Page 1496 - Week 05 - Thursday, 13 May 2021
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My amendment is very simple, and it has been circulated. It simply seeks to omit part (3). Part (3) goes to the decision of the federal government. I would like to quote some Labor luminaries regarding what they think about the temporary flight ban, which was the recommendation of the Chief Health Officer of Australia. Mr Mark McGowan, WA Labor Premier, said:
India is facing a severe third wave, one that we have not seen anywhere else. With more and more arrivals coming from India, we need to seriously look at temporarily restricting our travel of people who have been in or through India. They are trying to put a stop to the third wave. However, in Australia we need to do everything we can to keep this double mutant variety away.
That was said on 27 April. He is quoted as saying:
“There needs to be a suspension,” Mr McGowan told reporters. “We obviously have a problem with India ...
“It’s a big risk to our hotel quarantine system and you can see the consequences.”
He said that he supported a suspension because it was putting this country at risk. He said that that was a hard thing to say, and for Australians, or permanent residents and others, who want to come into Australia from India, it will be difficult for them. But he understood that it was a medical choice that was made, because we were not ready to accept people in those numbers into Howard Springs. Annastacia Palaszczuk, the Queensland Labor Premier, said:
I welcome the federal government’s decision to increase aid to India … I know the decision to suspend flights will be difficult for families, but it is the right decision at this time.
On 27 April she said:
We have to do everything we can to protect Queenslanders and protect Australians. I understand that the Commonwealth is meeting to discuss this issue. Other countries have done a temporary suspension, and I don’t think it would be out of kilter for Queensland and Australia to also do the same.
Anthony Albanese was asked this by a journalist:
And just moving on to the news of the day, is it reasonable to close the borders with thousands of Australians stuck in India?
Mr Albanese said:
Well, we need to make sure that we prioritise getting Australians home. And it’s understandable, these border closures, given what has occurred in India.
He was asked:
Do you think it was the right decision to reduce the number of arrivals from India by 30 per cent?
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