-zone-travel-bubble-with-new-zealand-for-at-least-72-hours/news-story/51ba5abe77bda3ddf165cfea0549a508.

Australia suspends travel bubble with NZ – NZ Herald

Any passengers from New Zealand with a green card flight scheduled within the next 72 hours will need to rethink their need to travel. Those who travel to Australia must go into hotel quarantine for at least 72 hours and potentially for up to 14 days.

Anyone who has arrived in Australia from NZ on or since January 14 is asked to isolate and get tested. They should isolate until they get a negative test result.

Hunt has apologised to anyone inconvenienced, but he says this decision was taken based on strong, clear, immediate medical advice from health authorities.

“In brief, the Australian Government has received advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee of a significant case of concern in NZ regarding the South African variant,” Hunt said.

There is a “possibility that that may lead to a transmission event,” Hunt continued, “and out of an abundance of caution, the AHPPC has recommended to the government … that there should be a suspension.”

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had informed her about the move. “I was advised late this afternoon of Australia’s decision by the Prime Minister. I advised him that we have confidence in our systems and processes, but it is Australia’s decision as to how they manage their borders.”

Air New Zealand released a statement acknowledging the travel bubble suspension (https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/covid19-international-travel).

“Air New Zealand currently operates quarantine-free flights between Auckland and Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and transiting flights through Norfolk Island,” the statement reads.

The travel bubble suspension will impact five services over the next 72 hours, including flight NZ149 To Brisbane this evening. Customers booked on these services are being contacted, and the airline will re-accommodate them once further advice has been received from the Australian Government.

“We understand this is disappointing news for customers, and we thank them for their patience and understanding.”

NZ Hearld article: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/covid-19-coronavirus-australia-suspends-travel-bubble-with-nz/ZYDDKVR3DKRPBQLIYQHR7AKKGA/.

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After a long year, Australia has hit a major COVID milestone with interstate travel now possible. Here’s everything you need to know including the latest rules and forms to fill.

Australia has hit a major milestone with state border restrictions being almost completely eliminated by this weekend, marking the first time the country has been open for months.

25 February 2021
Quarantine free travel from New Zealand to Australia has resumed

All of New Zealand is now at alert level 1. Face coverings are mandatory for all public transport and domestic flights in New Zealand. The Safe Travel Zone allowing quarantine free flights from New Zealand to Australia resumed on 21 February 2021. If you’re travelling on a green zone flight and have been in Auckland in the last 14 days, you’ll need a negative COVID-19 test in the 72 hours prior to departure. These conditions will apply until 1 March 2021.

More info: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/pacific/new-zealand.

But there are rules, forms, catches and exemptions to be aware of, along with warnings and promises that any outbreak will immediately see new closures and rules put back in place.

South Australians face the toughest restrictions with Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, the ACT and the Northern Territory closing their borders, but hope is finally here.

Before you travel within Australia or from New Zealand

It is important you find out about the restrictions and conditions for the place you are travelling to. You should do this before booking or leaving your home.

The Australian aviation industry has developed Domestic Passenger Journey Protocols. These protocols provide clear and consistent guidance to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in domestic airports and on aircraft.

Mandatory quarantine applies to travellers entering Australia from overseas, except if arriving from a green zone country (New Zealand). Read more about international travel restrictions and quarantine exemptions for travellers arriving in Australia.

State of Australian borders

Western Australia

Travellers from NSW, VIC, NT, QLD, ACT, and TAS can enter without quarantine having completed a G2G PASS declaration (find more info below). The border was closed to SA until December 11 (yesterday), when it moved to “low risk” status. Travellers will then be able to enter with some controls, including quarantine (https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/covid-communications/covid-19-coronavirus-controlled-interstate-border).

Travellers from ACT, NT, QLD, TAS, NSW and VIC will not be required to quarantine while those from SA will need to self-quarantine for 14 days in a “suitable premise”.

“When the risk from SA is considered ‘very low’ by the chief health officer or when they have not had community cases of COVID-19 in the past 28 days, easing of the restrictions on these states will be considered,” the WA government has stated.

G2G NOW

If you are entering WA and required to self-quarantine, you can download the G2G NOW app which enables WA Police to conduct quarantine compliance checks using facial recognition and mobile location data. Police can send remote check-in requests through the app.

Police will conduct in-person visits for people who do not download and use the G2G NOW app.

Find out more about G2G NOW.

Northern Territory

The border is open to all Australian states and territories as there are no COVID hotspot declarations in place. All travellers must complete a border entry form.

You will have to quarantine if you have been in a declared COVID-19 hotspot in the 14 days before you arrive in the Territory.

NT Border Entry Application

You must fill in this application if you are travelling to the NT from another location within Australia or overseas. Anyone seeking to enter the NT must declare:

• if they have been in a COVID-19 hotspot
• where they have been in the last 28 days
• their personal contact details

Complete this application no more than 7 days prior to arriving in the Northern Territory. You should be aware of the Chief Health Officer directions regarding entry to the Northern Territory.

This application will take around 5 mins to complete: https://forms.nt.gov.au/Produce/Form/COVID19/Northern%20Territory%20Border%20Entry%20Application/.

South Australia

SA is open to travellers from all other states and territories, having completed a Cross Border Travel Registration. Some states have imposed restrictions on travellers from SA.

Cross Border Travel Registration

https://forms.police.sa.gov.au/Runtime/Runtime/Form/CrossBorderTravel

Queensland

Queensland borders are open to all of Australia and the New Zealand safe travel zone.

You do not need a border pass to enter Queensland.

Arriving from overseas?

If you are arriving from overseas, please visit the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs website.

New South Wales

The border is open to all Australian states and territories and New Zealand, but anyone who has been in SA in the previous 14 days must complete an entry declaration form. Some specific locations in SA are deemed “areas of concern” for particular time frames, and travel will be restricted for non-NSW residents.

Complete a NSW entry declaration form

https://apply.service.nsw.gov.au/nsw-entry-declaration

You can do this:

• within the 24 hour period before entering NSW, or
• when you enter NSW.

You’ll need to complete an entry declaration form each time you enter NSW, but not more than one per calendar day.  Keep a copy of your declaration with you at all times while you’re travelling as you’ll need to produce it if requested by an enforcement officer. You also need to carry any supporting evidence associated with your travel, at all times.

