Australian citizens returning home from India could face 5 years jail

Australian citizens on returning home from India could face up to five years in jail and fines after the government made the journey illegal.

Saturday, 1st May 2021

Australian citizens on returning home from India could face up to five years in jail and fines after the government made the journey illegal. The health ministry said the ruling had been made "based on the symptoms of people in quarantine who have received a Covid-19 infection in India". Earlier this week, Australia halted all flights from India. There are an approximated 9,000 Australians in India, 600 of whom are classed as vulnerable. This will be for the very first time that Australians have been criminalised for returning to their country, Australian media report.One doctor told that the government's move was excessive to the threat posed by those recovering from India. "Our families are quite literally dying in India overseas... to have absolutely there is no way of getting them out - this is abandonment," GP and health author Dr Vyom Sharmer said. From Monday, anyone who was in India within 14 days of their arrival date in Australia will be banned from entering the country. Failing to comply with the current law could result in a five-year jail sentence, an A$66,000 (£37,000) fine, or both. The decision will be again reviewed on 15 May, the health ministry said. "The government will not make these choices lightly," Health Minister Greg Hunt said in the statement. "However, it is critical the greatness of the Australian public health and quarantine orders is protected as well as the number of Covid-19 cases in quarantine facilities are reduced to a controllable level."