International cruise ships will soon enter Australian waters again when a two-year ban on the industry due to COVID-19 is lifted in April. In a media release on Tuesday, Health Minister Greg Hunt said that based on medical advice, the government would not renew the ban on international cruise ships arriving at and departing from Australian ports when the current direction expires on April 17. In March 2020, in response to the global spread of COVID-19, the Australian government introduced a ban on the entry of large international cruise vessels into Australia under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Hunt said the direction has been highly effective in preventing the entry, emergence, and spread of COVID-19 in Australia. “On the basis of medical advice and with the agreement of National Cabinet, lifting the cruise ban is consistent with the reopening of Australia’s international border and shows that we have successfully navigated Australia’s emergency response to …