Highlights
- Parliamentary petition calls for reconsidering ‘harsh travel restrictions’
- More than 8500 have signed the petition
- International arrivals currently capped at 4000 per week
The parliamentary petition that seeks to ‘have flight restrictions lifted’, has so far, garnered over 8500 signatures.
The petition says a multitude of issues related to the global pandemic has made it difficult and complex for Australians and permanent residents and their families to return to Australia.
‘These difficulties have been further complicated by recent restrictions placed on incoming flights and the State Governments' push to charge Australians for a mandated quarantine period,’ the petition reads.
It adds their financial, emotional, and mental hardship has been ‘further exacerbated by the Federal and State Governments' restrictions.’
The petitioners are urging the government to reconsider the ‘harshness of the travel restrictions’ and ‘the cost of quarantine’ which they say is being ‘unfairly’ put on their shoulders.
‘We seek to have flight restrictions lifted so that we can return home and be reunited with our loved ones. We fully support the quarantine process and see its benefit but ask that the cost not be shifted to us as many of us are already stretched beyond our means.
‘We feel that duty of care needs to be extended for all Australians both inside and outside Australia or somewhere in-between.’
"Show your duty of care," Deb Tellis has urged the Australian government. Source: Supplied
Stuck in India, Australian citizen Deb Tellis is one of the many stranded overseas who has signed the petition.
Ms Tellis bought tickets for herself and her daughter to fly back to Australia in August but due to cap on international arrivals, her flight was rescheduled to September.
"I finished up my contract in June and shipped all my belongings as I had to vacate the house. I bought the tickets in July to fly in August but with the cap, the flight has now been rescheduled," Ms Tellis told SBS Hindi.
"We had to vacate my residence and had no place to stay. I stayed with an ex-pat friend for a month and then she too left for her home country, Netherlands on an evacuation flight.
“Now, I am living in a place which belongs to my friend's friend. I don't even know her. I did like to return home now.
"Show your duty of care to the 1000s of stranded Aussies who through no fault of their own find themselves shelling out money for air tickets at exorbitant prices only to be bumped off due to your ridiculous caps on flights policies into Australia.
"Lift the cap and let us all come home in a safe, cost-effectively in a humane fashion,” she told SBS Hindi.
Caps on international arrivals to be reviewed this week
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is expected to discuss the cap on international arrivals in the national cabinet today with the state and territory leaders.
Though Trade Minister Simon Birmingham has said there are unlikely to be any changes.
On Thursday, Minister Birmingham said while the cap is “constantly under review”, the limit is determined by the states and their capacity to deal with those in mandatory hotel quarantine.
“As Victoria continues to improve … that may enable to their ability to be able to then process ... some returning Australians and may enable more flights more people to be able to come [home],” he said.
A fortnight ago, PM Morrison said it was not wise to lift the caps on the number of international arrivals.
He, though, added that his government will be reviewing the cap every fortnight and there was scope to increase the numbers after the situation came under control in Victoria and the two big states –New South Wales and Victoria had the capacity to take in more people.
“So, we will review them again in a fortnight from now. And once Victoria, I think and we can be even more confident with New South Wales situation, which is very good, then I am hoping we would be able to make further room there.
“But right now, on the balance of risk, we need to keep those caps, where they are.”
In Victoria, the situation has improved since Stage 4 restrictions were imposed. The state recorded 81 new cases on Friday.
With cases dropping, the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has also flagged he will be announcing a detailed road map to easing restrictions on Sunday.
Will this see international flights resume in Victoria?
In August, in an exclusive chat with SBS Hindi, the Victorian Premier said his government will allow international flights to land in Melbourne only once the state is past the second wave of COVID-19 cases.
With the number of cases dropping and with the easing of restrictions, it is likely the international flights may resume, thus raising the number of international arrivals into the country.
Until that happens, it is one, long unbearable wait for families desperately waiting to reunite.
