Arrivals to Australia increase
Overseas arrivals to Australia increased from 19,400 people in May to 25,800 in June, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The 33 per cent increase in arrivals played a significant role in the worsening coronavirus situation, particularly given the hotel quarantine related outbreak in Victoria, which played a significant role in the spike.
While the figures show a significant increase month-on-month, overseas arrivals decreased 98 per cent compared with June 2019.
"This continues to reflect the overall low levels of travel observed since travel restrictions were first introduced in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic," explained ABS director of migration statistics.
Nearly two out of three (65 per cent) arrivals in June were Australian or New Zealand citizens, similar to the proportion seen in May (69 per cent).
Would you like to see the number of overseas arrivals in Australia cut while we get virus numbers back under control?
What a callous hard-hearted view.
Problem is, it makes sense and I tend to agree with the logic of it. There are certainly some difficult decisions being made (or not) by our politicians.
Note that the flights that bring in FREIGHT are not included. We do need our trinkets and clothing from China, don't we!!
I agree with Hihosilver -- stop the flights --
Also NO, we do not need our trinkets and such from China -- about time we woke up and started making all our own stuff as we did in the 40s and 50s -- everyone had jobs and we had everything as well
Again this is a situation where one fix does not fit all circumstances.
Yes people had had sufficient time to make the decision to return home.
But, not all have been able to do this.
Flights are not available from all places where people are located.
And to get to a connecting international airport can require traveling to and through virus hot spots.
That has a high probability of more people bringing the virus back with them, even if not infected before tavel.
BUT yes definitely cut the # of arrivals and visitors wherever possible.
Everyone stop for a few minutes (politicians included) and imagine you and your family live in the US or Brazil or South Africa, Europe or India. Or Hong Kong. Now imagine what you think when you compare COVID19 statistics in that country with Australia. In life or death matters with your family safety at stake maybe you start to be envious of Australia or even desperate to go there.
Not a comforting scenario. It certainly means we need good leaders to really defend our best interests more than ever now.
My family DO live in the UK. My sister is running COVID-19 tests in a lab and my niece is a teacher. They are all following the local rules concerning lockdown, social distancing not moving about unless absolutely necessary and are all safe. So what is your point?
People are STILL stuck overseas. In the Philippines, there are many islands that have resorts and are reached by ferry. The ferries are not running. Domestic flights have been cancelled so people have to wait for an international one to land. They book a ticket and flights get cancelled. Some areas are more strict than others. I have friends who are senior citizens and they are not allowed into the office to get the necessary paperwork to leave the country. How do they get home? The ambassador/embassy have been more than useless in helping. They advised people from the beginning to "hunker down". Email them and receive an auto-response and never get a proper one back answering questions etc. Phone them and you get aa recorded message and never receive a reply after leaving a message. Occasionally they do respond. They issue regular newsletters telling people to book a flight. My flight home was 25%more than a normal return flight. I am owed for 2 tickets I purchased and have been told refunds can take up to a year. We give Qantas money to see them through the pandemic and they have grounded all aircraft. How about using them to get some Aussies home.
Please do not continue on saying they should be home by now. They cant get home. Now when they do they get hit with a big quarantine bill. People cannot afford it and have now been forced to stay overseas and hope for the best. They have been abandoned by the govt.
I am referring to TRAVELLERS who are stuck NOT people who reside overseas. They should have stayed there as they chose to live there. If they do come back (NOT home but back) then charge them for quarantine but not everyday people who were on holidays. The other way to go about quarantine is to release a hit record and a fragrance and you won't have to pay for it. What rubbish letting the rich get out of quarantine in a hotel. Cutting flights is not the answer. STOP the guards having sex and playing cards etc with the returnees. Those who are guilty of this should be charged with endangering life or something.
Beats me why people would want to go to a 3rd world country at all i have lived in a couple not by choice husband transferred there and would never go back ..they are dirty and a lot of violence not to mention its not safe to eat anywhere or drink only bottled water/juice ..as for the people not being able to afford the cost to come home well neither can the government they are spending way to much money as it is and soon we will be like a 3rd world country with no money ..and there is one rule here for some and different rule for others if your a celebrity you can get what you want with plenty of money ..and i do not believe that the guards were having sex with the detainees ..i cant believe they would be that stupid
Quantas did do mercy flights even from Manilla!
Trouble is so many chose to GO overseas -- when this virus was already on the lose -- same as they chose to go on cruises -- IMO that is/was just plain stupid.
I also can't imagine why anyone would want to subject themselves to just filthy places either
Robin hood, Oh yes they did have sex AND went shopping with the detainees and were also falling asleep on the job as well there were photos taken of this, they had NO idea how to do that job and cared less -- and had NO training either.
