Australian Court Upholds Ban on Most International Travel

Andrew Cooper, founder and president of libertarian group LibertyWorks, arrives at Federal Court in Sydney on May 6, 2021. AP Photo/Rick Rycroft

CANBERRA, Australia—An Australian court on Tuesday rejected a challenge to the federal government’s draconian power to prevent most citizens from leaving the country so that they don’t bring COVID-19 home.

Australia is alone among developed democracies in preventing its citizens and permanent residents from leaving the country except in “exceptional circumstances” where they can demonstrate a “compelling reason.”