ACT

The border is open to all states and territories, including South Australia.

However, if you have been in a geographical area of risk you are not able to visit or work in high-risk settings (like aged care and health care facilities) for 14 days after leaving the designated area. Please visit the Chief Health Officers alerts page for more information.

Victoria

Everyone who arrives in Victoria from South Australia requires a Victorian Border Crossing Permit, which is issued based on locations visited in SA. Victoria is open to travellers from other states, including New Zealand.

Victorian Border Crossing Permit

Information for people travelling to Victoria from South Australia: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/south-australian-border-permit.

You can apply for a permit at the Services Victoria website.

Tasmania

Travellers from low-risk areas – VIC, NSW, QLD, ACT, WA, NT and NZ – can register with Tas e-Travel and need not quarantine. SA is generally classified as low risk, but specific locations may be deemed high risk, restricting travel. Current travel alerts are listed on the Tasmanian Government website: https://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/travellers-and-visitors.

Register your travel

Travellers to Tasmania, including returning residents, need to provide their contact and travel details before entering the state, to help manage the risk of COVID-19 at Tasmania’s borders.

Register through the Tas e-Travel system, no more than three (3) days before arriving.

Further information

You can read the full news article here on News.com.au: https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/health-safety/australia-borders-reopening-can-i-travel-to-another-state-all-the-latest-rules-and-forms-to-fill/news-story/80263a7a6fc942a364cddb3f77fe078f.

You can find more information on the Australian Government Department of Health website, including remote area access: https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/coronavirus-covid-19-restrictions/coronavirus-covid-19-domestic-travel-restrictions-and-remote-area-access.

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XE’s moving to Australia guide is a must-read for every ex-pat thinking of relocating to the land down under.

It’s no secret that Australians enjoy a high quality of life. Australia has breathtaking landscapes, a low population and numerous career opportunities, and is considered one of the best countries to live in because of its low pollution levels, high socioeconomic status and high life expectancy. It also offers easy access to quality education.

Australia is also very welcoming to immigrants! 30% of its residents were born overseas, and people flock to the country each year for better opportunities. Between June 2018 and June 2019, 538,000 people moved to Australia.

Quick facts about Australia (for ex-pats):

• Australia’s currency is the Australian Dollar (AUD).

• The biggest cities are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth (in that order).

• You need to get a visa that fits the work you intend to do in Australia (read below).

• Australia has a high cost of living, probably because it is the world’s 12th-largest economy.

• The country’s public school system follows the British system and meets international standards. However, some ex-pats prefer the private school system.

• Australia is considered one of the world’s safest and most stable countries.

Interesting facts about life in Australia:

• Australia is the land of no worries. You’ll hear Aussies say “no worries” many times a day.

• There are no deadly animals and insects waiting around the corner to kill you. They live mainly in the Outback.

• If you have food allergies or intolerance, restaurants will cater to your needs.

• Most companies pay well. The average weekly wage is $1,713.90 AUD.

• Aussies eat outside on a regular basis and love a good BBQ. They also participate in sports and recreational activities more than people in other developed countries.

• Holidays are not a big deal. While everyone gets excited about Christmas and Easter, the festive spirit is not as pronounced as in the US and the UK.

• Aussies don’t tip all the time. They only tip to reward genuinely outstanding service.

• Smoking is extremely expensive. Smokers pay $35 AUD for a pack of 20 cigarettes.

• The most popular car is the Toyota Hilux.

Does that sound good to you? If you’re planning on moving to Australia, there are a few things you should be aware of.

6 things you should do before moving to Australia

Moving to a new country can be daunting. But many people still decide to take the plunge and move to Australia every year, and we can’t blame them. With its picture-perfect beaches, laid-back attitude and glorious climate, it’s not surprising that so many foreigners make the move.

But before you book that flight in a hurry, there are a few things you should do…

1. Get the right work visa

If you already have an employment contract or a job offer in Australia, all you need to do is apply for one of the Australian work visas. There are visas for skilled workers, highly specialized workers, people participating in specific activities, and more. If you’re an experienced businessperson or investor and meet the necessary criteria, you qualify for an Australian self-employment visa, which is known as the Business Talent Visa.

Australia offers employment-based visas and work permits for different expert workers relocating to the country for job-related purposes. Be sure to get the right work visa by visiting the Department of Home Affairs website. If you’re not sure which visa is suitable for you or don’t know how to proceed with your application, you can contact an immigration professional who will guide you through the entire process.

2. Know the cost of living for your city

The cost of living in Australia is high. However, it differs from region to region. Sydney and Melbourne are Australia’s most expensive cities. You’ll need $3,671 AUD a month to live comfortably in Sydney. Outside Sydney and Melbourne, life is relatively affordable. You can get by on $2,364 AUD a month in a smaller city like Hobart. Rent is quoted by the week.

If you live a minimal lifestyle, you can expect to spend $600 AUD per week. Add 1/3 of that for Sydney and Melbourne and about 10% for the other big cities. You’ll have enough money to pay for a modest shared flat in a relatively safe suburb. The money will also cater for food, low-cost entertainment, basic utilities and a public transit card for commuting. You can visit Numbeo for accurate and timely information on the cost of living in Australia.

3. Open a bank account with one of the top banks in Australia

The most popular banks in Australia are Commonwealth Bank of Australia (Commbank), Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ), National Australia Bank (NAB), Westpac Banking Corporation and HSBC.

Some Australian banks allow you to open an account before moving to the country. But before you open one, consider your banking requirements and your personal situation. Some banks offer better solutions to people who save large sums of money or transfer money to Australia to invest in a business or buy a house.

Opening a bank account in Australia can take 5-10 business days, depending on the account type. Some banks accept a photocopy of a driving license or a passport, but it may have to be certified by someone in a position of responsibility, like a civil servant or a doctor.

Please note, it will save you a lot of time and paperwork if you open an Australian account before you leave your home country.

4. Transfer money to your Australian bank account

Bank fees are expensive, so don’t try to transfer your money internationally with a bank. It may seem convenient, but banks have unfavourable exchange rates and high, numerous fees. Some banks claim to only have one service fee, but they often have several additional third-party and transaction fees, cleverly hidden in the total transfer cost.

As soon as you open an Australian bank account, open an account with XE to transfer your money. Unlike banks, XE doesn’t hide additional third-party fees after you’ve confirmed your money transfer. The amount you pay for the transfer is all you’ll need to pay.

