Australia bans arrivals of its citizens from India; says offenders face jail, fines

Except if you are exceptional like a cricketer. What the hell were they doing going there in the first place. Sports are not an essential reason to travel.

I tend to agree with the Australia Government. Why should millions of people in Australia suffer because of a few?

NZ has blocked them too. And been called racist, as per usual.

And yet when the US was experiencing record high infection numbers last year, US celebrities suddenly starting showing up in Australia while Australian citizens were denied entry. I get the need to protect the country but the point made about improving quarantine procedures for citizens makes more sense. That being said, possible the new strains is what's making them freak out like this....which is partly understandable.

Guess they don’t want to risk millions of peoples health….. wow how totally selfish of their government

Tora

Good National Geographic documentary for you, mate. Time to open your eyes.

Already well aware of the history and continuing issues mate.

evidently, sports people are a new nobility, so it's only right that they are not subject to the same rules as we commoners..... and their selflessness in continuing to travel and compete during the global pandemic, purely for the entertainment of their fans, is to be admired.

jpn_guyToday 01:57 pm JST

White Australia Policy alive and well.

No that policy is long gone, and good riddance.

Does anyone believe the Australia government would to this to the US or the UK even if their situations were as awful as the situation in India?

Absolutely.

Individual Australian people seem so warm and friendly, always there to help you out.

Yes, that's what we do.

Why though, as a nation, does do Australians continue to elect the current mob of human rights violators?

Both main parties are more similar than you think. Neither really deserves to run Australia but when you only have two poor options, one must be chosen.

Most Australians understand keeping your country and your family in it safe is the main priority in a pandemic. Australian's from around the world are trying to get home still, and the quarantine facilities are limited and not really fit for purpose. Taking more chances is not an option given the problems already experienced with returning people. Make no mistake, if Australia was properly set up to take in hundreds of thousands into purpose built quarantine facilities it would not hesitate to do so as soon as possible. No nation was prepared for this. No nation has sufficient purpose built quarantine facilities for the numbers needing them.

I feel for those caught over seas but for many they no longer resided in Australia but are duel citizens wanting to get to a safer place. I cant fault that desire but if doing so puts 26 million people in danger of what is happening in India or Brazil right now then I am sorry. A handful of people would be brought in but we cant safely deal with the multiple tens of thousands who want to come immediately. If that seems harsh it is because it is. But the pandemic is even harsher and does not discriminate.

The two Australian cricketers acted quickly and have come back before the May 3rd deadline. They are now in a fourteen day hotel quarantine situation with frequent Covid19 testing.

The ex Australian cricket captain, Steve Smith, and many others remain in India to continue with their contracts in the Indian Cricket League.

On the bright side more time for that great food and cheap booze.

Jpn guy, justify those comments please.

Sick of hearing such comments, It has nothing to do with race!

The simple fact of the matter is India is the epicentre of coronavirus at the moment in the world. The ban is temporary and will be reevaluated on 15 May.

This is being done to give our health system and quarantine program a chance to recover and prepare. It’s unfortunate for the 8000 up there but there’s 24 million down here that need to be considered.

I would agree that returnees should be involuntarily quarantined, but denying entry to citizens and legal residents seems excessive to me.

Totally agree. Stop travel for a few weeks = virus stopped.

That is what I read from experience from past pandemy : better to qurantine everyone for a few weeks than do stop and go or any limited measures.

Proven by current experiments from all countries, with China leading the example to follow (whatever I think of the country itself).

Sports stars are more important than health concerns. Just like in Japan.

Jpn guy, So where are you from? You’re obviously not from Australia, most likely never lived here and basing all the above on your own perceptions in media.

If I had the time and patience I’d be happy to explain things further with you but I’m actually quite offended with your comments regarding April 25 - how dare you refer to Anzac Day as a ‘quasi-religious ancestor worshipping festival’

Two totally false claims.

No, they are both accurate.

Both the USA and UK health systems were over run including not enough beds, not enough equipment, freezer trucks in hospital parkings to store the dead.

One or two full hospitals is not a complete breakdown of the health system. Comparing what is happening in India right now to the situation in the UK and the US at any point is wrong. Neither the UK or US had a complete breakdown and shortages of oxygen and beds to the point of people dying in the streets unable to get medical assistance. It just did not happen.

Not sure what news you followed.

BBC, CNN, JT, TASS, China Daily, DW and Local Australian news outlets.

And never did Australia close to returning citizens, it limited the daily number if those arriving.

Limited groups of citizens have been allowed from all over the world and India is the first nation to have that temporarily suspended due to its covid 'apocalypse" as described by on local doctor in a Deli Hospital.

International travel has been banned from all nations since 2020 with the exception of the bubble created to New Zealand. This has not stopped commerce via cargo planes and ships from around the world.

I’m usually sympathetic with the government of Australia but this time I really feel that they’re doing it soo wrong.

They’ll leave their own citizens struggling there but allow a few wealthy cricketers to return to their home?

