Australians stuck overseas are waiting to see if National Cabinet will agree to the Prime Minister’s plan to increase the cap on international arrivals.
In July, National Cabinet introduced a cap on international arrivals to take the pressure off some states’ hotel quarantine systems.
The Prime Minister’s move will be discussed by state and territory leaders today, but he has already said they will effectively be forced into accepting the new arrivals into their quarantine systems.
Michelle Hughes’ husband and three children were able to travel home to Australia from Hong Kong earlier this year, but she is yet to leave.
« I’ve got three children and a husband that I’m absolutely desperate to get home to. This is not the 2020 we had planned, » she said.
Ms Hughes said she was not sure an increased cap would have a noticeable impact for Australians trying to fly back.
« I don’t think the extra 2,000 spread across the entire country is going to make much of a difference, » she said.
« It’s a step in the right direction, but I don’t think we’re going to feel any massive impact in that increased number. »
Today’s meeting comes after the Federal Government wrote to state and territory leaders asking them to boost their hotel quarantine capacity to facilitate the increase in arrivals.
Victoria is currently receiving no arrivals as one of the measures to help it deal with its outbreak.
Ms Hughes is due to fly out of Hong Kong later this month but has booked another, business class, ticket as a back-up in case her original ticket is cancelled.
« My visa’s about to expire here, my job’s about to finish here, which means my health insurance finishes, my accommodation finishes.
« You’re kind of living on a knife’s edge up until that period, whether you’re going to be on that flight. »
Anne-Marie Thorsen moved to Australia when she was 19, but returned home to the United States at the end of 2019 to celebrate her 50th birthday and spend Christmas with her family.
The trip was supposed to last a couple of months, but as the pandemic ramped up she agonised over whether to stay close to her family or return home.
« I didn’t know what to do and unfortunately I hesitated too long in making the decision and the borders closed, » she said through tears.
« My home is Australia, I don’t care what my passport says or where my parents live.
« But how do you make the decision … our belief was that this thing could wipe out half the planet, so how long does it take to say goodbye to your parents knowing it might be a final goodbye? »
Ms Thorsen said she thought she would still be able to fly to Australia at some point, but once the cap was introduced and ticket prices soared she realised it would be too difficult financially to do so.
« I’m really thrilled that they’re going to be raising up the caps, and I hope they keep raising, » Ms Thorsen said.
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SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
