Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack says Australia is working with Singapore to open up an international travel bubble, and believes others will open as the COVID-19 vaccine rolls out.
"We are working with Singapore at the moment, potentially for a bubble in July," Mr McCormack, who is also transport minister, told the ABC's Insiders program.
"As the vaccine rolls out not only in Australia but in other countries, we will reopen more bubbles."
According to Nine newspapers, Australians would be allowed to travel to Singapore without approval from the Department of Home Affairs and without having to quarantine, provided they have been vaccinated for coronavirus.
Singaporeans who have had the the jab would be able to travel to Australia without having to complete two weeks of hotel quarantine.
It may also be possible for people from other countries, such as international students, business travellers and returning citizens, to enter Australia via Singapore after completing quarantine in the Southeast Asian city-state.
Officials in Singapore have expressed their desire to establish reciprocal travel corridors. The city-state has already opened its border to a handful of countries that have controlled the virus, including Australia.
“If only others start to do it, then we’ll have a bubble, you have reciprocity, you can start to travel. And I hope some time this year we can do that,” transport minister Ong Ye Kung told local radio Friday.
New Zealand bubble in question
Australia already has a one-way travel bubble with New Zealand, with Kiwis being able to enter Eastern Australian states since last year without having to quarantine.
The scheme however has been suspended a number of times in response to virus outbreaks in New Zealand, which has frustrated Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who is yet to allow Australians to freely travel to NZ.
It appears the frustration with Australian states flicking the switch from open borders, or "green zone", to closed, or "red zone", may have led to a breakdown in talks on bubble arrangements.
New Zealand's COVID-19 Minister Chris Hipkins says a goal of shared plans between the two countries has all but been abandoned.
However Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he would happily open Australia's borders to Kiwis when Ms Ardern chooses to.
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