Australian PM backs down on jail threats as blowback increases over India travel ban

The backlash intensified Tuesday to Australia’s threat to jail or fine citizens fleeing India, prompting Prime Minister Scott Morrison to play down the risk of penalties after a former cricket star accused him of having “blood” on his hands for abandoning thousands of Australians in the coronavirus-hit country.

The government’s announcement that citizens returning to Australia after recently spending time in India could face five years in jail, a $50,000 fine or both has sparked criticism from across the political spectrum.

Doctors have demanded the policy be reversed. Advocates argue it violates human rights. Legal scholars say it probably runs afoul of the law. Political opponents have dubbed it “racist.” Several members of Morrison’s conservative coalition government have come out against it. And even right-wing columnists have slammed the sanctions.

But perhaps the most strident criticism came from former cricket star Michael Slater, who was commentating on Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches when an Australian ban on flights from the South Asian country went into effect last week.

“If our Government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home,” Slater tweeted on Monday. “It’s a disgrace!! Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out quarantine system. I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect.”

Slater was reportedly able to leave India — where daily coronavirus cases have topped 300,000 for almost two weeks — for the Maldives, but will not be allowed back into Australia for another two weeks under the new rules.

Morrison called Slater’s accusation “absurd” but appeared to back down on the threat to jail or fine Australians fleeing India.

“I think the likelihood of anything like that occurring is pretty much zero,” Morrison told Australia’s Nine Network on Tuesday, saying the country had yet to jail anyone under emergency powers that went into effect last year. “So, I think people need to look at this in perspective.”

The prime minister said the threat of jail or fines was to protect Australians by preventing people who have recently spent time in India from circumventing the flight ban and coming to Australia via a third country.

A pair of cricket players had done just that, flying from India to Australia via Doha, Qatar, before the sanctions went into effect on Monday.