If only two thirds are Australians returning home, or New Zealanders, where are the remaining 8000+ from ???
Do all passengers have to have a negative test for Covid-19 before boarding? If not everyone on the flight could be at risk long before they're quarantined in Australia.
Which is why they have to do 14 days in guarded quarantine once they arrive in Australia.
Point taken KSS, and I guess that might be reassuring to some. However being an oldie with 'co-morbidities' then catching the virus on the plane could lead to my death.
It's cold comfort to me to be quarantined for up to 14 days before becoming seriously ill and hospitalised.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has issued advice recommending Australians abroad who wish to return home amid the COVID-19 pandemic should do so as soon as possible via commercial flights.
Warning given in March!!!
Yes it was. I was in the Philippines and lockdown came within hours of being told to come home. Once we were in lockdown it was a lockdown where we were not allowed to leave home. That was the same in many countries. Tell me how do you get home in that situation. How about all the flights that were cancelled? Please do some research prior to posting something that is not completely true.
It has nothing to do with "truth." It's to do with keeping your eyes and ears open when you are abroad!
I am a frequent traveller. When abroad, I take note of what is happening in Australia. If I were anywhere and I heard what was brewing in Australia, I would not wait for "lockdown" ...I would get my little behind back home.
Thousands of Australians who sheltered in Bali during the Covid-19 lockdown will be kicked out in four weeks as their emergency pandemic visas expire.
There are an estimated 10,000 Australians who remained in Indonesia during the lockdown, made up of 7,000 expatriates and 3,000 tourists.
Indonesia issued an emergency visa for those stranded by coronavirus lockdowns in March when Jakarta declared a State of Emergency across the archipelago nation.
They must leave by August 9 .. will be interesting to see what happens. In the meantime, foreigners in Bali are endangering the lives of Balinese with their reckless behaviour…see here..
Sophie you are right about keeping eyes and ears open. I did that but lockdown was imposed very quickly we were also told anybody not obeying lockdown can be shot. Some were shot. Did you know that problem that we faced in the Philippines. Obviously not by the comments you made. International flights were stopped as well. Tell me how to face being shot and having flights cancelled are we meant to leave a country. So, I said before please get your facts straight before you post.
Country John…I am not going to argue with you. You were there, you know the difficulties you faced getting out..but you did it. Many others could have done what you did and I do know many had opportunities to do so.
I am happy for you that you made it out. Although I have only the news to rely on regarding how many were shot, I understand only one 63 year old man was, and that was because he was going to attack the guards with a scythe.
Trouble is with some travellers they leave things until the last minute with the thought that ..it will be all right. In a country like the Philippines and in such troubled times, I would not be having such thoughts and I reiterate what I said before. From the moment I sensed trouble brewing, I would have been out of there.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
And yet Country John, there were even mercy flights out of Manilla provided by the Australian Government.
Sophie, yes sir was one of the lucky ones I must admit. Yes sooner travellers do leave things until to later. You enjoy your day and take care especially if your in Melbourne.
Robin Hood. Sorry but it is documented about the guards sexual encounters and they did admit to it. The security company was sacked.
Oh FGS, there are already newly introduced caps on arrivals to Australia and none are currently being allowed to land in Victoria. Further, NSW and Sydney has to date taken by far the lions share of returnees and this will also stop with other states having to step up and take their share.
And then there is the new rule that returnees will now have to pay for their quarantine in hotels at the rate of $3000 for the first adult, $1000 for the next adult and $500 each child.
This seems fair to me.
Frankly I am getting more than a little irritated by Australians living permenantly or long term overseas expecting the Australian Government to dig them out everytime they encounter a problem.
KSS. I remember Qantas being one off the first airlines to stop flying and the first to cry poverty. I certainly don't know of any flights provided by the Aust govt. They did ask Philippines airlines. to fly people out. People registered with the embassy and those details were were forwarded to PAL. They contacted people to book sometimes calling them after the flight had left. Some people on outer islands were flown to Manila by flights organised by other countries. The Canadians were big helpers.
I also agree that if you reside overseas for whatever reason then no don't ask for free quarantine. Travellers who are stuck there are a different story for when they return.
I agree with you KSS re the
permanently or long term overseas expecting the Australian Government to dig them out every time they encounter a problem.
Testing 123
Testing 123
I think it would be a great idea to cut all international flights into Australia until this virus is under control. People have had months to return to Australia and now because their circumstances don't suite them where they are,they want to return to Australia. We are an island and we need to isolate ourselves from any further threats of this virus being brought into the country and making matters worse.