Sydney, Melbourne house prices slow after record-breaking boom watoday.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from watoday.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Share on Twitter
The Australian Human Rights Commission has called on the government to prove its decision to fine or jail Australians is not discriminatory .
It says it holds deep concerns about the extraordinary new restrictions.
Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, has described the move as outrageous .
Travellers from India have been blocked from entering Australia until at least 15 May, when the decision will be re-assessed.
Health Minister Greg Hunt says anyone attempting to defy the rules will be hit with fines of up to $66,600, five years in prison, or both.
More than 9,000 Australians in India are registered as wanting to return, including 650 considered vulnerable.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has defended the unprecedented ban on Australians returning from Covid-ravaged India despite the move being blasted as horrifying and outrageous .
The federal government made made it illegal to fly home from India under threat of five years in jail and fines of $66,600.
Health Minister Greg Hunt announced the draconian restriction on Saturday morning, which will begin at 12.01am on Monday.
Mr Frydenberg stood by the the government s decision, saying Prime Minister Scott Morrison acted on medical advice. We have taken drastic action to keep Australians safe, and what we face in India is a very serious situation where the medical advice provided to the federal government has been to put in place these strict measures, he said on Sunday.