Pacific / Fiji

Fiji only Pacific country in reopening talks with Australia

12:59 pm on 14 August 2020

Fiji is the only Pacific country to have expressed interest in reopening two-way travel with Australia.

Australia's minister for International Development and the Pacific, Alex Hawke. Photo: RNZ / Jamie Tahana

Australia's minister for the Pacific, Alex Hawke, said discussions were underway about reopening two-way travel, but that this could still be months away from coming to fruition.

He added that no other Pacific country has yet expressed an interest in reopening with Australia.

Mr Hawke also said progress towards a trans-Tasman bubble between New Zealand and Australia were on hold.

Chances of Pacific countries reopening with New Zealand have also suffered a setback, after the re-emergence of community transmission of covid-19 this week.

Meanwhile, Mr Hawke said Australia was also working with Pacific countries to reopen its labour mobility scheme, possibly ahead of a general reopening.