You can use their currency converter to check the exchange rates, informed by data straight from the live currency markets. If you have any trouble, their amazing customer service team.

5. Book your flight in advance and save

According to Investopedia, flights to Australia are cheapest two times a year:

• May 1st up to the first week of June

• The third week of July up to the third week of September

During peak season (December), airfare can be as high as $3,000 USD, so it’s best to fly during the low season. If your travel days are flexible, you can save more money by flying on a weekday (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). Monday mornings, Friday evenings, and Sunday afternoons are not great times to fly unless you have a few hundred dollars to spare.

Travelling to Australia is pricey and the airfare alone can bust your budget. Book your flight as early as possible, at least two months in advance. If you book a flight just before your travel date, you’ll have to pay more for a seat.

It’s also worth mentioning that most travel agencies hold seats for their clients. If the clients change their travel plans, the seats become available. This is another great way to find cheap flights. But it’s better to book your flight early to avoid disappointment.

6. Find out about healthcare

Australia has a universal medical coverage system called Medicare. The publicly funded initiative provides primary healthcare to citizens, permanent residents and some visitors. People with medical coverage pay their medical charges upfront and then get reimbursed by the government.

However, Medicare isn’t available to ex-pats with temporary visas. You’ll have to pay for private health insurance. If you hold a permanent visa, you’re eligible for public healthcare. When you apply for an Australian working visa, you’ll be asked to show evidence of a private health cover that you’ll use until you get a Medicare card or private healthcare insurance.

If you decide to get private healthcare insurance, visit privatehealth.gov.au. The government-run website lists all the insurers that get a tax rebate on insurance. You can also use the insurance policy comparison tool to compare policies.

How to Find a Job in Australia

Jobs in Australia are advertised online and in national and local papers. If you’ve moved to the land down under and want to find your dream job, visit job boards like CareerOne, Seek, JobSearch, and Adzuna. Most of the sites send out automated email updates, keeping you informed on jobs you might be interested in.

You can also find out about jobs in your industry or field of expertise on social networking sites like Twitter and LinkedIn. Let your connections know that you’re moving to Australia and they may use their networks to help you. If you belong to any professional associations, ask them if they have any counterparts in Australia.

You can also send a general job application to companies you’d like to work for outlining your skills and experience. You can submit your application through the company website or send it to the recruitment manager. If something suitable comes up, you’ll be first in line.

XE wishes you the best of luck with your upcoming move. Know that they’re there to help with any of your foreign currency needs. Log in or sign up for a free account today to see what we can do for you.

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CBA will now start accepting new requests from eligible first-home buyers who are purchasing new homes to join the FHLDS: New Home Guarantee waitlist.

CommBank announced today that the extension to the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme (the Scheme) will allow even more home buyers to realise the Aussie dream of owning their own property.

From October 21st, 2020, eligible first-time home buyers looking to build or purchase a newly built home can request a place on CBA’s waitlist.

As part of the 2020-21 Federal Budget, the Australian Government announced the New Home Guarantee, an additional 10,000 Scheme places specifically for first-time home buyers purchasing new homes with a deposit of between 5 and 20 percent of the property’s value.

The First Home Loan Deposit Scheme is an Australian Government initiative to support eligible first home buyers purchase their first home sooner.

Usually first home buyers with less than a 20 per cent deposit need to pay lenders mortgage insurance. Under the Scheme, eligible first home buyers can purchase a modest home with a deposit with as little as 5 per cent (lenders criteria also apply). This is because NHFIC guarantees to a participating lender up to 15 percent of the value of the property purchased that is financed by an eligible first home buyer’s home loan.

All applications for the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme need to be made directly with one of the Scheme’s participating lenders. NHFIC doesn’t accept applications directly from first home buyers.

Angus Sullivan, Commonwealth Bank Group Executive, said: “We have already helped more than 3,000 Australians purchase a house under the Scheme and are extremely supportive of the move to extend this to an additional 10,000 Australians looking to buy their first home.

“We know that saving for a deposit can be difficult. Given the challenges many of our customers have faced over the past few months, we support any initiatives that play a constructive role in helping first-home buyers get onto the property ladder and support the broader economic recovery, specifically in the construction industry.

“We are proud to have been a major participant in the Scheme since its inception and have helped more Australians purchase a home under the Scheme than any other lender. One in four Australian home loans are with CommBank, and with some of the lowest fixed rates on record, our Australian-based call centres and industry-leading processing remain open for business and ready to assist.”

Under the New Home Guarantee, a revised set of property price caps will apply for eligible properties.

For more information on the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme, read this Australia Government fact sheet: https://www.nhfic.gov.au/media/1308/fhlds-fact-sheet-july-2020-final.pdf.

Read more about CommBank and why you should open a bank account here in my Open an Australian Bank Account post.

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COVID-19 has changed all our lives in one way or another and some New Zealanders need to move back to NZ from Australia.

Read below what you need to know about moving back home to New Zealand from Australia:

• Flights from Australia to New Zealand
• Border measures in New Zealand
• Managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) requirements in New Zealand
• Moving your household goods from Australia to New Zealand
• Don’t give your money to the banks, bring more of it home with smart money transfers
• Government support
• Finding employment
• And what’s life is like in NZ at the moment

We all want to visit our friends and family in Australia and vice a versa, some kiwis have had to put their plans to move to Australia on hold… and now the travel bubble is open we can!

8 July 2021
Travel-Bubble between Australia and New Zealand has been paused/almost resumed/resumed

Quarantine free travel from New South Wales and Queensland remains paused until further notice. Quarantine free travel from Northern Territory and Western Australia will resume from 11.59pm NZT on 9 July. Quarantine free travel from the ACT, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria to New Zealand has resumed. You’ll need a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before departure if you’ve been in Australia for more than 72 hours. COVID-19 outbreaks can occur and NZ authorities could implement measures, including alert level changes at short notice, which may impact your ability to move freely (see ‘Travel’). Be prepared for the possibility of an extended stay or disruption to your travel. Follow the advice of local authorities and contact your airline or travel provider for the latest update.

More info: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/pacific/new-zealand.

Read latest news on the Trans-Tasman Bubble here: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/trans-tasman-bubble/.

