Australia's High Commission in the United Kingdom says it is working to find alternative options for a "significant number" of stranded Australians whose journey home has been made even harder by new international travel restrictions.
Key points:
- Singapore and Hong Kong have introduced restrictions on arrivals from the United Kingdom
- Foreign Minister Marise Payne is working on what the rules mean for Australians trying to get home
- The Australian Government insists it will not ban flights from the UK
Singapore has banned travellers from the UK transiting through its airport in response to a new strain of COVID-19 spreading throughout south-east England.
The High Commission said transit through Hong Kong had also been affected.
"We are working to identify alternative options for Australians impacted by transit restrictions," the High Commission said on its Facebook page.
"We are absolutely aware of the disruption these measures have caused, and we understand the significant numbers of people it has impacted — our team will be providing support."
In response to comments from Australians expressing concern about the changes, the High Commission said it was "working through the night on a solution" and was "triaging by departure date at the moment".
A travel advisory on Singapore Airlines' website said people who had been in the UK in the past two weeks would not be allowed to travel through Singapore.
"Due to the Singapore Government's latest regulatory requirements, passengers with a travel history to the United Kingdom within the past 14 days, with the exception of Singapore citizens and Singapore permanent residents, will not be allowed to enter or transit through Singapore," it said.
"This will also apply to long-term pass holders, short-term visitors, and all those who had obtained prior approval for entry into Singapore."
'Devastating': Australians pleading for help
Jess Romero had a flight booked from London to Brisbane, via Singapore, for the end of December but has been told by Singapore Airlines that it will not be happening.
"[The] airline hasn't officially cancelled my tickets but are offering me a refund and saying it won't go ahead," she said.
"They haven't offered to rebook as they don't know when they'll be able to resume flights."
Ms Romero described the news as "devastating" and urged the Australian Government to put on more repatriation flights, and for the states and territories to lift their international arrivals caps.
It is a message reinforced by Australian school teacher Joshua Whiddon, who recently resigned from his job and sold his house in the UK in anticipation of moving back to Australia with his family.
Joshua and his British wife Leah, a nurse, recently contracted COVID-19 along with one of their young children.
They have since recovered and were supposed to fly out of the UK on Boxing Day, transiting through Singapore before arriving in Australia.
Mr Whiddon has not yet been officially informed that his flight has been cancelled but is desperately seeking other options.
However, he said the next available flight was not expected to be until February, a month after he was due to start a new teaching job back home.
"My wife and I and kids are living in a country at the moment where COVID has been rampant, we understand the fear that Australians would obviously be holding at the moment," he said.
"But our main desire is to get home to a safe country and contribute.
"I grew up with that whole ethos and culture of the Australian people, that you looked out for your fellow Aussies and I'm just pleading with the Australian people to look out for your fellow Aussies at the moment and help them get home."
Foreign Minister working on the situation
The latest figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade showed almost 40,000 Australians wanted to return home from overseas.
When asked about Singapore's decision to impose restrictions on travellers from the UK, Federal Government Minister David Littleproud said his colleague, Foreign Minister Marise Payne, was working on what it meant for Australians.
"It's only just come to light and the Foreign Minister's obviously working through those issues with respect to Singapore," he said.
"We have to respect their sovereignty, as they respect ours.
"We've made a decision not to cancel any UK flights and that would continue to be the case."
Australian health authorities have insisted there was no need to ban flights from the UK arguing the nation's hotel quarantine system was working.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been contacted for comment.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTEyLTIzL2F1c3RyYWxpYW5zLXVrLWZsaWdodC1jYW5jZWwtaG9uZy1rb25nLXNpbmdhcG9yZS1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy8xMzAxMDI0MtIBJ2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMzAxMDI0Mg?oc=5
2020-12-23 03:00:00Z
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