A number of passengers were unable to board the Qantas flight from New Delhi after testing positive for Covid-19, and close contacts were also blocked from boarding, according to Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade ministers were accused of racismSaturday's journey was the first of a handful to bring home 9,000 Australians stuck in India in the coming weeks. The next flight is scheduled for May 23, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on Friday.
"We are following the medical advice and ensuring that we protect Australians here and I'm pleased that that first flight has arrived, and obviously there will be more flights to come," Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said in a televised briefing, the news agency added."It's important to do the testing that we are doing right now, before people come on those planes to Australia. That's the process we are following, and we will continue to follow.
But the total ban on arrivals from India has faced strong opposition from Australia's Indian community, human rights advocates and even members of the government itself.