Travel between NZ and Australia (as at 8 July 2021):

• Quarantine free travel from New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland remains paused until further notice. From 11.59pm NZT on 9 July, returned green flights will commence from these states. This is for people who are ordinarily resident in New Zealand and have been unable to return due to the pause on quarantine-free travel.
• Quarantine free travel from Northern Territory and Western Australia will resume from 11.59pm NZT on 9 July. Quarantine free travel from the ACT, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria to New Zealand has resumed. You’ll require a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before departure if you’ve been in Australia for more than 72 hours.
• COVID-19 outbreaks can occur and authorities could implement measures at short notice, which may impact your ability to move freely. Be prepared for the possibility of an extended stay or disruption to your travel.
• New Zealand is exempt from the ban on overseas travel from Australia for travellers who have been in Australia or New Zealand for 14 days prior to departure. Be prepared for the possibility of an extended stay or disruption to your travel if authorities implement measures in response to COVID-19 outbreaks.
• If you haven’t been in Australia or New Zealand for 14 days before you travel to NZ you’ll still need to register to secure a place in managed isolation before departing for New Zealand. You’ll be required to isolate for 14 days. You may be required to contribute to the cost of your managed isolation. If you’re arriving from any location except Australia, Antarctica and most Pacific Islands, you’ll be required to provide written evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before departure. For further information see NZ COVID-19.
• Travel into New Zealand from some countries is restricted. Additional measures apply if you meet the conditions to be permitted to enter New Zealand from a country considered to be very high risk.
• If you’re transiting a country for more than 96 hours that is not on the exempt list you’ll need to be tested before leaving that country. If you’re arriving without evidence of a negative COVID-19 test or medical certificate you may incur an infringement offence fee or a fine of up to NZD1,000 (except those arriving from an exempt country).

News from 6th April 2021

Transtasman travel bubble: All you need to know

New Zealanders and Australians can start crossing the Tasman in droves again after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced quarantine-free travel will begin from 19 April between the countries.

So whether you are chasing a holiday under the Australian sun or visiting loved ones, here’s what you need to know when planning a trip across the ditch.

When can you leave?

New Zealanders can not only book flights right now but also take off as New Zealanders are already able to travel to Australia without having to quarantine on arrival.

Air New Zealand, Jetstar and Qantas, meanwhile, are planning to ramp up flights from NZ to Australia once the two-way bubble opens (19 April).

Air New Zealand expects to fly between three and five flights per day from Auckland to Sydney after 19 April. Currently it has three flights leaving to Sydney on 19 April, with the cheapest costing $283. It then has two flights per day leaving on 20 and 21 April, four flights leaving on Thursday, 22 April and five on Friday, 23 April.

It also plans to offer one-to-three flights per day from Auckland to Melbourne and one-to-two per day to Brisbane.

Aucklanders will also be able to fly to the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Adelaide and Hobart, with plans to include flights to Perth. Air NZ will also offer direct flights from Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown to Australia.

Qantas and Jetstar plan to operate up to 122 return flights per week after 19 April.

That includes two new routes into Queensland, Auckland to Cairns and the Gold Coast, a move that will provide competition to Air New Zealand.

The 122 return flights per week will initially fly 15 routes and offer more than 52,000 seats each week.

Where in Australia can I go?

New Zealanders can enter every Australian state and territory without quarantining including Western Australia. However this does change regularly for short periods so it’s important to check:

That means New Zealanders can plan holidays in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.

Who will travel?

Families separated by border closures will be the big winners, while New Zealand tourism operators hope visiting Australians will boost their businesses.

Do I need a Covid-19 test to travel?

No, but if you’ve tested positive for Covid in the last 14 days or you are still waiting for a test result to come back, you won’t be allowed to travel.

If there is an outbreak while you are in Australia, you might also need a Covid test to be able to return to NZ.

Will I have to get the vaccine?

No, you will be able to catch your flight without a vaccine.

Keep an eye on individual state restrictions

Individual Australian states and territories may have different entry requirements and you should read up on what these are before you travel (https://www.interstatequarantine.org.au/state-and-territory-border-closures/).

What should I expect at the airport?

Australian and New Zealand airports will be set up to ensure travellers between the two countries do not mix with those returning from other countries. That means you’ll be taken through so-called green zones with Auckland Airport’s international terminal split into two parts.

Travellers will also have to declare that they’ve only been in either NZ or Australia for at least the last 14 days and could be subjected to random temperature checks.

Expect to wear a mask

Yes, masks will be compulsory on all flights crossing the Tasman.

Will I need to quarantine?

The transtasman bubble is designed to allow Kiwis and Aussies to travel quarantine-free between the two countries.

But the exception to that could be if an outbreak occurs in Australia or New Zealand while you are visiting. You may then have to enter a managed isolation facility on your return to NZ or Australia.

How will the Government manage the risk?

The Government has set up a green, orange and red traffic light system to deal with Covid-19 outbreaks in Australia.

You should be able to continue travelling quarantine free if a Covid case occurs where authorities think there is a low risk of further transmission, such as if it is a border worker who tests positive. But if there is a Covid case from an unknown source and that Australian state goes into a short lockdown then flights to New Zealand could be paused for up to 72 hours. Multiple cases from an unknown source could lead to flights to New Zealand being suspended for a longer period.

If you are stranded by the suspension of flights, you will be on your own with the Government not planning to provide any accommodation. This means you should plan to have extra money and emergency contingency options in place.

You should also be prepared in case you need to stay in a managed isolation facility if you are returning from an Australian state that has been in lockdown.

Read article here: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/transtasman-travel-bubble-all-you-need-to-know/TE4JFI3OTXOY4IVJ5XXOINQQ54/.

News from 20th October 2020

A lot of New Zealanders plans to move to Australia had to be put on hold due to Covid-19. I’ve personally heard from a lot people who have had to deal with cancelled flights, furniture moved to Australia without the owners, money transferred over and then refunded and a lot of missed family events.

Finally we have good news… the New South Wales and the Northern Territory’s borders have opened to New Zealanders from October 16 2020, provided they have not been in an area designated as a COVID-19 hotspot in New Zealand in the preceding 14 days. This means New Zealanders can finally make the move they have been planning, without having to quarantine upon arrival.

This doesn’t help those who want to move to Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania, but it does give us hope that it won’t be too long before New Zealanders can move there too.

