Simon Birmingham tells NSW to tighten airport quarantine measures after travellers board flight to Melbourne

The Federal Minister for Tourism Simon Birmingham has told NSW authorities to lift its standards after an error saw two international travellers accidentally bypass quarantine requirements after landing in Sydney.

On Saturday, two travellers were able to bypass NSW’s hotel quarantine measures before boarding a Melbourne-bound domestic flight.

Authorities said the pair — a 53-year-old German-Australian dual citizen and her German-born 15-year-old son — were initially directed to board a bus to hotel quarantine after being screened by NSW Health.

It is understood a security guard at a Melbourne Airport car park overheard a conversation involving the pair and was able to escalate it up the chain of command.