The Federal Government yesterday announced it will be extending the China travel ban by another week, impacting major events, universities and trade in Australia.
With AIME 2020 set to start on Tuesday, it seems delegates travelling from mainland China won’t make it to the show.
“The restrictions being enforced may impact a small percentage of the show’s total buyers and exhibitors and AIME will continue as planned from 17 to 19 February at the Melbourne Convention and Centre,” AIME said in a recent release.
“We are monitoring the situation closely and will work to ensure appointments are filled for the event.”
The travel ban was first put in place on 1 February, after the Coronavirus outbreak threatened to spread into Australia after arrivals from the Chinese mainland. The new ban is set to be reviewed again on 22 February—when the government will decide whether or not to continue the travel ban.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Australia is one of 58 different countries that have imposed “some form” of travel restriction.
“We did not take this decision lightly, we are very mindful also of the disruption and economic impacts of these arrangements,” Mr Morrison said.
But the Chinese government has hit back at the decision, expressing their “dissatisfaction.”
“Only Australia and a small number of countries have taken such extreme measures which are overreaction indeed,” says the Chinese Embassy in Canberra.
