Government prioritising the 'public health of Australians in Australia' first

Liberal MP Dave Sharma says the government has taken the approach of "prioritising the public health of Australians in Australia" first, as international flights from India are suspended until at least May 15.

Mr Sharma said the government was not "abandoning" its citizens, but it needed to balance the public health interests of Australians at home and "the legitimate desire" for repatriation by citizens abroad.

"I don't pretend it's an easy situation where we're having to trade off the interests of one group against another but by and large in this pandemic, we've taken the approach of prioritising the public health of Australians in Australia," he said.

"We're mindful of the experience of other nations that have had looser border controls and the disease has been allowed to take root in their country and spread like wildfire."

[geoffdein]

The Government loves the control process in the chess game. Power can be like a drug after all

[robertschrader]

I hope Australians enjoy having closed borders for the next 5 years!

[meganmckenzie]

It seems strange that a country in the list of the top 5 richest has people getting medical care in the back of a taxi.

[jenniemorgan]

The reason is the people from India don’t bring thousands and thousands of dollars to the states.

[Bryce]

If we all stand still the government cant see us

[allisonodea]

Shame shame they should come home tomorrow

[iamgay]

*China confuse face when Australia military starts training with taiwan* 🥴

[luciferblack]

Eventually the bald budgie will come to terms with knowing that no one of substance takes his complaints as credible 😫😫😫😫😫
😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

[laborrsocialists]

Kenny hasn't come out of the closet yet ! Get this 🙏 INDIA Kenny boy. LoL

[geoffdein]

If you quarantined them correctly, it wouldn’t be an issue. No problem at all. You cannot use Cooney mates. Certainly not hotels. I’m sure the whole lot of them wouldn’t mind a camp in the NT. Northern WA could handle it easy but the premiere there is “special” in his own lunchbox

[iamgay]

AUSTRALIAN TROOPS SHOULD TRAIN IN TAIWAN WITH THE TAIWANESE MILITARY.

[crispywhites]

I don’t see the problem of prioritising the home ground first.