Australia may be on the verge of a double travel bubble

Welcome to our weekly newsletter – a new global perspective on stories important to Australian business and politics. This week: The long march for equality and why we may be about to travel abroad again.

Almost nine years after Julia Gillard’s fierce criticism of misogyny and sexism, it seems that Australia has finally reached an inflection point.

THE Rallies across the country this week show a deep vein of anger not only at how Prime Minister Scott Morrison handled rape charges in parliament, but also the lack of progress in improving culture and equality in the workplace. job.

He’s not the only politician under pressure, as women demand greater protection at work, at home and on a daily basis – and call on leaders to behave better.

In the United States, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asked New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to “look into his heart” and ask if he can still do his job, with Democrats asking him to step down on charges of assault. and sexual harassment.

In the UK, Boris Johnson is being criticized for policing a vigil by Sarah Everard, who was kidnapped and murdered while walking home alone at night in south London. Anger over the crime was amplified by images of male police officers arresting protesters at an event that aimed to draw attention to violence against women.

At home, gender equality advocates expect the rape allegations that dominated much of the political speech last month will force serious measures to combat sexual harassment.

“It brings this conversation that has been forming to a real national focus and I think it creates the environment for real change,” said Kate Jenkins, Australia’s commissioner for sex discrimination.

Rebecca Jones, head of Bloomberg’s Melbourne Bureau, lifts the lid on Australia long march for equality.

Travel bubbles

Are our international travel dreams approaching reality? It might be. At least for New Zealand and Singapore.

The intermittent plan for a quarantine-free corridor with New Zealand is finally looking more likely, with Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson saying this week that the two nations are close to concordant terms.

New Zealand’s international border is likely to remain closed to most countries for the rest of 2021 and, after the pandemic, may not return to the same levels of mass tourism.

The nation sells itself to foreign visitors with a clean, green brand, but recent reports have highlighted how the flood of tourists can harm the environment and fill the main attractions.

“We we cannot go back to the tourism model that existed before Covid-19, ”said Tourism Minister Stuart Nash, adding that the industry may have“ passed the tipping point on some iconic points of not delivering our 100% Pure global brand . “

Meanwhile, Singapore is looking forward to working with Australia on a vaccination proof certificate as it explores the formation of a bubble with us. Priority will initially be given to students and business travelers.

Several countries are exploring so-called vaccine passports, including Thailand. But the World Health Organization is opposed to the requirement for proof of immunization, in part because it is unclear whether vaccinated people can still transmit the infection. Critics also say that such a system would be discriminatory and create an elite class of people with access to shooting.

Here is an overview of how vaccine passports could work.

What we are reading

Some things around the world that caught our attention:

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