Aussies Stranded For Christmas

04 December 2020

A local humanitarian worker stranded in Iraq has called on the Morrison Government to step up and get Aussies home by Christmas.

Anglesea resident Ian Dawes has been stuck in the Middle East with no return date.

He and his wife are growing increasingly anxious as his visa expiry nears.

Ian has been in South Sudan and Iraq doing humanitarian work before becoming blocked from returning home from Duhok.

It is looking increasingly unlikely I will be able to return to Australia anytime soon, he said.

Everything I read paints a pretty grim picture for a return home to Anglesea over the next few months.

A major concern is if I cannot go home, where am I expected to travel to after Iraq? Why does the Government assume other countries should allow me entry when my own country wont?

I cannot believe we have a Government so willing to effectively put in place policies that stop Australian citizens and residents from returning home.

On September 18, Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the pledge to have the 26,000 Australians on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trades list home by Christmas.

Since that announcement, the number of stranded Australians overseas has blown out to 37,000.

Local Federal MP Libby Coker said she was frustrated that the Governments go-slow approach puts so many at risk of not being able to share Christmas with loved ones.

There are only 6 days left for Australians to make it home in time for Christmas lunch with their families.

Scott Morrison promised he would have them home. Its just another promise with no delivery.

Labor has said for many months that the RAAF should be used to bring Australians home. Why is the use of defence planes approved for Mathias Cormann applying for a job but not for returning our loved ones home?