There were emotional scenes at a Senate inquiry today as Australians stuck overseas pleaded for the federal government to do more to help them return home.
Australians stranded overseas have made an emotional plea for the federal government to do more to secure their return home before a Senate inquiry.
The strain of separation has been felt deeply by Peta Stoyanovich, whose husband Luke has been stuck in Serbia after his father died suddenly in July.Speaking at the committee on behalf of her husband, Ms Stoyanovich said the grieving family has since struggled to get her husband and his elderly mother back home to Australia.
But those abroad are facing persistent challenges securing flights home amid the cap on hotel quarantine places and soaring international flight costs.Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales and South Australia all agreed to gradually increase their quarantine caps following pressure from the federal government to step up their response.Deanne and Paul Vowels have already been stranded for months with their five children since travelling to the United Kingdom to visit family.
The federal government is adamant that the quarantine restrictions are the major constraint, fending off questions at the hearing that it could be doing more to fly stranded Australians home. Labor’s Home Affairs spokesperson Kristina Keneally said Australia should be chartering flights, accusing the government of lagging behind other countries around the world.
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