However, a few New Zealanders put the Tram-Tasman Bubble at risk by and have angered Australian’s.

There were a number of New Zealanders who used the NSW open border to their advantage and after flying into NSW they boarded domestic flights into other states.

About 23 Kiwi travellers slipped into Western Australia despite the state having a hard border with overseas arrivals.

In Victoria, the state which has battled Australia’s worst Covid-19 outbreak, 65 New Zealanders entered the Garden State without the State Government’s knowledge, and another five into South Australia.

Let’s hope it doesn’t hinder other borders opening, so those who want to move can.

Read article here: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/covid-19-coronavirus-australian-travel-bubble-in-doubt-as-anger-rises-over-kiwi-travellers/NIL7ZW2F2WICISGGSRQUBXNV2A/.

News from 15th October 2020

From the 16th of October New Zealanders will be able to travel to New South Wales and the Northern Territory in Australia without having to quarantine upon arrival. Provided they have not been in a designated Covid-19 hotspot in the 14 days before they fly out. A hotspot is defined as a place with a rolling three-day average of three cases a day.

On return you would have to complete 14 days of managed isolation in New Zealand and pay the $3100 quarantine fee.

These passengers must travel to Australia on a “quarantine-free flight”, which only carries those who meet the requirements.

You do not need to be a New Zealand citizen to travel to Australia quarantine-free if you meet the above criteria, but you will need a valid visa to enter Australia. New Zealand citizens do not need to apply for a visa before coming to Australia.

The arrangement is currently limited to travel to New South Wales and the Northern Territory, but other states and territories may be added at a later date.

Before travelling to Australia, passengers must print and compete a Covid-19 declaration form and present it at check-in at the airport: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/covid-19/Documents/covid-19-declaration-form.pdf.

If passengers don’t present this form, they may not be able to board their flight.

On arrival in Australia, there will be green and red zones at the airport to separate passengers arriving on “quarantine-free” flights and those who must complete 14 days of mandatory quarantine.

If you travel on a quarantine-free flight, you will be guided through the green zone to complete all border clearance processes in the airport of arrival in Australia.

Air New Zealand chief executive officer Greg Foran said in a statement the airline has introduced “quarantine” and “quarantine-free” flights to Australia in line with the safe travel zone requirements.

The quarantine-free flights will be for travellers originating from New Zealand who are flying from Auckland to Sydney and are not required to quarantine on arrival in Australia.

Quarantine flights will be open to passengers who do not meet the safe travel zone criteria and will be required to quarantine on arrival in Australia.

Air New Zealand is currently operating eight return flights between Auckland and Sydney per week and would look to operate two quarantine flights per week, while the remaining flights will be quarantine-free.

Between October 16 and 24, the airline would operate three quarantine flights – on October 17, 22 and 24 – and all other flights would be quarantine-free. On October 22, the airline would operate both a quarantine-free and a quarantine flight.

The airline said it was working through flights from October 25.

Passengers planning to travel interstate beyond New South Wales would need to ensure they have checked state and territory travel restrictions and have the appropriate exemptions and approvals to travel.

Customers would not be able to book onwards domestic flights via Air New Zealand due to Australian state restrictions.

The safe travel zone is currently only one-way, with passengers returning to New Zealand from Australia still having to complete 14 days of managed isolation on their return.

Australians are still not allowed to travel to New Zealand.

Officials from New Zealand and Australia are continuing to discuss all aspects of two-way trans-Tasman travel, which New Zealand remains committed to introducing as soon as it is safe.

The limited Trans-Tasman bubble will generally only benefit New Zealanders wanting to travel to Australia for emergencies and major events, along with those Australia-based Kiwis who have been in NZ during the pandemic and want to return home to Australia.

The extremely limited cap on flights and the exemption process for non-Australian citizens has made it difficult to get customers across the ditch until now.

Read more:

• https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/123098185/transtasman-bubble-australia-releases-new-rules-for-kiwi-travellers
• https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/300130425/its-not-really-a-bubble-few-kiwis-set-to-make-use-of-limited-transtasman-travel

News from 2nd September 2020

Winston Peters says ‘disaster’ Auckland and Melbourne outbreaks have set back trans-Tasman travel bubble.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says the “disaster” Covid-19 outbreaks in Melbourne and Auckland have set back plans for the trans-tasman travel bubble.

Scott Morrison, Australian Prime Minister, said he was still keen to establish travel arrangements with neighbouring countries and he hoped they could be in place by Christmas one media outlet reported.

But Peters today wasn’t so sure, though he wouldn’t be drawn on whether Christmas was too optimistic.

Peters said “We’ve been set back so hard. We had the Melbourne disaster and then we had our own disaster. If we can fix it up in the way that we’ve got confidence in the Australian system and they’ve got confidence in ours, then yeah we can do that.”

Peters said the travel bubble depended on both countries having tight borders.

“The protocols could be put in place in two days flat, quite frankly, but what you need to have ensured is the maritime and aviation surveillance in both countries is good enough to assure us that we’ve got a safe bubble.”

Peters said a team in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was still working on the arrangements and he continued to think it was a “great idea”.

Read the full NZ Hearld article here: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12361510.

News from 24th August 2020

New Zealand top of Australian travel wish list, but expect delays

As the global aviation sector battles to claw back its lost billions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Australians dreaming of a jaunt abroad could be dusting off their passports within the year.

Alan Joyce, Qantas CEO, gave his insights into when we will be heading overseas again. Earlier this week during a trading post in which the airline announced they’d made a $2 billion loss for FY20, Mr Joyce gave a rather optimistic forecast on overseas travel.

Mr Joyce predicts international travel to return by mid-2021, after the Federal Government put a ban on overseas travel in March.

But a small detail in his address points to a sign that longer overseas routes that require larger aircraft, such as A380s and the like, could be a lot further away, shedding some light on where Australians will be able to travel to first.

Read the full article here: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=12358898.

Updated information on the Trans-Tasman Bubble

I will continue to search Australia and New Zealand news websites and keep the information on this page up to date.

As soon as there are major announcements on when the Trans-Tasman Bubble will happen I will email the newsletter database, so make sure you subscribe to our monthly newsletter (right side or bottom of screen).

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Qantas boss Alan Joyce has given an update on the hyped trans-Tasman travel bubble as he announces major changes to rock the airline.

