Validity of Aus-India travel ban to be challenged in court

CANBERRA: The validity of the Australian government's controversial decision to ban travel from India will be challenged in the Federal Court. Gary Newman, a 73year-old Australian who travelled to India in March 2020 and has not been able to return home, on Wednesday lodged legal proceedings challenging the ban, which has made it a criminal offence for anyone who has been in India in the past 14 days to enter Australia, reports Xinhua news agency.

Lawyers for Newman will argue in court that the ban, which was enacted by Health Minister Greg Hunt under the Biosecurity Act on April 30 in an attempt to stem the spread of Covid-19 from India into Australia's quarantine system, is unconstitutional.

They said in the application that the federal government is acting outside its powers and that the declaration violates the implied freedom for Australians to return home.

The ban took effect on Monday and anyone who breaches it could face up to five years in jail and a maximum A$66,000 ($51,135) fine.

Amid strong ongoing criticism of the ban, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday that it was unlikely that anyone who breaches the order would be jailed, but stressed the measure was a proportionate response to India's coronavirus crisis.

Under the Biosecurity Act, the Health Minister has the power to introduce emergency measures that are "appropriate and adapted to achieve the purpose" for which it is to be given. However, constitutional law experts including Helen Irving from the Sydney Law School have questioned its legality.