'Political scratchiness' maybe behind trans-Tasman delay - forum

Published: March 16, 2021, 4:22 a.m.

"Political scratchiness" could be behind delays in a getting a trans-Tasman bubble to fly, according to a group tasked with getting it off the ground. The Australia New Zealand leadership forum has been working solidly for more than 10 months on an agreement to get quarantine-free travel between the two countries off the ground, with two-way tourism trade worth more than $5 billion. So far, every time it seems a bubble is close there have been setbacks including new community Covid-19 cases. Now Australia is eyeing up a new bubble buddy - Singapore. On Monday Jacinda Ardern said things had become more complicated after Australia moved the goal posts. Anne Sherry is the co-chair of the leadership forum. She talks to Lisa Owen.