Rita Ora emerged from quarantine on Monday after the singer completed a mandatory 14-day isolation period following her arrival in Australia.
The British star, 30, flew to Sydney from her native London two weeks ago in order to fulfill her latest TV commitment as a judge on talent show The Voice Australia.
And she was given her first opportunity to leave the confines of her hotel after isolating with sister Elena, who has accompanied her on the trip.
Here she comes: Rita Ora emerged from quarantine on Monday after the singer completed a mandatory 14-day isolation period following her arrival in Australia
Surrounded by a gauntlet of police officers, Rita emerged in the city’s bustling Central Business District wearing a precautionary face covering.
As always the singer looked typically stylish, opting for a soft green blazer and matching shorts, teamed with a loose fitting sweater and vibrant yellow trainers.
Sharing an Instagram post earlier that day, Rita admitted she was delighted to be in Sydney and was looking ahead to her role on The Voice.
She wrote: ‘Honoured to be invited to work in a country full of such incredible talent!!! I can’t wait to get started with my @thevoiceau voiceau family and find the world’s next superstar!’
Busy girl: The British star, 30, flew to Sydney from her native London two weeks ago in order to fulfill her latest TV commitment as a judge on talent show The Voice Australia
Fresh air: She was given her first opportunity to leave the confines of her hotel after isolating with sister Elena, who has accompanied her on the trip
Centre of attention: Surrounded by a gauntlet of police officers, Rita emerged in the city’s bustling Central Business District wearing a precautionary face covering
Her work trip comes after she was branded ‘selfish’ by British police for holding a lockdown-flouting 30th birthday bash at west London restaurant Casa Cruz at the end of November.
According to current rules listed on New South Wales’ official government site, quarantine is mandatory for all individuals landing in the state from abroad, with the exception of New Zealand.
A statement reads: ‘Under public health orders, people who arrive in Sydney from overseas or by vessel from another port outside of NSW must enter into quarantine in a designated accommodation facility for 14 days.’
Travellers are also subject to a quarantine fee of AU$4,000 for one adult, with AU$1,000 charged for each additional adult isolating with them. Children under 18 are charged AU$500, while those under three are free.
Smart: As always the singer looked typically stylish, opting for a soft green blazer and matching shorts, teamed with a loose fitting sweater and vibrant yellow trainers
Controversy: Her work trip comes after she was branded ‘selfish’ by British police for holding a lockdown-flouting 30th birthday bash at a west London restaurant at the end of November
However, Rita was greeted with fierce backlash on her arrival in Australia, amid claims she was given special treatment to allow her into the country.
Australia’s shadow home affairs spokeswoman, Kristina Keneally, said Rita’s hotel spot meant her quarantine was at the expense of Australians desperately seeking to return home.
Australia’s strict COVID-19 laws only allow 4,250 international arrivals a week, which has meant around 37,000 Australian nationals are ‘stranded’ abroad unable to see their families.
Let’s go: The singer made her way into a waiting car after crossing the sidewalk outside her hotel
In good company: Rita’s younger sister Elena joined her outside the hotel on Monday
Ecstatic: Earlier that day Rita insisted she was delighted to be in Australia and couldn’t wait to get to work on The Voice
Labor MP Kristina Keneally complained that the singer was being given preferential treatment, saying: ‘It’s another example of Prime Minister Scott Morrison leaving Australians behind.’
‘There are still 40,000 Australians stranded overseas. Every celebrity who takes up a place in quarantine is a place denied to a stranded Australian,’ she also told The Guardian.
Reports of celebrities, including Matt Damon and Miranda Kerr, being granted permission to isolate in self-organised private residences to avoid Australia’s strict hotel quarantine regime have sparked backlash in Australia.
However, Rita did not organise to isolate in a private residence, meaning her quarantine counts towards Australia’s strict cap on international arrivals.