ScoMo Got Grilled On ‘Today’ And Backpedalled On His Harsh India Travel Ban Penalties
He told hosts Ali and Karl that the chance of travellers facing jail or fines are "pretty much zero".
Scott Morrison has flipped on the government’s assertion that anyone returning from India during the travel ban will face hefty fines or jail time, this morning.
Speaking on ‘The Today Show’, he told hosts Ali and Karl the likelihood of penalties actually being enforced is “pretty much zero”.
"I'm not going to fail Australia, I'm going to protect our borders."
Scott Morrison has defended the government's India travel ban after Aussie cricket great Michael Slater lashed out saying the PM had "blood on his hands". #9Today pic.twitter.com/rbhUzZxLdD
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) May 3, 2021
“These are the tools we have available to us under the Biosecurity Act, that will be used responsibly and proportionately,” he said.
“These laws have been in place under the Biosecurity Act, and the measures put in place for 14 months. No one’s gone to jail [thus far].”
With Morrison now saying there’s “pretty much zero” chance anyone returning from India would be jailed or fined – interesting to note that Greg Hunt’s media release on Saturday prominently mentioned the penalties pic.twitter.com/73vnhTUIYu
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) May 3, 2021
Acknowledging the sanctions as extreme, he emphasised the government will keep bringing people back from India via repatriation flights after May 15.
Travellers who have passed through India, or have been outside the country for a fortnight, are currently allowed back in, the Prime Minister said.
He took the interview in Rockhampton, Queensland while attending a beef expo soundtracked by cows bellowing in the background.
Line of the day @karlstefanovic @TODAYshow
PM, in front of Rocky Beef Wk sign, banging on after challenged by Karl & Ally about him threatening to lock up & fine Aussies trying to return home & his inadequate quarantine, Karl said, "there certainly is a lot of bull up there!" ?— When the Flame Turns Blue ??❤️ (@WhenTurn) May 3, 2021
Yesterday, the Australian Human Rights Commission called for the restrictions to be reviewed in a statement, and asked the government to demonstrate the floated five year prison sentence or $66,000 fine are “not discriminatory and the only suitable way of dealing with the threat to public health.”
There have been nearly 20 million confirmed cases in India, and an estimated 9,000 Australians over there at the moment.
Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly acknowledged last week that Australians stuck in India could die from the virus, while recommending the travel ban to Health Minister Greg Hunt.
So how does the department of immigration choose which returnees from India are going to be prosecuted?
WHAT A DOGS DINNER ?#ScottyFromDamageControl— grumpyMichael #ProudSewerRat ? (@grumpyMichael) May 4, 2021