Australia to resume repatriation flights from India on 15 May, prime minister confirms sbs.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sbs.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Paul Kelly: Australians could die overseas due to India travel ban04/05/2021|4min
Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly has conceded Australians could die overseas due to the India travel ban.
Professor Kelly sent a letter to Health Minister Greg Hunt on Friday asking for the travel ban to be implemented.
In the letter he also asked for it to be made an offence for travellers who had been in India for past 14 days to enter Australia.
Professor Kelly acknowledged the consequences of such a decision could result in Australians suffering serious health issues and in the worst-case scenario dying.
Mr Hunt has defended the use of the Biosecurity Act as a necessary step to protect the country from further outbreaks.
It became clear this week repatriation flights for Australians stranded in India would have to resume ASAP after May 15, whatever the COVID situation in that country.
By going too far in its effort to stop individuals using a third-country “loophole” to get home, the Australian government made it impossible to keep shut the direct flight pipeline.
Cabinet’s national security committee on Thursday approved the resumption as the government finalised arrangements with the Northern Territory, site of the Howard Springs quarantine facility where the arrivals will go.
The government will give its reasons as to why arrivals from India have become more manageable (although the number will be modest). Notably, it will say the “pause” has provided time to reduce COVID overload in quarantine. By May 14 positive cases at Howard Springs are expected to number between 0 and 5, down from 55 on April 26.
It became clear this week repatriation flights for Australians stranded in India would have to resume ASAP after May 15, whatever the COVID situation in that country.
By going too far in its effort to stop individuals using a third-country “loophole” to get home, the Australian government made it impossible to keep shut the direct flight pipeline.
Cabinet’s national security committee on Thursday approved the resumption as the government finalised arrangements with the Northern Territory, site of the Howard Springs quarantine facility where the arrivals will go.
The government will give its reasons as to why arrivals from India have become more manageable (although the number will be modest). Notably, it will say the “pause” has provided time to reduce COVID overload in quarantine. By May 14 positive cases at Howard Springs are expected to number between 0 and 5, down from 55 on April 26.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Australia can t live in a bubble forever and needed to reopen its international borders as soon as possible to stem the economic losses.