SYDNEY (AUSTRALIA) – Major Australian business houses have urged the government to reopen state borders on Thursday. This comes as authorities warned against complacency as new cases are showing signs of abating.
With most of the new infections traced to Victoria and New South Wales, other states in the country have decided to seal off their borders for months to come.
The closing of borders is hampering hopes of recovery in the domestic aviation sector, said Qantas Airways Ltd on Thursday. With practically no overseas flights, the domestic aviation market is the only hope for the airline.
The airline is running only 20% of its usual domestic schedule in August, said CEO Alan Joyce.
Wesfarmers, which is a retail conglomerate, demanded reopening of state borders. Its CEO Rob Scott said the curbs were causing “enormous hardship”.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has expressed frustration over the economic hardships caused by the closure of state borders, has written to state leaders about the problems faced by farmers because of the issue.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field