Qantas is hopeful the highly anticipated trans-Tasman travel bubble may proceed in the coming months, despite its less positive forecast for international travel generally.

NZ PM Jacinda Ardern says opening the country’s borders is “frankly dangerous” – but Australian airports are still keen to see the trans-Tasman bubble launch.

Thousands of jobs in the tourism sector will be lost if domestic travel isn’t opened up over the next three weeks, according to the Australian Chamber of Tourism’s John Hart.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says opening the country’s borders would be “frankly dangerous” until coronavirus cases begin to drop across the world, as Aussie airports push for the trans-Tasman travel bubble to go ahead.

As the state braces for tough lockdowns, a new chart from ANZ shows the devastating economic impact of a second wave of COVID-19.

Australia has moved heaven and earth to get the economy up from its coronavirus slump.

The chart shows the recent fall in spending is not nearly as large as the fall in March and April. (Neither is it as large as the fall in late December, caused by bushfires.) But it is a worrying signal of how rapidly the progress of the economy follows the virus.

The state government is working hard to suppress the viral outbreaks, bringing in tough new rules. Instead of locking down the whole state, or even the whole city of Melbourne, the lockdowns are focused on postcodes that have seen a high number of virus cases.

The new lockdowns are designed to keep as much of the economy unaffected as possible. Most of the state can continue to operate as normal, working, shopping and travelling around.

But will this work? One risk is it might not contain the virus properly. Viruses don’t respect postcode boundaries and the coronavirus may already be beyond the areas in lockdown. The other risk is that all Victorians react to the news of the viral spread and new lockdowns by reducing spending – even if the lockdowns don’t apply to them.

What if the reason is winter?

The second wave in Victoria’s viral cases has come as the thermometer drops. Temperatures in Melbourne have been frosty in recent weeks, with minimums as low as two degrees Celsius.

This raises a question with global relevance. Will Asia, Europe and North America also see an upsurge in virus cases when winter returns?

Winter weather is not the only factor making the virus spread, but it makes suppression harder. It may be that the virus lasts longer in cold air, and low temperatures encourage people to huddle inside where transmission is more likely.

Take a population with a few residual infections, add some cold weather and viral spread can take off. The first wave of viral outbreaks happened in cold places (Wuhan, Northern Italy and New York) in midwinter.

Victoria’s uptick in cases could be a lesson for the world – lockdowns work tremendously in summer, but they need to be extremely strict in cold weather to get the same effect.

If this is the case, the current success in suppressing the virus in the northern hemisphere might be partially because of summer. Ninety per cent of the world’s population lives in the northern hemisphere and they could be facing a second wave by December.

If so, this has potentially disastrous implications for the global economy. The IMF has forecast that the global economy would be 4.9 per cent smaller in 2021 if there is a second outbreak.

If the seasonal theory is correct, Australia’s summer would bring a reduction in virus cases but also a steady stream of bad news from the rest of the world. A weaker global economy is bad news for our economy – it would make unemployment higher than it would otherwise be, and lock in weaker wage growth for at least another year.

Source: news.com.au.

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Victoria’s newly enforced restrictions in place

It’s day one of strict, newly enforced coronavirus restrictions that have divided Victoria amid a second spate of cases.

Victorians thought they were moving onto greener pastures from the peak of the pandemic, but today the state has been placed under strict new restrictions amid a second wave of the coronavirus.

Covid-19 coronavirus: New Zealanders living in Australia able to access payments

Here I have outlined what is the Australian JobKeeper payment, Employees Eligible for JobSeeker, Employers Eligible for JobSeeker, the payment process, payment timing, how to apply, the Australia Government Coronavirus information and support website for businesses and information from the NZ Hearld Article, where I first found out about JobKeeper. Also where to get help if you have returned to New Zealand.

If you were employed on the 1st of March 2020, you will need to talk to your employer regarding the below, as it is them who need to apply.

Australia Borders closed

Currently Australia’s borders are closed. Only Australian citizens, residents and immediate family members can travel to Australia.

You can see if you are eligible to enter Australia on the Australia Government Department of Home Affairs website: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/coming-australia.

If you are eligible you may need to undergo enhanced health screening on arrival in Australia and then all arrivals will be quarantined for 14 days and state and territory travel restrictions may also apply.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for international travellers: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-international-travellers.

JobKeeper Payment for employers and employees

Under the JobKeeper Payment, businesses impacted by the coronavirus will be able to access a Government subsidy to continue paying their employees. Employers affected will be able to claim a fortnightly payment of $1,500 per eligible employee from the 30 March 2020, for a maximum period of 6 months. Please note this is able to get back dated to the 30th March.

This assistance will help businesses to keep people in their jobs and re-start when the Covid-19 crisis is over. For employees, it means they can keep their job and earn an income, even if their hours have been cut.

The JobKeeper Payment is a temporary scheme open to businesses in Australia impacted by the coronavirus. The JobKeeper Payment will also be available to the New Zealanders self-employed in Australia.

The Government will provide $1,500 per fortnight per employee for up to 6 months.

The JobKeeper Payment will support employers to maintain their connection to their employees. This will enable business to reactivate their operations quickly, without having to rehire staff, when the crisis is over.

Australian Employees Eligible for JobSeeker

Eligible employees are employees who:

• are currently employed by the eligible employer (including those stood down or re-hired)
• were employed by the employer at 1 March 2020
• are full-time, part-time, or long-term casuals (a casual employed on a regular basis for longer than 12 months as at 1 March 2020)
• are at least 16 years of age
• are an Australian citizen, the holder of a permanent visa, a Protected Special Category Visa Holder, a non-protected Special Category Visa Holder who has been residing continually in Australia for 10 years or more, or a Special Category (Subclass 444) Visa Holder
• are not in receipt of a JobKeeper Payment from another employer

If your employees receive the JobKeeper Payment, this may affect their eligibility for payments from Services Australia as they must report their JobKeeper Payment as income.

Above information from this Government Australia website: https://www.business.gov.au/risk-management/emergency-management/coronavirus-information-and-support-for-business/jobkeeper-payment.

Treasury fact sheet for employees: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Fact_sheet_Info_for_Employees.pdf.

Australian Employers Eligible for JobSeeker

Employers will be eligible for the subsidy if:

• their business has a turnover of less than $1 billion and their turnover has fallen by more than 30 per cent (of at least a month); or
• their business has a turnover of $1 billion or more and their turnover has fallen by more than 50 per cent (of at least a month); and
• the business is not subject to the Major Bank Levy.

