Australians stranded overseas say slashing arrival caps makes returning home 'near impossible'

Australians stranded overseas say a decision to slash the number of international passengers allowed to return each week by almost 50% is a “disheartening blow” while others have labelled the move “despicable”. The prime minister, Scott Morrison, announced on Friday that national cabinet had decided to temporarily halve the number of hotel quarantine spots available each week in NSW, Queensland and Western Australia. The move comes as authorities work to keep a more infectious variant of Covid-19 – that has emerged in the UK and South Africa – from circulating in Australia. The caps reduction means about 2,500 fewer people will be able to enter the country each week until at least mid-February when national cabinet will review the policy. Many Australians stranded overseas have endured multiple flight cancellations with only those able to afford business class or first class fares able to return swiftly. In late 2020, some 36,000 Australians were still registered as being stuck overseas, unable to get flights back to Australia due to the caps on hotel quarantine.<br/>