Australia's Ebola visa ban condemned

[webfact]

Ebola outbreak: Sierra Leone angry at Australia visa ban

(BBC) Sierra Leone has condemned Australia's decision to suspend entry visas for people from Ebola-affected countries in West Africa as "counterproductive" and "discriminatory".

The move has also been criticised by Amnesty International.

And UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said travel restrictions will severely curtail efforts to beat Ebola.

Nearly 5,000 people have died from the virus, the vast majority of them in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.

In other developments:

Eighty-two people who had contact with a toddler who died in Mali are now being monitored

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29809863


-- BBC 2014-10-29

[AGareth2]

if this outbreak is not controlled more countries will follow

[gavo]

Good news more countries need to do the same. Everyone talks about controlling the outbreak but yet to see any real efforts to contain it with in the country of origin. Then it can be brought under control in West Africa and the world is not fighting the disease within many countries. Well Done Australia.

[daveAustin]

Well done the Aussies. Let's drop the PCness and do what is necessary. The easiest way to control it is containment. IMO there should be a blanket travel ban for those countries. Either that or risk affecting everyone.

[samran]

Talk about PR stunts.

The government is under attack for not sending doctors over to help with the outbreak.

Given every nationality apart from New Zealanders need a pre arranged visa for Australia before they travel (and I'm pretty sure Australia's diplomatic presence in those countries is minimal), then this is going to affect all of about 8 people who qualify for an australian visa and are wanting to come.

Still, probably helps shore up the bogan and red neck vote for what is increasingly looking like a one term government.

Spin doctoring at its best. Impressive.

Edited October 29, 2014 by samran

[fritzzz25]

"Dear Sierra Leone.

Our country, our rules.

Sincerely yours, Australia"

[siampolee]

Ebola outbreak: Sierra Leone angry at Australia visa ban

siampolee angry at Sierra Leone for not taking positive action to stem Ebola outbreak by restricting and barring exits from Sierra Leone by a visa ban and efficient, effective, positive disease control measures.

Note the total lack of any form of patient carer and local contacts protection in the handling of this suspected Ebola patient in Sierra Leone

Edited October 29, 2014 by siampolee

[shirtless]

while the government acts like a champion of the people over this travel ban they just increased excise Tax on petrol,

[JockPieandBeans]

And UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said travel restrictions will severely curtail efforts to beat Ebola.

Australia has suspended visas for travelers to Australia.

How in hell will this curtail efforts to beat Ebola ?

Well done that Aussies

[Chicog]

And UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said travel restrictions will severely curtail efforts to beat Ebola.

Australia has suspended visas for travelers to Australia.

How in hell will this curtail efforts to beat Ebola ?

Because they need 5,000 more Health professionals to be able to travel freely to and from the hot zone.

Not that Australia is doing much in this regard thanks to Abbott.

[KonKorat]

Keep it in your own backyard and don't bring to Australia,try and control it over there instead of infecting the rest of the world.

[samran]

Government Spin at its finest. Can't get a visa anyway to Australia from those countries affected.

Got the hot heads supporting it anyway. Well done, bogan vote, locked in......

List of Australian diplomatic missions in Africa:

• Egypt
  • Cairo (Embassy)
• Ethiopia
  • Addis Ababa (Embassy)
• Ghana
  • Accra (High Commission)
• Kenya
  • Nairobi (High Commission)
• Mauritius
  • Port Louis (High Commission)
• Nigeria
  • Abuja (High Commission)
• South Africa
  • Pretoria (High Commission)
• Zimbabwe
  • Harare (Embassy)

List of Countries affected by Ebola

WIDESPREAD AND INTENSE TRANSMISSION

• Guinea
• Liberia
• Sierra Leone

AT RISK OF OUTBREAK

• Mali

OUTBREAK CONTROLLED

• Congo, Democratic Republic unrelated to the West Africa outbreak

EBOLA FREE

• Nigeria declared Ebola free 20 October
• Senegal declared Ebola-free 17 October

https://www.internationalsos.com/ebola/index.cfm?content_id=421&language_id=ENG

[Chicog]

Keep it in your own backyard and don't bring to Australia,try and control it over there instead of infecting the rest of the world.

That's exactly what they are trying to do.

[bristolgeoff]

Good idea many other countries should do the same ring fence the country no one leaves until clear

[Chicog]

Good idea many other countries should do the same ring fence the country no one leaves until clear

Firstly it's three countries (at least), and secondly I don't think they have that much fencing.

[bristolgeoff]

I should have said countries my mistake but really stop people leaving the area until they are clear to travel.do that and maybe control the spread of the disease

[DiamondKing]

Well done Australia

Every country in africa that has outbreaks should be isolated until its runs its course contain the whole area no one in and no one out until the crisis is over.

[weegee]

Sure hope theres no Ships Masters locked in containers....awaiting the ransom to be paid..They may get forgotten, with all the mayhem over there with regards to the ebola crisis....

Good decision Australia....

[loongdavid]

"Sierra Leone has condemned Australia's decision to suspend entry visas for people from Ebola-affected countries in West Africa as "counterproductive" and "discriminatory"".

Of course it's discriminatory you fools, it's supposed to be and what a wonderful way to control the spread of the disease. Great news Australia!

[samran]

The idiotic chants of 'STRAYAAA' ring through this thread....

