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julieannemuir July 20, 2020

@amy  

You are not alone.

I too have been so proud to call Australia home while working overseas, but I have never felt so unwelcome by my government in one of the most difficult times of my life.
 
A question I keep asking myself as I sit alone in hotel isolation, is why were those returnees from March - June considered such worthy citizens that their quarantine deserved to be paid for? But for those of us who for so many difficult and often sad reasons have needed to come home from July onwards, are being penalised with a $3000 bill.

Australia, the lucky country, but only for some?

This has not been a just or fair decision. Surely, either everyone pays for quarantine or no one? To the Australian government, please give us ALL a fair go. Please consider rescinding your decision on only some Australians having to pay for their quarantine.

This is a chance to show the world your compassion for ALL your citizens in these dark times.  

julieannemuir July 20, 2020

@amy   

You are not alone. I too have been so proud to call Australia home while working overseas, but like you have never felt so unwelcome by my government in one of the most difficult times of my life.  
A question I keep asking myself as I sit alone in hotel isolation, is why were those returnees from March - June considered such worthy citizens that their quarantine deserved to be paid for? But for those of us who for so many difficult and often sad reasons have needed to come home from July onwards, are being penalised with a $3000 bill?

Australia, the lucky country, but only for some? 

This has not been a just or fair decision. Surely, either everyone pays for quarantine or no one? To the Australian government, please give us ALL a fair go. Please consider rescinding your decision on only some Australians having to pay for their quarantine. This is a chance to show the world your compassion for ALL your citizens in these dark times.  

julieannemuir July 18, 2020

Thank you for this article. I too am trying to return to Perth from Amsterdam where I’m lucky enough to have a two year work contract that is still being honoured. I am not coming back lightly. I have had to leave my wonderful husband behind in Europe. In fact I had no intention of leaving Amsterdam until the Covid-19 world settled down, but life suddenly said “you’re needed home”. It is not a holiday, it’s is not because I’m chasing Australia’s good covid health levels. I needed to be with my children in Perth, even if only for a very short time and I was needed now. 

I have felt incredibly disheartened by my fellow citizens harsh and unfair comments about returnees. 
Initially, my fellow International colleagues were so impressed when I told them of Australia’s generous attitude to quarantining. Then something changed and we have now become the bad guys. Where is the compassion? Where is the humanity? What happened to looking after our mates? The financial burden of coming home has been enormous. But the hardest thing about all of this, is how sad and shattered I feel about entering my beloved Australia as the villain. I still want to call Australia home, but it seems she doesn’t want me. 

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