This report from the Open Society, Common Purpose Taskforce outlines a pathway to reopening Australia and to rebuilding for Australia’s future success. Formed in December 2020, at the invitation of the Chancellor of the University of Sydney, the taskforce is an independent grouping of leaders from across the Australian community that has inquired into the choices our nation must make to secure our future prosperity and stability.

The taskforce believes that to be prosperous, fair, and strong, Australia must be open to the world and close-knit at home. Never have both been so important, but so difficult to achieve simultaneously. One of the by-products of the pandemic has been Australia’s decision to close its borders and separate itself from the rest of the globe. We have also seen the unprecedented use of internal state border closures and the emergence of tensions within and between communities, often encouraged by pedlars of intolerance and racism. It is in no one’s interests that this situation continues longer than necessary.

The urgency shown by Australia in initially suppressing and then locally eliminating COVID-19 now needs to be shown towards preparing the country for reopening its international borders. Reopening requires not only building a path towards rapid large-scale vaccination of the Australian population and changes in the way in which quarantine operates, but also creating a ‘psychological runway’ for Australia to reopen. It is a case of moving decisively to ensure that Australia wins not only ‘the war’, but also ‘the peace’.

The reports calls for a staged process of international re-engagement based on three public health pillars:

• widespread and rapid vaccination backed by measures to increase public confidence,
• rigorous border testing and immunity requirements for incoming travellers, and
• scaled up quarantine designed to meet the needs of specific industries.