I have never been sadder to be an Australian. Although details are still emerging, today the government announced that in addition to flight caps, $3,000 hotel quarantine and extortionate flight prices, expats - Australians who permanently reside overseas, will not be able to leave Australia based on proof alone that they normally reside elsewhere.

I can understand the need to restrict ‘visiting’ Australians from returning home with the current state of COVID in Australia. However, the concept that an emergency situation could arise and my, and many others I know, only certain way to visit home for a dying family member or traumatic situation would be to move permanently is absurd. We have seen countless situations where expats are trapped in quarantine as their family members pass away and this added measure only adds anxiety to a terrifying possibility many people face after more than a year of closed borders. Many of my friends have not been present at their parents funerals, have given birth alone, their kids have not met their grandparents, are trapped overseas, the list goes on. While celebrities and sports players get temporary access with no questions, the Australian government has rejected its own citizens.

I am starting this petition with the unrealistic goal of the Australian Government recognizing that fully vaccinated travelers are free from quarantine as most other countries do. However, my more realistic goal is to get the Australian Government to release a streamlined and fast process that expats can follow in the event of an emergency. A simple form that is respected by all state and federal government that proves an emergency and acknowledges that an expat is able to return, quarantine, hug their family and support them before returning back to their resident country. It needs to be something that can be reviewed, approved and sent back within 3 business days. The structure of this will provide myself and many other expats, who vote in elections, reassurance that compassionate trips home are permitted.

No one should be anxious about not being able to return if their parent or friend requires compassionate care in the country they call home. North Korea and Australia are the only two countries I know of that require citizens to apply for permission to leave.