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- The Prime Minister has rejected a plan to repatriate Australians who are infected with COVID-19 and stranded in India
- Scott Morrison is being criticised by Labor for failing to bring home more stranded Australians, as the situation worsens in India
- The Opposition Leader argues the Morrison Government is to blame for some of the positive COVID-19 cases, as he left citizens stranded in the nation
- However, the PM isn’t bowing to the pressure, stating Australia can’t risk allowing COVID-19 to enter the country via affected returned travelers
- The Federal Government has shut its borders to India, with only 900 of the more than 9000 stranded Australians to be brought home
- Those returning home must return a negative test first, with a recent 150-seat flight only half full as stranded Australians had tested positive
The Prime Minister has rejected a plan to repatriate Australians who are infected with COVID-19 and stranded in India.
The plan was floated by Labor, which is criticising Scott Morrison for failing to bring home more stranded Australians as the coronavirus situation worsens.
Labor Leader Anthony Albanese argues the Morrison Government is to blame for some of the positive COVID-19 cases, as he left citizens stranded in India.
“If they were home by Christmas, they wouldn’t be COVID positive now,” the Federal Opposition leader argued.
“If Scott Morrison had kept his commitment, they wouldn’t be exposed to this danger,” he added.
But, the PM isn’t bowing to Labor’s pressure, stating Australia can’t risk allowing COVID-19 to enter the country via affected returned travelers.
“I’ve seen the suggestions from others that, who seem to think we can put people who’ve tested COVID positive on planes and bring them to Australia,” Scott Morrison said.
“I mean, that just doesn’t make any sense. We all want to support people as much as we can, but by importing COVID into the country, I don’t think that’s a very sensible or sound thing to do,” he added.
The Federal Government shut its borders to India last month and confirmed only 900 of the more than 9000 stranded Australians would be brought home by repatriation flights.
However, a recent 150-seat flight from India to Darwin only had 80 people on board as the rest of the passengers had either tested positive for COVID-19 or being listed as close contacts of infected people.
The Prime Minister stated government officials would work with Qantas (QAN), which are operating the flights and COVID-19 tests required for stranded Australians to be brought home.
“They’ll get every support from us. But it is a very difficult environment to operate in at the moment,” Scott Morrison said.
“I’m pleased that we’ve been able to get 80 people home already. I hope we, and intend for us, to get even more home in the other repatriation commercially facilitated flights in the weeks ahead,” the PM added.
