Department of Health AHPPC recognises the importance of planning for re-opening Australia when it is safe to do so and the limitations imposed by requirements for quarantine of international arrivals. The current outbreaks, consisting of numerous clusters has highlighted the ease with which COVID-19, especially Variants of Concern, can lead to sustained outbreaks and the ease with which outbreaks can cross jurisdictional lines. International experience shows that outbreaks escalate quickly without strong public health actions and readily lead to large number of cases, severe illness and deaths in populations with a low level of vaccination. The threat of overwhelming the Australian health care system remains at present as has been been demonstrated by modelling previously presented to National Cabinet. It should be noted that any increase in the number of arrivals increases the risk of incursions and therefore outbreaks, irrespective of quarantine model.