Read more about the eligibility of employers here on the Australia Government website: https://www.business.gov.au/risk-management/emergency-management/coronavirus-information-and-support-for-business/jobkeeper-payment.

JobSeeker Payment Process

Eligible employers will be paid $1,500 per fortnight per eligible employee. Eligible employees will receive, at a minimum, $1,500 per fortnight, before tax, and employers are able to top-up the payment.

Where employers participate in the scheme, their employees will receive this payment as follows.

• If an employee ordinarily receives $1,500 or more in income per fortnight before tax, they will continue to receive their regular income according to their prevailing workplace arrangements. The JobKeeper Payment will assist their employer to continue operating by subsidising all or part of the income of their employee(s).
• If an employee ordinarily receives less than $1,500 in income per fortnight before tax, their employer must pay their employee, at a minimum, $1,500 per fortnight, before tax.
• If an employee has been stood down, their employer must pay their employee, at a minimum, $1,500 per fortnight, before tax.
• If an employee was employed on 1 March 2020, subsequently ceased employment with their employer, and then has been re-engaged by the same eligible employer, the employee will receive, at a minimum, $1,500 per fortnight, before tax.
• It will be up to the employer if they want to pay superannuation on any additional wage paid because of the JobKeeper Payment.

Payments will be made to the employer monthly in arrears by the ATO.

Payment Timing

The subsidy will start on 30 March 2020, with the first payments to be received by employers in the first week of May. Businesses will be able to register their interest in participating in the Payment from 30 March 2020 on the ATO website.

How to Apply for JobKeeper

Currently, employers can register their interest in applying for the JobKeeper Payment via The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) from 30 March 2020.

Subsequently, eligible employers will be able to apply for the scheme by means of an online application. The first payment will be received by employers from the ATO in the first week of May.

Read more here: https://www.business.gov.au/risk-management/emergency-management/coronavirus-information-and-support-for-business/jobkeeper-payment.

To read examples of what the JobKeeper payments look like read this: https://www.business.gov.au/risk-management/emergency-management/coronavirus-information-and-support-for-business/jobkeeper-payment.

Australia Government Coronavirus information and support for businesses

COVID-19 update: The Australia Government has announced a JobKeeper Payment for employers, employees and sole traders. You can find this information and stay up-to-date on the latest support for business on their coronavirus page: https://www.business.gov.au/risk-management/emergency-management/coronavirus-information-and-support-for-business/~/link.aspx?_id=94034B42D77347C68B6E29D80EDEA7CA&_z=z.

Recently returned to NZ from Australia because of COVID-19?

If you have already returned to New Zealand because of COVID-19, then you need to read the New Zealand Government website COVID-19: https://covid19.govt.nz/.

This website has everything you need to know about COVID-19 in one place. Learn the simple steps you can take to unite against the virus and slow its spread. Find out what help is available and get the latest updates: https://covid19.govt.nz/.

Here is some of the information from the NZ Hearld Article

New Zealanders living in Australia on a Special Category visa (SCV/444 visas) will be able to access the AU$1,500 fortnightly payments, the Australian government has confirmed.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had spoken with Jacinda Ardern about the arrangement.

Thousands of New Zealanders were forced to leave Australia after finding they were unable to access Centrelink payments after they had lost their jobs.

The SCV/444 visa is a temporary visa allows you to visit, study, stay and work as long as you remain a New Zealand citizen. It is applied for when you arrive in Australia submit your completed incoming passenger card with your New Zealand passport.

The changes were announced yesterady, as part of a new government package to aide those affected by Covid-19 in Australia.

Scott Morrison has pledged AU$130 billion over the next six months to help Australians who have found themselves out of work.

He said the AU$130 billion was to “support the jobs and livelihoods of the almost six million Australians who will need that lifeline in the months ahead”.

The Australian government is also introducing a AU$1,500 “Job Keeper” payment that New Zealanders on SCV/444 visas will be eligible for. Businesses will be paid up to AU$1,500 a fortnight for the next six months per employee.

The payment is a flat rate of AU$1,500 regardless of how much their normal wages are.

Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she had spoken to Australia’s PM Scott Morrison that morning and had again pushed the case for New Zealanders to be covered by any job scheme (https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120535935/coronavirus-jacinda-ardern-pleads-with-australia-to-help-kiwis-laid-off-during-economic-crisis).

“It is a group I am concerned about. I have seen ongoing reporting of some of the issues that they’re facing, and I see this as a unique situation. For me, this is a particular set of circumstances that I’m very keen to find a way to address.”

Last week she had criticised the decision to leave New Zealanders out of some Covid-19 support packages, because New Zealanders do not get welfare benefits in Australia unless they have become citizens. Australians do get those benefits in New Zealand, and Australian workers here are also covered by the Covid-19 specific support measures.

“If anyone falls on a hard time, it’s the same hard time,” Scott Morrison said. “We are all in this together, that’s what’s fair, that’s what’s Australian.”

Scott Morrison said the Job Keeper payment is to “to keep Australians in their jobs even when the work dries up”.

According to Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, the payments would also be available to part-time workers, sole traders and casuals who have been with their employer for 12 months or more. Payments will start from the first week of May but will be backdated to yesterday. Employees stood down since March 1 will be eligible.

Ardern has responded to the news Kiwis are included in Australia’s wage subsidy scheme, saying she had pleaded New Zealand’s case several times. “New Zealanders are a core part of the Australian workforce. Many are working in essential services. Others have built their careers in Australia and paid taxes for years, so it’s really pleasing the Australia Government has agreed to provide them a wage subsidy.

“We need to unite and look after everyone to beat Covid-19 and Prime Minister Morrison and I are in regular contact about our respective efforts to beat the virus and support our people.”

Read more: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12321030.

Tran-Tasman Bubble

Trans-Tasman bubble possible at alert level 2, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reveals.

The tourism industry is pushing hard to have a working strategy in place by the end of the May, getting ready for when the Government opens the borders in a Trans-Tasman bubble.

Read more: https://www.movingtoaustralia.co.nz/trans-tasman-bubble/.

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A change in the housing market is helping Sydney tenants save big on rent. Landlords are cutting their prices by up to $150 per week, $7800 a year, in some city pockets.

