Carnival Australia

We again note that the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry into Ruby Princess confirmed that none of our onboard or shoreside team members sought to mislead public authorities involved in Ruby Princess being permitted to disembark guests on March 19, 2020. We said at the time that the Commission’s finding was important to us because it went to the integrity of our people. In Princess Cruises’ more than 35 years in Australia, the line has sought to cooperate honestly and professionally with officials in accordance with the regulatory environment. We continue to express profound sorrow at the impact COVID-19 has had on Ruby Princess’s guests, crew and their families and that our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected particularly those who lost loved ones. In the meantime, we are optimistic that cruising will resume based on new protocols and procedures developed by our industry and which we fully support. Cruise Lines International Association Australasia (CLIA), is working cooperatively with government agencies to develop these protocols and procedures to underpin the careful resumption of cruising beginning with domestic itineraries. This approach is also based on the best possible international public health advice. At this time, CLIA Australasia is probably best placed to speak to the work it has been doing on behalf of the wider industry to establish a pathway for the resumption of cruising. In our view, a restart is vital to reinstate cruising’s contribution to Australia’s tourism economy particularly regional destinations and to address the aspirations of the many thousands of Australians who wish to resume their preferred choice of holidays at sea as soon as it is possible. Should the Australian Government's cruise ban be extended beyond June? A restart of cruising is important as it also means the resumption of its economic contribution, which, pre-pandemic, exceeded $5 billion annually. We fully support the efforts of our peak industry body, Cruise Lines International Association Australasia (CLIA) as it works with relevant government authorities to establish the protocols and procedures necessary to underpin the restart of cruising beginning with domestic itineraries. What is Carnival Australia's position on how the Federal Government is handling the process to resume cruising, including the speed of this process? As stated, we fully support the efforts of CLIA Australasia as it works with government authorities to establish the protocols and procedures to underpin the restart of cruising beginning with domestic itineraries, and we are also confident that the government recognises cruising’s value to the tourism economy. Does Carnival Australia believe changes need to be made to Australia's human biosecurity system, which currently involves the federal Agriculture Department effectively subcontracting its responsibilities to state and territory health departments? If so, please outline. We do not wish to respond other than to say that shipping is a highly regulated activity at multiple levels both locally and internationally, and we respect and work cooperatively within this regulatory environment. When will/will the Ruby Princess vessel resume cruising to and/or from Australian destinations? Princess Cruises will continue to have a strong presence in Australia just as it has for more than 30 years in becoming an integral part of the local industry. However, as previously planned, Ruby Princess will resume cruising from North America.