Stranded Aussies

Right Now: Australians Abandoned in India – the latest victims of political expedience

~ Esther Rockett

Recently Australia’s National Cabinet chose to ban inbound flights from India, preventing thousands of Australians from returning to the only home they have as the subcontinent’s hospital system collapses under the strain of rising coronavirus cases. Many have been stranded since the Australian government introduced its travel ban at the outset of the pandemic. Others were granted official exemptions to exit the country for essential travel.

Not only has National Cabinet failed to develop a repatriation plan to ensure Australians could get back, but they took the unprecedented step of criminalising their return.

Read the rest of this article by Stranded Aussies Action Network co-founder Esther Rockett at rightnow.org.au
Esther is a co-founder of the Stranded Aussies Action Network. Visit the website to access its Get Informed pages and self-help toolbox: strandedaussies.com

Stranded Aussies and insular Australia’s makeshift pandemic safety 

~ Esther Rockett ~ 1 Comment
Left out in the cold – James Cater has been stranded in Russia since the beginning of the pandemic.

Although Australia is viewed as one of the most successful nations at dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, its methods are nothing to envy. When it came to international border control it opted for callous and short-sighted political schemes over humane solutions. It’s symptomatic of an inward focused political culture and society that readily engages in othering for political expedience, and has failed to keep up with the times.

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Right now: Stranded Aussies and advance Australia unfair

~ Esther Rockett

Australia is among the most successful countries in the world at containing the spread of coronavirus.      

However, Australia is the only country that has denied its citizens’ right to return to their home country for most of the pandemic, exploiting misinformation and the politics of division to keep citizens and permanent residents out.

Read the rest of this article by Stranded Aussies Action Network co-founder Esther Rockett at rightnow.org.au
For more information visit the Stranded Aussies Action Network website strandedaussies.com