| Local crew requirement

THE Department of Home Affairs has confirmed it will not approve travel exemptions for cruise ship staff involved with service or hospitality roles on board.

An update on the Department’s website confirms the measure, which mirrors requirements imposed at the last minute by New Zealand authorities which put paid to Ponant’s planned New Zealand domestic season (CW 03 Feb).

Current restrictions under the Australian Government’s human biosecurity emergency period, in place until 17 Jun, restrict the entry of ships capable of carrying 100 or more passengers into Australia.

However, while “large passenger vessels” (carrying up to 99 pax) are still able to enter local waters, the crew must submit a travel exemption request before travelling to Australia.

“We will only consider exemptions for crew required to safely operate the vessel,” the Department noted, adding “entry of the vessel should also provide economic benefit to Australia”.

“Other roles, such as service or hospitality roles, should be filled by workers in Australia,” it added.

Any application for entry must include the current location of the vessel, where it is proposed to enter Australia, confirmation quarantine will be undertaken as directed by the relevant state or territory government(s), and “complete details of all crew and employees included in the travel exemption request, including their purpose of employment”.

Last week APT cancelled the first departure of its 2021 Kimberley season, planned for 02 Jun, because of a shortage of tourism & hospitality staff (CW 11 May).