'We're not prisoners': Australians in Wuhan conflicted over being sent to Christmas Island detention centre

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Some families said they would prefer to stay in Wuhan — the epicentre of the deadly coronavirus — rather than send their children to the Christmas Island immigration detention centre.

Speaking to the ABC, 10 parents said Australian authorities told them they would have to pay $1,000 per person — including infants and toddlers — for their flights.

In a statement given to the ABC, DFTAT said:"It is standard practice going back many years that in cases where the Government undertakes an assisted departure, Australians are required to make a contribution to the cost of their repatriation. Many parents said it will be"impossible" to get to the Wuhan airport from their homes, given the city banned both public and private transport last week.

Australian citizens who used a Chinese passport to enter China will not be able to get evacuated, according to parents who received the call.

 

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Travellers from China, don’t complicate matters. Australia is not racist or u wouldn’t be a citizen. They’re not sending u to a prison or accommodation unfit for humans. They r doing all they can to stop the spread of the deadly virus!!!

It’s great to know that the Aust. govt is quarantining all coming fm China. All of you entering Aust fm China, pls do not anticipate issues- go to xmas isle n when problems arise then complain. All this is about stopping the spread of the virus! Not racism!!

We need to enforce quarantine on all flights from China. Not on the island though. Facilities there are inadequate.

ABC would rather push their anti offshore detention narrative instead of keeping this country safe and healthy. That says everything.

denniallen Asylum seekers & refugees shouldn’t be prisoners either!

None of these people are Australian.

superathlete9 auspol Eeyore's mate, PeterDutton_MP , just announced we will detain and vet 600-1000 Australian citzens on Xmas Island, to keep all Australians safe from the deadly Coronavirus. What he did not say, was 800,000+/- visiting chinese tourists can arrive in 'OZ' unchecked!

They don’t have to go to Christmas Island they can stay in China, it’s for a few weeks only and for the safety of every one. So stop being so selfish and work together until more is known about this virus.

This person is selfish!

I think it’s bad idea to evacuate them. No one is forcing them right ? The T&C is Xmas Island take or leave it your choice.

Your alive, pull your head in and stay alive, or you can just stay where you are.

Jenn1964Hussey Well....we hope you're not prisoners

Perhaps now is a good time to explain that refugees are prisoners but have committed no crime but are treated like criminals. I would imagine evacuees would be treated better And charged less for Sercos services.

Hmmmm. HHHmmmmm. 🤔 .... Wait.... No, no.. Oh, hold on! I think I have it! .... Stay IN WUHAN!! 💁‍♂️ Best of luck!

FFS! Just be thankful the Aus government is helping you out!!

Meanwhile, Japanese government arranged two charter airplanes to evacuate their citizens back to Japan, NOT a tropical island.

Wuhan must be a top holiday destination if there are 140 Australian children there.

Stay in wuhan then

He has miss-communicated and put these people at risk! They are now confused as what their best option WAS! Probably too late for some of them! DISGUSTING!

ozhomeschool The Australian mainland population are not your Guinea pigs

ozhomeschool FAKE news ABC

How good is indefinite detention on an under-resourced island during cyclone season for Australian citizens during a medical emergency?

Don't bring them back

Yeah well stay in China or get the clearance we don't want the disease

Simple if they don’t want the Christmas Island option then stay put, they’re in no position to pick & choose

Everyone’s just one step away from being a prisoner in Australia now. Or having their citizenship revoked and being deported.

Stay in Wuhan and let the Chinese communist party take care you!

Funny how quickly everyone forgets about prior flu disasters and the occasional necessity for quarantine...

Boohoo

Nobody is forced to be transferred to Christmas Island - don’t like it ? Stay where you are.

They are free to stay.

Then stay

either they go to Christmas island or they can stay in China I dont want them on mainland Australia auspol

Quarantine is vital. I’m sorry people are stuck in this but it’s a worldwide problem that needs early attempts at containment. Everyone hopes this is short-lived.

Tell them to stayin China. Typical ABC always the negative story.

Probably not great to have them all in the same place.

Emotive garbage

Most people who get into trouble overseas have to find their own way through the problem including getting home. These people should be thankful for the government’s actions.

'We're not prisoners', lol. Just try getting away once you're there.

ScottMorrisonMP will all evacuees have to pay the $1000 or will those from marginal electorates be exempted.

I'm sure they are free to stay in their homeland

Ok, so the families say they would be charged $1000. Did ABC confirm this with the gvt?

we can not empty d entire hospital for China 300 evacuees We might have to hire a big hotel for quarantine They went there willy nilly then they get in deep shit

This is just appalling. Just simply astonishing. What the hell is wrong with Morriscum. This is not how we treat people in Australia. I'm just so disgusted and upset about this.

Just leave them there than.

The gov: You'll be quarantined on Christmas Island Them:

No one said you were prisoners. 2 weeks on Xmas is. Is for the rest of us.

Ungrateful

We’ve been to China a few times if I was stuck there in this situation I’d be OK with this. Not sure about the $1K that’s been mooted though.

That’s the deal, take it or leave it the choice is yours.

Send those naughty buggers to Christmas Island for sure.

It would be the Australian thing to do In order to look out for your fellow citizens. Their allegiance to Australia should be questioned

They could come here & infect hundreds & thousands of Australians or infect hundreds & thousands of Christmas Islanders possibly wipe them out cause the island has a population of 1,402 give or take. Clearly the Australian government doesn't give a toss about them.

they have to pay for their accomodation.

🙄🙄🙄

Not child friendly Pity the poor children who are condemned by LiberalAus to be there.. shame Australia shame

Tough no one here wants that virus so boo hop and do the time

ChristmasIsland . How about this 'three Japanese evacuated from the outbreak's epicentre were infected ....' and we don't have a hospital with 600 beds free it means we can afford to have an outbreak here. We can't built hospital in 7 days like China...Can we..?

I'd only have a little less sympathy for any who may be coalition voters.

No but you eat bats & are virus ridden

infected by the poison

Well, well, well. So Australian citizens are staring down the detention barrel. ForLovenFreedom

You are infected. 14 days to prove innocence. Just take it as a way to prove you are not going to kill Australians. Would you want your children infected just because you want to get home. Stop eating wild animals.

I really shouldn't be surprised at how out of touch ScottMorrisonMP government is anymore. Would he want to be sent to Christmas Island?

Sentenced to Christmas island

Then stay in China where you belong

Still don't understand why our government won't just leave them there - surely that would be more in the national interest? Perhaps they consider this one way to reduce the immigrant queue on Christmas Island. Two birds with one stone.

They really have no idea of how dangerous that virus is. And the fact we are scrambling to find diagnostics & treatments that will prevent the disease claiming 3% of carriers. It’s either ignorance or selfish disregard. Doesn’t matter if they are Chinese, Bolivian or Icelandic.

Isn’t Christmas Island a prison.

So, don't get on that charter flight. It's not compulsory to return.

No, but you’re under quarantine, which isn’t so different

Or you can all stay in Wuhan. Your choice.

Merry Christmas greetings from PD.

And being slugged $1000 each for the privilege. LNPCrimeFamily ScottyfromMarketing CrimeMinister auspol

Send them to ABC studios

Stay in China then

Safer in a Wuhan apartment than Dutton's gulag. It's not about getting out of Wuhan safely, it's about getting off Christmas Island safely. One person shows up with symptoms your there for a very long time. You really want to give Dutton that power? auspol

Bad luck. They could come here and infect hundreds of thousands just like in China.

They can stay in Wuhan then

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