Hanson calls for longer coronavirus quarantine times
MEDIA RELEASE
Senator Pauline Hanson wants the Australian Government to step-up its Covid-19 offensive by increasing quarantine times to 28 days, after a newly-arrived Chinese student tested positive even after 14 days self-quarantined in Dubai.
Senator Hanson also pointed the finger at universities who she said were risking the health of the elderly and frail by encouraging students to exploit the weaknesses in the Government’s travel ban.
“The quatantines as they are aren’t working, as we’ve seen from the latest arrival, so perhaps we need to get stricter and lift them to 28 days,” Senator Hanson said.
“And as for the universities who are encouraging students to exploit these travel loopholes, even paying students to take a 14-day detour to Australia, well they should be ashamed of themselves.
“This virus attacks the vulnerable in particular, the elderly and frail and anyone with weak immune systems, so the universities with their quest for income at the detriment of community health, should be held to account for the consequences of their risky actions.”
Senator Hanson foresaw the weaknesses in the travel ban and raised them in the Senate more than a week ago.
“I’m at pains to understand why Australian universities are able to put profits before the health and security of this nation. Will the minister guarantee the health of Australians and put an end to universities circumventing our nation’s flu-stopping Chinese travel ban?” Senator Hanson asked Minister Michaelia Cash on February 24.
Senator Cash responded: “The government’s advice is very, very clear: students who have been outside mainland China for the last 14 days may be able to enter Australia provided that they do not return to China on the way to Australia.”
Senator Cash also said: “The decisions that the Australian government have taken are underpinned … by medical advice and recommendations from the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer and chief medical officers from each state and territory on the steps necessary to contain the spread of the coronavirus. …the Chief Medical Officer has confirmed that our arrangements to protect Australians from coronavirus are working.”
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