Highlights
- Fiona Wright testified before Select Committee on COVID-19 on Thursday
- Ms Wright is stuck in Rajasthan, India
- ‘Two flights were cancelled and was bumped off three,’ says Ms Wright
Fiona Wright shared her repatriation and travel issues during a public hearing of Senate Select Committee on COVID-19 on Thursday.
Ms Wright who lives in Rajasthan, India with her husband and runs a social enterprise for women was planning to return to Australia in March when the borders shut down.
“I had a ticket for March 31 this year to return to Australia where I plan to spend more time with my grandchildren. But since the borders shut down, it has been a long, frustrating wait to get home,” she told SBS Hindi.
Ms Wright testified before the parliamentary committee on Thursday which heard statements of Australians stranded abroad.
In the public hearing, Ms Wright shared how her return flights were cancelled twice and how she had been bumped off the flights thrice in her attempts to come back to Australia.
“My country has not only left me stranded; they have put up huge barriers for me to return,” she said.
Ms Wright is upset the Prime Minister has failed to bring home Australians stranded abroad.
“Before I naively thought my government was looking out for me, I needed to be patient and I would soon be on a flight.
“Instead I saw Prime Minister vilify us to justify his lack of concern and then blocked avenues for stranded citizens to return home,” she said referring to PM’s announcement of decreasing the limit number of international arrivals.
Ms Wright is among thousands of Australians stuck overseas who are desperate to return to Australia.
Fiona Wright (2nd from right) with her three sons and grandchildren. Source: Supplied by Fiona Wright
She says she has written to a number of federal ministers and to leaders of the Labor Party but has received no help.
“I have written to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, NSW Premier, Penny Wong, Kristina Keneally and Anthony Albanese. Only Ms Wong and Ms Keneally responded who I feel have tried to help. The rest just sent a standard reply,” she says.
“I have done everything within my power from the beginning to get to Australia. [But] there is no chance this year for most of us,” she says.
She says the Prime Minister needs to step up to bring back Australians.
“You are the Prime Minister of the country, the buck stops with you,” Ms Wright said.
A number of witnesses recounted the toll of being stuck abroad during the coronavirus pandemic at the parliamentary committee examining the government’s response to the crisis.
Last week, the National Cabinet agreed to increase weekly caps on returning travellers from around 4,000 towards 6,000 places by next month in response to growing pressure to bring more Australians home.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks following a National Cabinet meeting on 18 September. Source: AAP
There are some 26,800 Australians who have told the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade they want to fly home, with around 4,000 of these people considered in a vulnerable position.
Labor’s Home Affairs spokesperson Kristina Keneally has called on the government to charter flights and has accused the government of lagging behind other countries around the world.
“Donald Trump has sent out planes to bring American citizens back to the United States,” she told reporters.
“Scott Morrison can't be bothered to do the same for Australians stranded overseas.”
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus
