Australian citizens could face five-year jail term or hefty fines up to 66,000 dollars if they try to return home from India after Canberra made the journey temporarily illegal in an effort to curb the spread of the deadly viral infection in this country.
The temporary ban begins on Monday and applies to any travellers who have visited India within 14 days of their intended arrival date in Australia.
India is struggling with a second wave of the pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases being reported in the past few days, and hospitals are reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds.
âAny such limitations on that right due to public health grounds should be necessary and proportionate,â she said. âThe government should be looking for ways to safely quarantine Australians returning from India, instead of focusing their efforts on prison sentences and harsh punishments for people who are facing desperate conditions and simply trying to return home.
âThis is an outrageous response.â
Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibsersek blamed the number of Australians stranded in India on the failure to establish federal quarantine facilities.
âIt is inexplicable we have not opened up federal quarantine facilities,â she said. âA year ago senior public servants were telling Scott Morrison he could open up federal quarantine facilities, he has done absolutely nothing to make it happen.â
Josh Frydenberg defends drastic India COVID travel ban that threatens to jail Australians who fly home
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says a travel ban preventing Australians returning from India is drastic but is designed to keep Australians safe .
The temporary ban begins on Monday and applies to any travellers who have visited India within 14 days of their intended arrival date in Australia.
Changes to the Biosecurity Act mean Australians could face up to five years in jail and heavy fines if they flee the COVID-ravaged country to return home.
It is understood to be the first time Australia has banned its own citizens from returning, to the point of there being criminal sanctions for those who make it home.
to a manageable level.” “
The proportion of overseas travelers in quarantine in Australia who have acquired a Covid-19 infection in India” was the factor that triggered the sanctions, he suggested. “
The friends and family of [Indian-Australian community] in Australia are at extreme risk. Tragically, many are contracting Covid-19 and many, sadly, are dying every day,” he said in a statement, adding that to help those in India Australia will send emergency medical supplies there. Restrictions are temporary and will be reconsidered on May 15, officials said, while admitting the move is “
drastic.”
Experts argued the response was inconsistent with previous anti-Covid policies, as there have been no such strict bans involving other affected countries. “
Australia bans arrivals from Covid-hit India; offenders to face 5-year jail term, hefty fines
The temporary ban begins on May 2 and applies to any travellers who have visited India within 14 days of their intended arrival date in Australia.
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A woman walks past a fence with a COVID-19 warning near the harbour foreshore in Sydney. (File photo| AP) By PTI
MELBOURNE: Australian citizens could face five-year jail term or hefty fines up to 66,000 dollars if they try to return home from India after Canberra made the journey temporarily illegal in an effort to curb the spread of the deadly viral infection in this country.