“That does require Singapore getting to a really, really low zero level in their jurisdiction.”
Professor Sutton said health authorities were modelling different vaccination rates that could allow Australia to reopen its borders but said he didnt think Australians would tolerate death rates similar to those seen overseas.
Meanwhile, Mr Tehan announced on Saturday that Australia would take China to the World Trade Organisation over Beijings decision to slap taxes of up to 212 per cent on Australian wine.
Following months of consultations with the wine industry and with bilateral talks breaking down, Mr Tehan said it would be up to the World Trade Organization to help end the deadlock.
We stand ready to sit down with the Chinese government to work out this current dispute with them but as a result of our bilateral discussions … not being about to resolve this issue, we are going to the World Trade Organization, Mr Tehan said.
Australia strongly believes in the World Trade Organization as a means and a mechanism to try and resolve these disputes.
In March, Beijing slapped tariffs ranging from 116 to 220 per cent on Australian wine amid an ongoing trade war.
China has imposed more than $20 billion of tariffs in response to a number of Australias moves including calling for a global inquiry into the origins of COVID-19 and banning Chinese telecom Huawei from its 5G rollout.
Beijing has also imposed tariffs and trade strikes on Australian products including barley, wine, timber, beef and lobster.
Mr Tehan said Australia’s wine exports have fallen from $1.1 billion to approximately $20 million as a consequence of China’s tariffs.
“We believe the actions taken by the Chinese government have caused serious harm to the Australian wine industry,” Mr Tehan said.
The battle over wine tariffs will be the ninth dispute that Australia has taken to the World Trade Organization.
The federal government expects the trade battle could take between two and four years to resolve, but Mr Tehan said he was still open to direct negotiations with China.
He said he was confident the global trade watchdog could help solve the dispute.
Wine producers group Australian Grape and Wine welcomed the announcement, saying it was the right call.
Chief Executive Tony Battaglene said the wine industry was export-focused and Australias grape growers and winemakers had benefited enormously from the rules-based international trading system.
In taking this decision, the Australian government is demonstrating its commitment to Australias grape and wine businesses and respecting the rules-based international trading system, he said.
We have been consistent in our position that Australian producers have not dumped wine on the Chinese market, nor received trade-distorting subsidies. We believe the Australian governments decision to ask the WTO to undertake an independent assessment of the facts is the right course to take.
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