Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

The Australian government is focused on helping Australians who want and need to return. More than 411,000 Australians have been returned since 13 March and around 30,600 have been assisted by the Australian government, including on 67 directly facilitated flights. On 17 March, the government advised Australians overseas who wanted to return home to do so as soon as possible by commercial means. In order to manage and maintain quarantine arrangements in Australia, at the request of the states the national cabinet agreed to international passenger arrival caps. While critical to the integrity of Australia's quarantine system and the safety of the whole of the Australian community, the caps have restricted the availability of flights home for Australians overseas. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has made available a hardship program, with further emergency assistance for the most vulnerable Australian citizens overseas.