Jo Raphael: Bubble risk-takers shouldn't complain

The transtasman bubble was always going to be precarious, writes Jo Raphael. Photo / NZME

OPINION

People can't say they weren't warned.

Quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand was only ever on the cards as long as both countries were able to keep a lid on the spread of Covid-19.

We were told, in no uncertain terms, that if an outbreak happened the bubble would pop and travellers would be stranded – on either side of the Tasman.

And that's just what has happened.

I always pondered since its announcement just how long the bubble was going to last.

"Ultimately, New Zealanders who travel to Australia will be assuming a degree of risk of being stranded," Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins told reporters back in March.

In April, when the transtasman travel bubble was announced, the Government said it did not plan to provide accommodation.

That meant travellers should plan to have extra money and contingency plans in place.

Also, they should expect a stint in managed isolation upon their return, at their own cost if they were flying from an affected state.

Those were the warnings, those were the provisos.

Now, parts of New South Wales, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South East Queensland are either in, or facing, lockdowns due to the highly infectious Delta Covid-19 variant.

The transtasman bubble is paused, and due to be reopened for South Australia, ACT, Tasmania and Victoria from Sunday night.

Yet people have short memories.

I've seen some travellers post on social media complaining about their plights, lamenting all sorts of situations they find themselves now in.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sympathetic towards these people, but, in my view, they should have known the risks and should have been prepared for them.

On the other hand, some have been more philosophical about it.

NZME reported this week that Kerry Anderson, who lives in Western Australia, was due to fly into Auckland on Sunday, then on to Rotorua to visit friends and family, some of whom she hasn't seen for more than two years.

She said she knew the risks when booking her flights and understood our Government was doing all it could to keep the country Covid-free.

"It's not a great feeling but at the same time, I've always supported all the decisions Jacinda [Ardern] has made for the country. I think she does a great job — when I found out about my flight being cancelled I definitely wasn't complaining, I knew the risks."

This is definitely the right attitude to have, and while it didn't work out for Anderson this time, hopefully she can rebook her flights for her visit when it's safer to do so.