The Australian Government is continuing to respond to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), with the health and wellbeing of our communities our first priority.

Locally, the Administrator will continue to work with Australian Government agencies, the Emergency Management executive on Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Indian Ocean Territories Health Service, and Western Australian Health, to ensure appropriate local response plans for coronavirus.

The Carr family has been approved to bring an Assistance Dog to Christmas Island (CI) to provide support for their teenage son, Luke, with strong community support for their application.

The Australian Government is continuing its current relief measures to support electricity customers across Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, as part of the ongoing response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and its economic impacts.

All Christmas Islanders are being asked to provide their feedback on a draft staged plan of our community vision for the future of Flying Fish Cove.

In the Our Christmas Island, 2030 Strategic Plan, the community recognised the importance of the Cove for industry, recreation, and tourism, and recommended a long-term vision be developed to ensure facilities better support its variety of uses.

As Chair of the Indian Ocean Territories (IOT) Regional Development Organisation (RDO), I am pleased to announce today a range of projects funded by the Australian Government to help the IOT tourism sector recover from COVID-19.

We understand the significant impact that Coronavirus and associated restrictions has had on tourism and the local economies.

I am pleased to announce the appointment of four new members to fill the community representative vacancies in the Indian Ocean Territories Regional Development Organisation (IOTRDO) from 1 July 2020.

The evacuation of Australians from Wuhan in China is now under way, with 243 Australian citizens and permanent residents in transit to the quarantine facility on Christmas Island (CI). The transfer of the whole group to CI will take some time. Further updates will be provided once the transfer process is concluded.

In response to the ongoing financial impacts of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), there will not be any increase in vehicle inspections fees for the Indian Ocean Territories (IOT) in 2020-21.

The Australian Government is implementing a number of relief measures to support residents the IOT as part of the continuing response to Coronavirus and its economic impacts on local households, businesses and community groups.