Australia live news: 70 people barred from first India repatriation flight; Morrison comments on Israel-Palestine conflict
Around 70 people due to be evacuated from New Dehli have either tested positive for Covid or are close contacts of cases; PM talks about ‘deeply sensitive’ Middle East situation. Follow the latest updates
- More than 70 out of 150 Australians in India unable to fly on first repatriation flight
- NSW MP Gareth Ward steps down as minister over sexual violence allegations which he denies
- Anthony Albanese pledges $10bn social housing fund in Labor’s federal budget reply
Labor is not able to offer a lot of answers to these stranded Australians participating in this zoom meeting – which Michelle Rowland is very up front about.
“We don’t have the answers to a lot of them, because we are not in government,” she said.
For Australians stranded in India, they do not know what is happening to their visa status – no one can tell them. They will not be vaccinated by the Australian government, and don’t know if they receive private vaccinations using the vaccines India is using, whether that will count in Australia. Those who are lucky enough to qualify for a loan from the department of foreign affairs are only able to access $2000 – getting home will cost $6000 at least. Minors need a direct relative to take them home – and there are about 173 who are unaccompanied in India. So how do you get them home?
So, Marise Payne and Greg Hunt have just released a statement on the return of Australians from India, saying a plan has just departed Sydney to pick up passengers from New Delhi.
The statement also says the flight will carry “life-saving oxygen equipment” to India, as part of Australia’s support for the country.
Read the original article at The Guardian