Australia is likely to remain shut to visitors until late 2022, the country's trade and tourism minister said, as another global coronavirus surge smashed hopes of a quick reopening.
Dan Tehan said a wave of cases on the Indian sub-continent showed Australia's near blanket ban on arrivals was still essential to keep the country Covid-free.
Since 20 March last year, Australians have been barred from travelling overseas and a hard-to-get individual exemption is needed for foreign visitors to enter the country.
It is "very hard to determine" when borders could reopen, Mr Tehan told Sky News, "the best guess would be in the middle to the second half of next year".