Highlights
- Melbourne man Dyko and his two sons have been refused permission to travel to Germany to be with Dyko's partner
- Between 25 March and 6 May, the ABF allowed nearly 3,000 people to travel overseas, over 2,100 of them on "compassionate or humanitarian grounds"
- The ABF says of those applications that are refused, most aren't approved due to insufficient evidence
Since 20th March, Australia's borders have been closed, allowing only Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members to enter the country. And they must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine at a designated facility (usually, a hotel) after their arrival.
The rules are quite different for Australians wanting to leave the continent. On 24 March, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a complete ban on overseas travel for Australian citizens and permanent residents with very limited exceptions. For example, Australians or permanent residents can return home if their normal place of residence is overseas.
Melbourne man Dyko and his sons Kaan (13) and Iggy (20), all dual nationals, do not fall within the above category.
"Our principal place of residence is Australia despite having German and Australian passports and spending several months in Germany each year," Dyko says.
His only avenue, therefore, was to apply for an exemption on compassionate grounds. He has applied three times to travel to Germany to be with his partner.
Dyko at home in Melbourne: "Besides, I really need to attend to some key business matters. But I won't give up - I'll just keep trying." Source: Supplied
"This is where the frustration sets in", he says.
"My German partner Yasemin, the mother of Kaan and Iggy, works as a flight attendant with Lufthansa in Frankfurt. Because of the nature of her job, quarantine measures and because she does not have citizenship or PR (permanent residency) in Australia, she cannot realistically travel to Australia during these COVID-19 times," he told SBS German.
Dyko and both his sons have been trying for the last two months to obtain permission to travel to Europe.
How do you keep busy while waiting for the authorities to attend to your application? Iggy painting at home in Melbourne. Source: Supplied
"My kids have not seen their mother for more than three months. We are being held in Australia against our will", he laments.
With no work due to COVID-19, he says, he really needs to be based in Germany.
"We're definitely not going on a holiday."
The commission of the Australian Border Force is authorised to exempt Australians from the overseas travel ban. The exemptions are granted if someone has to travel in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, for critical business work, urgent medical treatment, unavoidable personal business or compassionate grounds.
Kaan has been busy in the kitchen. He, sibling Iggy and their dad Dyko talk to their mother on a daily basis. "But it's not the same", says Dyko. Source: Supplied
Between 25th March and 6th May, the Australian Border Force has allowed over 2,000 people to travel overseas on "compassionate or humanitarian grounds" and refused exemptions to nearly 700 people from the overseas travel ban who cited compassionate reasons.
The ABF said the refused applications were often due to insufficient supporting evidence and said it encouraged applicants to re-apply with necessary documents.
Dyko says he has so far applied three times, each time with more elaborate evidence, but all his requests were refused. He received the same response all three times: "The Australian Border Force has considered your request and a delegate of the ABF commissioner has determined that your application to travel is not authorised. Your departing port has been notified of this decision."
He has lodged a fourth application and intends to keep lodging them until he and his sons are allowed to travel to Germany.
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