New South Wales has in recent weeks reduced its current quarantine spaces, making it even more difficult for Stranded Australians to return home. These caps, which were already reduced, have now seen countless thousands more once again denied a way home.

18 months into this pandemic, we still have 44,000 Australians citizens registered on the DFAT list attempting to come home - 4,500 who have been registered by the government as in dire situations needing immediate return.

The people of Australia believe the NSW Government should lead by example. We hereby petition for Gladys Berejiklian, working with Brad Hazzard and Greg Hunt to enable low risk, vaccinated Stranded Aussies the ability to home quarantine now. Trials have been completed in SA and in the ACT they have successfully allowed 1339 diplomats and family members and 851 Australian government officials to complete home quarantine.

There is no reason we aren't moving towards this model already:

• Presently there are 14299 active cases in NSW, most who the government is enabling to self isolate
• In the last 24hrs there were 1351 locally acquired cases in NSW
• In the last 7 days there were 9331 locally acquired cases in NSW
• In the last 24hrs there were 0 overseas acquired cases in NSW
• In the last 7 days there were 17 overseas acquired cases in NSW
• 0.5% infection rate among returned travellers with only 4% of those cases reported in returnees who are fully vaccinated
• There have been multiple examples of returning citizens who have been infected in the problematic hotel quarantine system

The relative risk to the public is negligible but by implementing this change it will allow countless Australian families to be reunited in meaningful numbers and realistic timeframes

It will allow airlines to fly to Australia with greater numbers making flight prices economically affordable. It will allow Australia to begin the process of removing its policy on outgoing restrictions to open up again for international travel. Plus free up more hotel quarantine spaces for citizens from other states, permanent residents, partner visa holders, international students and skilled migrants.

Both Scott Morrison and Gladys Berejiklian have spoken about wanting to reunite families for Christmas - let's show them there is a way for vaccinated stranded aussies to actually be home by Christmas!

Most importantly, this will demonstrate to other state premiers that home quarantine is a viable way for Stranded Aussies separated internationally and Stranded Aussies stuck domestically behind closed borders to get safely home. 

ITS TIME WE START THE PROCESS TO RECONNECT AUSTRALIA