Australia to ease international border restrictions from November

The first phase of the plan will focus on citizens and permanent residents being allowed to leave Australia, with foreign travellers entering the country to follow

Australian Prime Minister says "It's time to give Australians their lives back." Picture: AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, Pool

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday announced an 18-month ban on Australians travelling abroad will be lifted from next month, easing one of the toughest Covid-19 restrictions imposed globally.

Reopening the international border for citizens and permanent residents will be linked to the establishment of home quarantine in Australia's eight states and territories, Morrison said, meaning that some parts of the country will reopen sooner than others.