Highlights
- Labor supports the Australian government's decision to keep borders shut to foreign visitors
- Travel exemptions must be granted to immediate family members of Australians: Senator Keneally
- Senator Keneally calls for an overhaul of Australia's migration policy after coronavirus crisis
For hundreds of temporary migrants stranded offshore due to the coronavirus-induced travel bans, Australia continues to remain the home they can't return to.
Acknowledging the plight of such migrants and families of Australians who have been forced apart by border closure, Labor frontbencher Senator Keneally today said while she understands their pain, it is an essential measure to prevent the contagion.
“We appreciate and understand the government’s determination to limit the number of people coming into Australia and to limit the number of Australians leaving Australia and returning because it does pose a risk of bringing the virus back into Australia even with quarantine,” she said.
Addressing the multicultural media during a virtual press conference, Ms Keneally said while the government needs to manage the number of exemptions being granted, it must allow people with compelling circumstances to return to the country.
“We also understand and appreciate that there is a need for some exemptions particularly for the immediate family members of Australian citizens and permanent residents or some people who have temporary visas, either for humanitarian or compassionate reasons.”
Raising the plight of Australians who are unable to return due to the recent capping on international arrivals, Ms Keneally said she would keep pushing the government to bring them home.
Labor's shadow home affairs minister Kristina Keneally during a virtual press conference on Monday. Source: SBS Punjabi
“We would encourage as we have been since this pandemic hit that the Australian government to continue to find ways whether it’s through charter flights or other means to assist Australian citizens and permanent residents to return home,” she added.
Australia is relying ‘too heavily’ on temporary migration warns Labor
Drawing attention to Australia’s 2.1 million temporary visa holders – the number that currently sits at second highest in the world, Ms Keneally also used the opportunity to address what she claims was the country's "over-reliance" on temporary migrants.
Last year, the Morrison government announced it will be capping permanent migration numbers at 160,000 per year, but temporary migration continued to hit historically high levels.
“When Scott Morrison looks at the Australian people in the eye and says that he is capping migration, he has done no such thing. He has put a cap on the number of permanent migrants. However, temporary migration has now soared to historically high levels,” she said.
Stepping up her attack on the government’s migration policy, Senator Keneally said Australia needs to reduce its temporary migrant intake in the post-pandemic world and must capitalise on this "unique opportunity" to rethink its migration program that she insisted must focus on permanent migrants.
Representational image Source: AAP
“We need to talk about the composition and particularly whether or not we are becoming a guest-worker nation with an underclass of people who have very little ability to assert their rights or access the same services as other people in the Australian community,” she added.
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.
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