Australians Arriving From Covid-Hit India Could Face 5 Years' Jail, Fine

[Celerity]

The emergency determination, made late on Friday, is part of strict measures to stop travellers to Australia from the world's second most populous nation as it contends with a surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/coronavirus-australia-bans-arrivals-from-india-says-offenders-will-face-jail-fines-2425682

Sydney: Australian residents and citizens who have been in India within 14 days of the date they plan to return home will be banned from entering Australia as of Monday and those who disobey will face fines and jail, government officials said.
The temporary emergency determination, issued late on Friday, is the first time Australia has made it a criminal offence for its citizens to return home.

The move is part of strict measures to stop travellers to Australia from the world's second most populous nation as it contends with a surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths.

The restrictions come into effect from May 3 and breaching the ban risks civil penalties and up to five years imprisonment, Health Minister Greg Hunt said in a statement.

"The government does not make these decisions lightly," Hunt said." However, it is critical the integrity of the Australian public health and quarantine systems is protected and the number of COVID-19 cases in quarantine facilities is reduced to a manageable level."

In case some question a single source

[canetoad]

1. I appreciate your citation

Of multiple sources. I can confirm that it's true.

I'm sad to say that it is probably necessary.

We are travelling relatively well here in Oz. Very few community transmissions, most cases are incoming travellers.

Unfortunately, many quarantine measures have failed; due to human quirks and faults, failures of staff/guards, plain stupidy and also sheer malice. The failure of quarantine has been Australia's bête noir during Covid. These penalties seem to be the Morrison government's admission that we just don't do quarantine well.

Despite this, I hope the gov. manages to repatriate ill citizens so that they can receive care here.

[Celerity]

2. Is the level of QANON/anti-vaxx/anti-mask/all round denailsim and pushback higher in Queensland

and WA than other parts of Australia (WA, with the suburbs of Perth and the rural areas as the main feeder, and even more so, Queensland (Gold Coast, etc) are where I find the most 'RW' Aussies as a percentage of population, again especially the rural areas, which is not a shock there) or is it somewhat equally spread across the continent?

[canetoad]

4. There are parts of the continent

That I haven't heard from in ten years. LOL

Seriously, I don't notice a preponderance of covidiots in any particular state. Most Aussies took this seriously and the fifteen bogans who held a 'freedom' protest in the Botanic Gardens were arrested but freed without charge.

I'm in Victoria, so more switched on to the local news. Not sure how the notoriously woke, anti-vax Republic of Moreland dealt with the reality of vaccination. I'm in a regional town, 150km from Melbourne and people have been great here. Certainly a sense of community exists between townsfolk and farmers.

We, in general, do not wear our political affiliations publicly. This is a result of compulsory voting; there is no need to GOTV and all the propaganda it entails. In contrast with the US, our federal and state governments make it their business to help voters avoid fines by making it as slick and easy to vote a possible. Can you imagine such a concept in the US?

Love your posts Celerity. You're OK for a billy-lid.

[Celerity]

5. lol, thanks for the info, and at least you didn't call me a pommie tW% (something I get in spades

from my Aussie mates in real life, roflmaoooo)

Actually the SA Afrikaners (especially one of my besties, a friend of my mum, who I knew in London but has since moved back to Pretoria,, he has the WORST potty mouth, makes me look a right proper prude, which is not easy, lol) I know are the worst with that one.

but it is all just banter, not serious

I always enjoy your posts as well!

Huggiezzz

Cel

[canetoad]

7. OMG only once in my life

Have I punched anyone in the face. For being called a Pommie.

I was born in Scotland, lived 10 years in Midlands England and the family migrated as Ten pound Poms when I was 10.5 in 1965. Didn't even pay the ten pounds as my dad scored a contract with BHP in Wollongong and we were sponsored.

There was a little cabal of Heathers (Karens) at the local primary school who enjoyed giving the migrant kids a hard time. One bailed me up under a bridge on the way home from school and taunted me for being a Pom. I punched her in the face. Can still feel the contact which was kinda satisfying and solid.

Laffin at 'right proper'. Who'd you think you are? Vikki Pollard?

[Celerity]

9. zero bogan bones in my body, lolol, I am about as far from a Little Britain bint as one can get

I am a West London girl (South Kensington), independent HMC school-educated (and like you had some issues there as I am mixed race and some of the girls where just atrocious at first, but I soon won most of them over.)

[canetoad]

10. Getting late here

But would like to keep the convo alive. Mañana.

[Celerity]

11. cheers! was a pleasure having a chat, and take care of the broken wrist and pinkie!

Hugz

Cel

[orleans]

3. i know of someone who traveled to another country...

(stupid me--i forget--maybe china? maybe south korea?)
anyway, travelers were taken to a hotel for quarantine (and it might have been for 20 days). they could not leave their room. food was delivered outside their door twice a day. also, they were charged for their food and hotel stay so if you couldn't afford it then you couldn't go there.

i don't know if they were doing that with people that were just returning home--they might have been.

i wondered why we couldn't have done something like that here last year.

[Thyla]

6. Bound to be a human rights violation here

Still, nothing new for Oz politics whichever side of the isle you sit.

Australia had done well but at the expense of its own citizens abroad.

[canetoad]

8. I get what you're saying

But make no concessions for citz abroad who are willing to flaunt rules and safely and place those of us at home in danger.