A government should help it’s people not abandon them.

Shame on such decision.

Except if you are exceptional like a cricketer. What the hell were they doing going there in the first place. Sports are not an essential reason to travel.

They provide the much needed entertainment..and as such IPL and related travel is allowed.. off-course the primary driver is money and nobody is going to miss out on the millions they make from IPL..

https://moneyball.insidesport.co/ipltopplayers.php?section=foreigner

jpn_guy

White Australia Policy alive and well.

Treating your own citizens in the manner is utterly despicable and a stain on the international reputation of Australia.

It's a regrettable, but logical step to make. Also note that the US, the UK, New Zealand, Italy, Germany, Singapore to name a few, so I don't think you can put this on White Australia policy.

StarbucksToday 12:03 pm JST

Except if you are exceptional like a cricketer. What the hell were they doing going there in the first place. Sports are not an essential reason to travel.

Because pro sports and the money it generates are two of the highest values we have today.

Its own citizens? How is that legal?

Government made the law. It’s slippery slope time again eh.

But Australia is still going to send it's Olympic team to Japan.

Ah the logic or lack there of.

that'swhat it looks like to outsiders

But still no one has given a good reason as to why when it was the USA and even the UK with out of control covid spread this same policy was not taken.

I pointed out that what was done was to control the daily number of those returning.

Interesting I got down votes but no one giving a logical explanation for the very different reactions and policies.

White Australia Policy alive and well.

Really? Are you saying this rule does not apply to white Australians returning from business or tourism trips to India?

I don't see anything racist in this policy. But that doesn't mean I agree with it. On the contrary, I think that it is quite wrong to refuse entry to your own citizens. Where are they supposed to go???

Of course people entering from India, where this new and more dangerous virus variant is prevalent, need to be quarantined, but if they have an Australian passport then they should be allowed entry.

Ok you can go back and forth with jpn_guy if you want but you still haven't said why this same policy was not put in place when the virus was out of control in the USA or UK.

All Australia did then was control the number of daily returning citizens.

So explain why now a total ban and not a similar action like before?

The variant lose in India seems more virulent and is reportedly effecting younger people as well as elderly.

The health system in both the UK and US were not over run and collapsing as the Indian system is.

Australia was one of the first nations to close its borders including to the US and UK.

But if making these acusations of racisim against Australia make you feel good about yourself, that is more about you than Australia. Also assuming there are only brown Australians trying to get home from India is also pretty racist on your part.

Some say this has nothing to do with race, perhaps not but to say it is because India is the epicenter today of Covid or the virus is out of control there is not helping the view this is not partially race.

When covid was running rampant in the USA or even the UK no such blanket ban was put into effect.

In fact all that was done was limit how many citizens and permanent residents could return daily.

So this does make people wonder why not when it was the USA the epicenter but now that it is India doing the limited number per day returning isn't good enough.

AustPaul

Ok you can go back and forth with jpn_guy if you want but you still haven't said why this same policy was not put in place when the virus was out of control in the USA or UK.

All Australia did then was control the number of daily returning citizens.

So explain why now a total ban and not a similar action like before?

The health system in both the UK and US were not over run and collapsing as the Indian system is.

Australia was one of the first nations to close its borders including to the US and UK.

Two totally false claims.

Both the USA and UK health systems were over run including not enough beds, not enough equipment, freezer trucks in hospital parkings to store the dead.

Not sure what news you followed.

And never did Australia close to returning citizens, it limited the daily number if those arriving.

But if you want to use alternative facts to justify this move please do so.

Those Gvernments can't be simultneously racist - i.e. won't allow people in from India - and non-racist - i.e. welcoming skilled Indian migrants as citizens - at the same time.

Yes they can. When times get tough. When it no longer suits them, etc, etc.

One day the epidemic will be over throughout the world but Australia and New Zealand will be still closed off to the world...

Whereas at the moment they are very safe as they have eliminated the virus but as soon as people start travelling again they will still have to be locked down which at the moment is the strange mentality of politicians there! With current system the country can never open imo

Australia bans arrivals of its citizens from India; says offenders face jail, fines

Its own citizens? How is that legal?

Kind of typical in recent times coming out of Australia. Look up Xmas Island and their treatment of refugees, or treatment of their mates across the ditch in recent times. Not to mention their treatment of their indigenous peoples and other "non-desirables". Pretty appalling and not surprised their cricketers allowed back in with no issues.

To Indian Australians: Make sure you get your revenge against those Aussie battlers in the test series.

I’m ashamed to be an Aussie, how long till they bar all citizens from coming home! I only know of a couple of countries that bans it people from leaving and entering. Most Aussies agree with the gov as they’re packing their dacks with this virus and don’t care about their fellow citizens overseas at all. We could return but it’s way too costly, it’s designed that way to deter us. Cheers mate

Peter14

Good National Geographic documentary for you, mate. Time to open your eyes.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/aboriginal-australians