Fine or Jail for Australians trying to enter the country from India!
It is clear that the community understood the government’s need to protect Australians from COVID-19, but a blanket ban on one country is an extreme step that has not been done in the past. This one point is a bone of contention for the vast Indian community in Australia, the similar worst condition was experienced by UK and USA in the past, but the action taken by the Australian government has been very different from its current stance.
Covid free run enjoyed by the Australian community and recovery of the local economy plays a major role in this decision. But lack of leadership from the elected representatives to showcase real leadership in this dire situation is actually putting forward the questions are they playing political games or do they really lack the resources to create a specific quarantine policy given the current status of Covid spread across the world. Very few nations have the luxury to give their population a mask-free run in recent days and Australia is one of them.
From a long-term perspective, it very important for Australia to develop an action plan to integrate back into the world economy and escape from the tinderbox it has cornered itself into. For this change to happen Political leaders of Australia should stand up look beyond short-term political gains and look for the future of this country as an all.
Direct passenger flights from India to Australia will be paused until 15 May. Indirect flights from India to Australia through Doha, Dubai, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur have also been paused by their respective governments.
Travel exemptions in order to travel from Australia to India and other high-risk COVID-19 countries (yet to be announced) will only be granted in very limited circumstances going forward.
This includes critical workers providing assistance to the country of destination’s COVID-19 response; persons undertaking travel in Australia’s national interest; or persons seeking urgent medical treatment for a critical illness that is unable to be treated in Australia.
Prime Minister said the loophole and been closed and foreshadowed more extreme measures earlier on Friday morning in an interview on 2GB radio.
“It was [a loophole] that became apparent to us on Wednesday and it was closed off at about seven-o’clock Wednesday evening,” he said.
Inbound travel exemptions from India to Australia may also be reconsidered in line with this policy change.
The Prime Minister announced that when and if flights from India are resumed, all passengers will be required to have both a negative PCR test and a negative rapid antigen test prior to travel.
