Dylan Efron may not have the star power of his Hollywood actor brother Zac but Aussies were shocked when he was granted permission to enter Australia. And now, the reason why the NSW government allowed Dylan in has been revealed.
On Monday, Labor’s home affairs spokesman Kristina Keneally asked Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram about Dylan’s exemption.
“It really set off a number of Australians who couldn’t get home for dying relatives,” Senator Keneally said.
“Stranded Australians were very angry about Dylan Efron.”
However, it was revealed that his exemption was granted as the NSW government estimated he would inject a whopping $2 million into the film industry.
“The exemption was granted on the basis of the applicant having critical skills and was supported by the NSW government,” Outram said.
“Mr Efron’s arrival was not included in NSW flight caps and did not impact on the number of Australians that could return.”
Dylan, who flew in from the US to act as a producer for the second season of Netflix show Down to Earth with Zac Efron, touched down in Australia at the end of last month.
The 29-year-old undertook the two mandatory weeks in hotel quarantine and updated fans with his 14-day quarantine journey.
“This is about my nightmare not getting sunlight and not being outdoors for two weeks but let’s make the most of it,” he said in an Instagram Story when he first arrived in February.
However, he expressed that he was “pretty stoked” with his above-average hotel room that looks out over Sydney’s stunning Darling Harbour.
The Efron brothers are currently filming their Netflix show’s second season and their travels have now taken them to Tasmania.
On Monday, Dylan shared a photo of himself masked up walking through, what appears to be, the airport and added the geotag Tasmania, Australia.
According to Hobart Hit radio duo Jimmy and Nath, Hollywood heartthrob Zac was spotted in the state’s capital.
Zac was previously spotted in Melbourne’s Federation Square with his Aussie girlfriend, Vanessa Valladares.
During their recent visit to South Australia’s Kangaroo Island, both Zac and Dylan shared some adorable photos of themselves cuddling a kangaroo.
“This is jacko, and she’s got a little roo in her pouch,” Dylan sweetly captioned the post.
Naturally, fans went wild for Zac’s snaps.
“This is the sweetest thing I have ever seen since the Troy and Gabriella moment on the tree house,” one High School Musical enthusiast penned.
“I’m not crying. You’re crying,” remarked another.
“You can’t just drop pictures like that on us, Zac! We need a warning,” a third noted.