International border opening paused over Omicron concerns

An urgent meeting of state and territory leaders will be held later today, following a decision to delay reopening Australia’s borders.

Skilled migrants, international students and humanitarian visa holders had been among about 200,000 people due to arrive in Australia from Wednesday.

But the new Omicron COVID-19 strain has put the reopening of the international border on hold for two weeks while health officials determine how much of a risk the variant poses.

The pause will also apply to the travel bubble between Japan and Korea.

Australia’s international border is now set to open on December 15.

The decision doesn’t affect Australian citizens and permanent residents coming home.