Leaving Australia

Readers if you read or watch international news you may have noticed the Australian government had temporarily banned entry into Australia from India.  Moreover the government has enacted legislation which may result in any person breaching this ban being imprisoned and/or fined. 

Leaving aside the threat of imprisonment or fine, I decided to research the situation.

Back in March of last year the Federal government banned all citizens from travelling overseas unless they obtained an exemption.  Moreover the government advice to all overseas Australians was to return home.  At that time it was estimated there were 10,000 Australian citizens and permanent residents in India.  The figure surprised me as I hadn’t realised it was that high.  As of April this year 20,000 have returned from India and yet another 9000 are now wanting to return. 

From the media interviews of Australian citizens and permanent residents in India wanting to return it’s apparent all who were interviewed left Australia after the March 2020 ban.

Going to the government website I note where an Australian citizen or permanent resident has dual nationality they can leave Australia BUT THEY CANNOT RETURN.  Citizens could also apply for a travel exemption.  No doubt this is how the senior Australian cricketers were able to leave to participate in the Indian Premier League where huge salaries are earned.   

I have listened to the reasons why people returning to India; their father was dying, or to get married!  I’ve also watched the TV interview with the Australian cricketer demanding his government send an aircraft to repatriate him.

My impression is many of these 9000 either left for India after the travel ban or decided to wait out the pandemic in India only for the situation to turn critical.

The Australian government has to make decisions on what is best for all Australians.  Currently Australia is very close to COVID free.  The way of life and the economy are back to normal.  Quarantine capacity in Australia is already full.  There is no spare capacity to accept a surge of 9000 from a COVID ravaged region.

To those stuck in India I say “You made the decision.  On reflection it might have been a poor decision….. But you own it!”  In the last year over a million Australians returned.  You could have been one of them.