Australia COVID LIVE updates: Victoria enjoys first weekend out of lockdown as COVID-19 cases continue to grow across the state, NSW

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Melbourne, Sydney to start quarantine-free overseas travel next month

More than 14 million Australians will be able to leave and re-enter the country without quarantining if they are fully vaccinated from next month as Melbourne and Sydney take the first steps towards reopening to the world and Qantas brings forward the restart of international flights.

A quarantine-free travel bubble between Australia and Singapore could be established within the next week, with an agreement between the countries in its final stages, ahead of a planned wider unlocking of the nation’s borders before Christmas.

Qantas will restart international flights from November.Credit:

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce revealed Australians could be travelling to Bali by early 2022 “at the latest” as the carrier announced it was resuming flights from Melbourne and Sydney to destinations including London, Singapore, Bangkok and Johannesburg ahead of schedule.

Singapore Airlines also started selling tickets for flights between Singapore and Melbourne on Friday evening.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday confirmed fully vaccinated international travellers flying to Melbourne would not have to quarantine from November 1, bringing his state into line with NSW.

Parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents will also be able to apply for an exemption to travel to Australia from that date.

Read the full story here.

Dance parties and dodging the rain: Melbourne’s first night out of lockdown

Revellers were out in full force in Melbourne last night, with the city enjoying its first flush of freedom following the end of lockdown on midnight Thursday.

Most on Collingwood’s popular Smith Street in the city’s inner north were unbothered by the heavy rain which arrived at around 9pm, with packed restaurant and bar tables simply shuffled further under awnings.

Wild scenes unfolded on Chapel Street in South Yarra, where a small crowd of people took to the streets in an impromptu dance party to celebrate. Police were spotted keeping watch on the group, comprised of a mostly young and maskless crowd.

A later post on social media said officers stepped in and broke up the celebrations after the group became unruly at around 10pm, but Victoria Police confirmed there were no reports of violence.

This morning’s headlines at a glance

Good morning and thanks for joining us today.

It’s Saturday, October 23. I’m Ashleigh McMillan and I’ll be anchoring our live coverage for the first half of the day. We’ll be sure to keep you up to date on all the latest in Australia’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as any other vital breaking news.

Here’s everything you need to know before we get started.

  • Melburnians who exited lockdown after more than two months on Friday may be granted more freedoms in less than a week, with an emotional Premier Daniel Andrews flagging a further easing of restrictions and incentives for people to return to the city once the state hits the 80 per cent double-vaccinated mark.
  • Sydney GPs are warning the hundreds of thousands of people who brought forward their second AstraZeneca dose to within eight weeks of the first during Sydney’s Delta outbreak should not delay their booster shot.
  • More than 14 million Australians will be able to leave and re-enter the country without quarantining if they are fully vaccinated from next month, with Qantas bringing forward the restart of international flights and the possibility a quarantine-free travel bubble between Australia and Singapore could be established within the next week.

  • Tasmania will finally open its border to all Australian states and territories on December 15. Travellers will still be required to test negative to COVID-19 up to three days before travel, and entry will initially be restricted to the fully vaccinated.
  • Homebuyers will need to earn more than $200,000 a year to buy a mid-range house in more than 270 Sydney suburbs if tougher borrowing limits are introduced.
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