Australian PM retreats from threat to to jail Australians trying to come back from India
04 May, 2021
Australia's prime minister fended off accusations of racism and having blood on his hands Tuesday, as he retreated from a threat to jail Australians trying to flee COVID-wracked India.
Scott Morrison's government shifted to ban travelers from India from entering Australia until May 15, threatening rule-breakers -- including Australian citizens -- with prison time.
Amid a widespread backlash, Morrison on Tuesday explained it was "highly unlikely" that Australians who skirted a ban will be jailed.
"I think the likelihood of some of that occurring is virtually zero," Morrison said in a breakfast-time media blitz on Tuesday.
Around 9,000 Australians are thought to be found in India, where thousands of new coronavirus cases are being detected each day and the death toll is soaring.
Among those trapped are some of Australia's most high profile sporting stars -- cricketers participating in in the lucrative Indian Premier League.
Commentator and form test cricket celebrity Michael Slater was first among those that pilloried Morrison's decision due to a "disgrace".
"Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us such as this," he tweeted. "If our Government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home."
Morrison said the theory he previously blood on his hands was "absurd".
"There possess been a whole lot of tough decisions during COVID and people will criticize me and my government for this," he told Nine television. "I'm not likely to fail Australia. I'll guard our borders at this time."
The decision came into force on Monday and was denounced by rights groups plus some of Morrison's virtually all prominent allies including Sky News commentator Andrew Bolt who said it "stinks of racism".
Australia has largely avoided the worst of the pandemic, through a number of the strictest border controls on earth.
You will find a blanket ban on travel to-and-from the united states unless an exemption is secured.
Non-citizens will be mostly banned from getting into and anyone would you come into the country must carry out a mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine.
But that system has come under increasing strain as the virus has jumped from quarantine facilities and induced a series of outbreaks in the largely unvaccinated community.
The conservative prime minister faces reelection within the next 12 months, and had hoped Australia's relatively successful handling of the pandemic would propel him to victory.
But the India travelling ban and a glacial vaccine rollout possess prompted criticism.
Australia has administered 2.2 million vaccine doses out of a population of 25 million persons, who each need two doses to be fully immunized.
Source: japantoday.com