The Prime Minister has closed Australia’s borders to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
From 9 pm on Friday night, only Australian permanent residents and citizens will be allowed to enter the country.
Scott Morrison said he made the drastic move because 80 percent of Australia’s 636 coronavirus cases have come in from abroad.
The ban, which has no end date, is likely to cause chaos for thousands of temporary residents who live and work in Australia, such as people on skilled work visas.
If they are overseas on holiday they have one day to return to their lives here. If they are in the country they cannot leave because they will not be able to come back.
The ban does not apply to direct family members of permanent residents and citizens.
Announcing the ban, the Prime Minister said:
‘We will be resolving to move to a position where a travel ban will be placed on all non-residents, non-Australian citizens coming to Australia, and that will be in place from 9 pm tomorrow evening.
‘For Australians, of course, they will be able to return and they will be subject, as they already are, to 14 days of isolation upon arrival back in Australia.’