Andrew Leigh

Events in India are devastating to watch, and my heart goes out to everyone in the Indian community in Canberra and around the country.

As I have been talking with community representatives over the past weeks, I have been struck by their determination to do what they could to improve the situation, and their determination that Australia should do the same.

I wholeheartedly join calls on the Government to work urgently to support Australians in India, including options to vaccinate Australians left behind in this high-risk situation, and provide extra financial support to those most vulnerable.

The Morrison Government should be using the pause in direct flights from India to put in place a plan to get stranded Australians home as soon as possible by acting on safe, national quarantine, and ensuring sufficient flights including possible additional repatriation flights.

Scott Morrison’s failure to deliver on quarantine has left too many Australians stranded for far too long. The crisis in India demands more than the same old political management from this Government – it demands action to keep Australians safe, both at home and abroad.

ENDS

Authorised by Paul Erickson, ALP, Canberra