The new wave of Covid-19 contamination across the world is shattering any hope of a reopening of Australia's borders in the short term.
The surge in cases in India demonstrates the need to keep border restrictions in order to keep the level of spread of the virus low in Australia, Tourism Minister Dan Tehan said.
The continent could therefore keep its borders closed until the end of 2022.
It is "very difficult to determine" when the borders will be able to reopen, Dan Tehan told Sky News.
"The most optimistic estimate would be in the middle or second half of next year."
Only 29,886 cases of contamination
Since March 20, 2020, Australia has implemented drastic border controls.
Anyone arriving from abroad is subject to a 14-day quarantine in a hotel.
The recent opening of an air bubble with New Zealand has encountered difficulties.
It has in particular been suspended between the cities affected by a resurgence in the number of cases linked to flaws in the quarantine systems.
Australia has recorded 29,886 cases of Covid-19 contamination since the start of the pandemic, a majority of which were detected in quarantine hotels.
The start of vaccination is slow: only 2.5 million doses have been administered across the country, which has 25 million inhabitants, knowing that each person should receive two doses.
A blow to the tourism industry
Before the pandemic, around one million travelers entered the country each month for short stays.
This figure now stands at 7,000.
The prospect of border closures for nearly three years will deal a serious blow to Australia's tourism industry, which accounts for 33 billion euros a year.
“The hope would be that we can create a few more air bubbles but we are in the midst of a pandemic,” he said.
"It will depend a lot on how we are able to handle the global pandemic."
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