Smoke and mirrors and the punters cry for more. Imagine if the government actually sent people over to help with the problem instead of putting on ineffectual visa bans?

Ah, but actual foreign aid doesn't go down with the punters, pretending to do something does.

STRAYAAA!!!'

[David48]

Actually ... the truth is different then from what is being discussed thus far.

The ban has little to to do with issuing Visas.

It specifically is ...

The Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has announced his department was cancelling temporary visas for people who had planned to visit Australia from the West African nations and said new visa applications would not be processed.

Permanent visa holders yet to arrive in Australia must undergo a 21-day quarantine process before departure.

Scott Morrison told parliament: "The government's systems and processes are working to protect Australians."

Source

Personally, I support this move.

It's smart politics because it's what the majority of Australians want (if the reports are to be believed).

Plus it reduces the risks for all Australians living in Australia.

.

[samran]

Actually ... the truth is different then from what is being discussed thus far.

The ban has little to to do with issuing Visas.

It specifically is ...

The Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has announced his department was cancelling temporary visas for people who had planned to visit Australia from the West African nations and said new visa applications would not be processed.

Permanent visa holders yet to arrive in Australia must undergo a 21-day quarantine process before departure.

Scott Morrison told parliament: "The government's systems and processes are working to protect Australians."

Source

Personally, I support this move.

It's smart politics because it's what the majority of Australians want (if the reports are to be believed).

Plus it reduces the risks for all Australians living in Australia.

.

I wonder how many visas need to be canceled. I reckon all of about 5 people.

It's not a bad move in itself, but to my way of thinking it really is all for show. There have been requests from the US and the UK for Australia to provide resource to stop the spread, and this is the best we do?

[samran]

If and when Austalia gets a case of ebola, will it voluntarily close its own borders to foreigners AND Australians? Maybe confining Australians would be best for the whole world.

Unfortunatly for you way of thinking, australian citizens can't be prevented from returning to Australia. And so it should be that way.

[David48]

The reason the the Australian Government has given for not sending Medical assistance, meaning doctors and /nurses on the ground in Africa is because they have no facilities to treat any personnel should they become infected with the virus.

Thus far, the USA and the UK which has such facilities have not guaranteed access to those treatment places to Australian representatives.

Again, this reason is well received in Australia. Evidenced by little or no negative press not any raised or continuing questions by the Opposition in Parliament.

Except for the loonie Greenies ...

[samran]

The epidemic in Australia is far more deadly and infinitely more widespread.....obesity. They can stop people coming in all they like if they think it will help. It won't. Their attitude is indicative of denial, the denial that all is rosy in the land of milk and honey. It is not, their epidemic is very real.

Yeah, but telling the punters they are far bastards doesn't win any votes.

Cancelling the visas of about 5 people from west Africa, well that gets the patriotic juices going!

[Scott]

Off-topic, inflammatory posts removed.

[David48]

The epidemic in Australia is far more deadly and infinitely more widespread.....obesity. They can stop people coming in all they like if they think it will help. It won't. Their attitude is indicative of denial, the denial that all is rosy in the land of milk and honey. It is not, their epidemic is very real.

...

[samran]

The reason the the Australian Government has given for not sending Medical assistance, meaning doctors and /nurses on the ground in Africa is because they have no facilities to treat any personnel should they become infected with the virus.

Thus far, the USA and the UK which has such facilities have not guaranteed access to those treatment places to Australian representatives.

Again, this reason is well received in Australia. Evidenced by little or no negative press not any raised or continuing questions by the Opposition in Parliament.

Except for the loonie Greenies ...

I find it very difficult to believe that we would get requests to front up personel and resources for such a mission by the UK and Us and then not be given access to quarantine facilities. We are close allies who share all sorts of resources. Sorry Dave, the governemt line is just too rich for me and from memory the implausiblity was discussed on insiders on Sunday.

[David48]

The epidemic in Australia is far more deadly and infinitely more widespread.....obesity. They can stop people coming in all they like if they think it will help. It won't. Their attitude is indicative of denial, the denial that all is rosy in the land of milk and honey. It is not, their epidemic is very real.

Yeah, but telling the punters they are far bastards doesn't win any votes.

Cancelling the visas of about 5 people from west Africa, well that gets the patriotic juices going!

"far bastards" ... who's got fat fingers ...

Actually Sam, I have no idea just how many visas that have been issued are involved.

Is ' 5 ' a close figure?

Asking ... not telling.

[David48]

The reason the the Australian Government has given for not sending Medical assistance, meaning doctors and /nurses on the ground in Africa is because they have no facilities to treat any personnel should they become infected with the virus.

Thus far, the USA and the UK which has such facilities have not guaranteed access to those treatment places to Australian representatives.

Again, this reason is well received in Australia. Evidenced by little or no negative press not any raised or continuing questions by the Opposition in Parliament.

Except for the loonie Greenies ...

I find it very difficult to believe that we would get requests to front up personel and resources for such a mission by the UK and Us and then not be given access to quarantine facilities. We are close allies who share all sorts of resources. Sorry Dave, the governemt line is just too rich for me and from memory the implausiblity was discussed on insiders on Sunday.

Agreed. It does seem out of line given our close history.

Maybe they were told they'd have access but prioritised and the Government spun it the way they wished.

Just that, because of the lack of political will, I've not read/heard reports to the contrary.

I did catch most of Insiders ... but not all of it, and missed that bit.