More tenants are becoming first home buyers, resulting in a wave of new rental homes becoming available and the need for landlords to drop their rent.

The foreign exchange market – what is an interbank rate?

The foreign exchange market is a global decentralised market also known as an over-the-counter market where bank dealers make the marketto determine the interbank exchange rate, i.e. the rate the banks use when trading with one another.

The interbank rate is the mid-point between the buy and sell rate for a currency on the open market and is the most accurate rate of exchange at any given time. You can easily check this at any time using the XE Currency Converter.

Unfortunately for most of us, this rate is reserved solely for banks and large financial institutions trading in large amounts of foreign currency. For retail or business banking customers looking to make smaller international money transfers, a margin (or spread) will be applied to the interbank rate to ensure a profit for the service making the transfer.

As a retail banking customer, this margin may be anywhere between ~4-5% of the interbank rate. The graph below illustrates the rate that a customer may expect to receive from the bank when converting their AUD or NZD to GBP.

What determines whether I receive a competitive rate?

Naturally, when sending money abroad, it’s in your best interests to ensure you keep as much of your money as possible by locking in a favourable rate of exchange.

The exchange rate you receive will be based on a number of factors, including:

• Volume – the amount you are converting
• Currencies exchanged
• Knowledge and awareness
• Frequency of transactions – ongoing or one-off

However, one of the most sure-fire ways to ensure you are receiving a competitive rate is to look at using a money transfer specialist like XE who provides a much sharper rate of exchange than you would otherwise receive from the banks.

Why you should look beyond your bank

XE works closely with our broad network of referring partners to provide their clients with a competitive, secure money transfer solution. As such, when you choose XE Money Transfer via one of our partners, you will receive preferential rates of exchange that are more competitive than you would receive from other providers.

…It’s not just about the rate

At XE, we pride ourselves on delivering our clients value beyond a great rate, providing a much more comprehensive service than they could expect to receive from the banks.

Exchange rates fluctuate at any given minute and as such our expert team are on hand to be your eyes and ears on the market and advise on how to ensure you lock in the best rate possible. We also offer a range of products typically not made available to retail banking clients, including Market Orders and Forward Contracts, that will help you reduce your exposure to currency risk.

Currency snapshot

The Australian dollar tracked lower through the latter stages of February and early March as weaker economic growth and falling house process lead many to believe that the Reserve Bank of Australia will cut interest rates once or twice through the second half of 2019.

Given that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand is currently expected to keep NZ rates on hold for the time being, the Kiwi dollar has been outperforming its antipodean cousin for some time.

NZD now sits at its highest level vs the AUD since early 2017 and appears poised to once again have a crack at breaking parity with some of the major banks calling this to occur within the next couple of months.

BREXIT deal progress still remains up in the air with further parliamentary votes this week with the likely outcome being another NO vote for PM May’s package. The UK parliament to then proceed to another vote, deciding to leave the EU with a no deal, or vote to extend the Article 50 deadline – the latter expected to allow more time for a deal to be agreed.

The Kiwi dollar currently sits ~7% off post BREXIT lows whilst the Aussie dollar just ~1.50% higher.

Marcus Phillips

Director of Affiliates & Partnerships Australasia

Website: https://xe.com/

NZ Hearld’s Political Reporter Lucy Bennett wrote a article on New Zealanders living in Australia and what effect the up coming election could have for us.

The Labour party has pledged to champion the rights of 650,000 New Zealanders living in Australia if they win the election.

Australia’s living in NZ have the same rights as us from arrival to a maximum of five years after living in New Zealand. Where kiwis are not eligible for unemployment or sickness benefits, student allowances and have no clear/simple path to permanent residency or citizenship.

New Zealand has been pushing for equal rights since the law changed in 2001 when the Howard government stopped granting New Zealanders permanent residence on arrival. Those who arrived before 26 February 2001 are permanent residents with access to social security and student loans.

Even though ALP’s National Policy Platform says there is an inequity for New Zealand citizens living in Australia under the terms of the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangements (TTTA). It is low on most party’s agenda’s because New Zealanders can not vote.

So lets cross our fingers for Australia’s Labour party, because that is all we can do, and hope that equality for New Zealanders living in Australia is only an election away.

You can read the NZ Hearld full article here: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12226666.

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Website redesign – same great free information on relocating to Australia!

You might have visited this website recently and now you’re not sure you’re in the right place. Well you are, it’s just had a facelift. We hope you like it.

I created this site 10 years ago. Then redesigned in early 2016. But now it needed to be changed into what it actually is… a blog.

What’s the difference between a website and a blog – look and feel, posts instead of pages? The same content is displayed in a different way. I was a blogger before blogs were even around.

What is a blog and how do I use one?

A blog is a website that can be continually updated with new posts or content. The word ‘blog’ is a contraction of the term weblog, which relates to the reverse chronological order of blogs.

Where to find the menu items

Instead of the standard top menu of a website, look for ‘blog’ or ‘categories’. This is where all the pages/articles/posts are found on the subject, e.g. under ‘money’ you’ll find blog posts on foreign exchange, opening an Australian bank account, first home buyers grants and more.

How to easily find content

A great way to find content on a blog is by using the search function: . It will display all the posts that contain the keyword you’ve used. See the example below for money:

As you can see from the above, you will see the posts that contain information on money. The categories they are in, the title of the post, who it was posted by, the date it was posted, a stunning image and an introductory paragraph or two.

When you click the continue reading you can read the full post. When you’ve finished the article, simply ‘go back’ and continue scrolling. It’s easy to scroll through posts and read the ones that interest you.

How to get the most out of our redesign

Blogs are best known for the current content they are continually adding. Ours is about – up-to-date news, what’s happening in Australia, what you should know about moving to Australia, new information on all the subjects you are interested in and ways to take the stress out of your move.

You can view this in the ‘recent posts’ section (right-hand column), in the monthly newsletter, on our FaceBook page, Instagram account, Pinterest and Google + page.

We aim to write one blog post a week and share these with you.

How can you get the information you want, if you can’t find it?

This is where you come in! I’m always looking for gaps in the content we provide. Have you spotted one? Then please let me know! Or if you simply can’t find it in my new design.

Leave a reply

You can ask a question in the ‘leave a reply’ section at the bottom of any post. By doing this you will get emailed directly by me with the answer to your question and the answer posted on the site.

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