Australians stranded overseas have made an emotional plea for the federal government to do more to secure their return home before a Senate inquiry.
A number of witnesses have recounted the toll of being stuck abroad during the coronavirus pandemic at the parliamentary committee examining the government’s response to the crisis.
Last week, National Cabinet agreed to increase weekly caps on returning travellers by around 1,600 places in response to growing pressure to bring more Australians home.
The strain of separation has been felt deeply by Peta Stoyanovich, whose husband Luke has been stuck in Serbia after his father died suddenly in July.
Speaking at the committee on behalf of her husband, Ms Stoyanovich said the grieving family has since struggled to get her husband and his elderly mother back home to Australia.
Peta Stoyanovich and her husband Luke. Source: Supplied
“The cap has abandoned my family and it's abandoned our citizens that are overseas,” she told the committee through tears.
“They are not stranded - they are abandoned by the government. There are no words that can describe my emotional state.”
Persistent challenges to securing flights home
There are some 26,800 Australians who have told the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade they want to fly home, with around 4,000 of these people considered in a vulnerable position.
But those abroad are facing persistent challenges securing flights home amid the cap on hotel quarantine places and soaring international flight costs.
Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales and South Australia all agreed to gradually increase their quarantine caps following pressure from the federal government to step up their response.
This step is set to lift the cap from around 4,000 towards 6,000 places by next month.
Deanne and Paul Vowels have already been stranded for months with their five children since travelling to the United Kingdom to visit family.
Ms Vowels said they’ve endured several flight cancellations and have struggled to get answers from airlines and consular officials about their options to return.
“I've given my life to Australia and in my time of need they have dumped me,” she told the committee.
Ms Vowels said she and her husband are concerned about defaulting on their mortgage and losing their jobs in Australia amid the financial pressure of their situation.
Deanne and Paul Vowels say they have been stranded for months with their five children. Source: Supplied
“The solution to this problem is so simple – lift the caps,” she said.
'We're champing at the bit to bring them home'
The federal government is adamant that the quarantine restrictions are the major constraint, fending off questions at the hearing that it could be doing more to fly stranded Australians home.
Labor’s Home Affairs spokesperson Kristina Keneally said Australia should be chartering flights, accusing the government of lagging behind other countries around the world.
“Donald Trump has sent out planes to bring American citizens back to the United States,” she told reporters.
“Scott Morrison can't be bothered to do the same for Australians stranded overseas.”
But Department of Home Affairs Secretary Mike Pezzullo argued the government is doing all they can to return Australians home as soon as possible.
Labor's Home Affairs spokesperson Kristina Keneally reacts during the commitee. Source: AAP
“The commonwealth is champing at the bit for the caps to be increased so we can get people home,” he told the committee.
In a testy exchange, Senator Keneally repeatedly questioned government officials on what has been done to help states and territories increase their quarantine capacity.
“Whatever they need, whatever they need,” Mr Pezzullo said.
Department Secretary Simon Atkinson also defended the government's response, telling the committee there are more than 20,000 empty seats on planes currently flying into Australia.
"In your view, the only issue is quarantine capacity in Australia?" Senator Keneally asked.
“It’s not about flights and seats – it’s about the quarantine capacity to put people into if they occupy those seats,” Mr Atkinson said in response.
Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs Mike Pezzullo speaks during a Senate inquiry. Source: AAP
International competition for flights home has seen airlines charging exorbitant fees for flights with some Australians told to upgrade their flights to business class to secure their return home.
Earlier this month, DFAT rolled out emergency loans for Australians overseas facing financial hardship.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said he is hopeful Australians stranded overseas will be able to return by Christmas as the government continues to review the cap on international arrivals.
But DFAT Secretary Frances Adamson said the future of this situation remained hard to predict.
“We certainly understand the importance of that to Australians," she said.
"We will be working as hard as we can ... to get as many home as we can."
The quarantine hotel system has been a joint effort from the states with New South Wales carrying the largest share of returning travellers.
Melbourne is no longer taking returning passengers because of the city’s coronavirus outbreak.
Ms Stoyanovich has urged Mr Morrison to do more to secure the return of Australians like her husband.
“Do you’re bloody job for god sake,” she told the committee.
“You need to get this done and you need to get it done now and reunite these families.”
