Stranded in 'straya
Thousands of young Irish people stranded in Australia because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the cancellation of flights home are “begging” for their government’s help right now.
That's according to Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy, who described the young people as being “forgotten” amid this present crisis.
The Cavan-Monaghan TD said he had been contacted by constituents working in Perth and Sydney, desperately seeking help now that Australia has been put on lockdown.
All non-essential services have been halted in Australia, while many countries in the Middle-East and elsewhere are now refusing to accept transit or connecting flights.
Meanwhile, travellers are being quoted exorbitant prices for what available seats there are left on flights.
Deputy Carthy said the current situation for tens of thousands of young Irish people is “dire” because many are on soon-to-expire working holiday visas and as a result are not entitled to State assistance from the Australian government.
Deputy Carthy has contacted Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney and Minister of State with responsibility for the Global Irish, Ciarán Cannon, to highlight the situation.
“This is a global pandemic that is affecting every country in the world. There are thousands upon thousands of young people stranded in Australia at the moment who have told me they feel like they have been forgotten by Ireland.”
He said: “Many of them are on working holiday visas and with the lockdown of Australia in the last 24 hours, thousands of them are suddenly out of work and have no way of supporting themselves during this crisis because they don’t qualify for assistance from the Australian state.”
In his letter to Ministers Coveney and Cannon, Mr Carthy asks that the government considers chartering special flights to get those who want to come home out of Australia. He has also asked that they consider giving direct financial aid to the Irish on visas in Australia who have no way of supporting themselves.
“We need to look after our people, no matter where they are. The situation is unique and unprecedented and the government needs to step up and assist the thousands of Irish in Australia using every and all means at their disposal,” concluded the local TD.