Greg Hunt responds to UN request to bring stranded Aussie home as legal battle continues

Health Minister responds to bombshell request from UN Human Rights Committee for Australia to return citizen stuck overseas.

Health Minister Greg Hunt has responded to a bombshell request from the UN Human Rights Committee for Australia to return a citizen stuck overseas.

The committee on Thursday made the request as it considers if Australia’s strict pandemic border rules breach international law, through a test case brought by stranded Aussie Jason George.

It requested Australia “facilitate and ensure” the return of Mr George, who is being represented by star human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson QC.

Jason George, an Australian stranded overseas, has brought a test case to the UN claiming his human rights have been breached by border rules. Picture: Free and Open Australia

Mr Hunt said “hundreds of thousands” of Australians had returned home through the hotel quarantine system, when asked about the development in a press conference on Saturday.

“Our goal is very clear, to bring as many Australians home as early as possible,” he said.

“We welcome the fact that Victoria has reopened its hotel quarantine system and that will allow more Australians to come home earlier.

New South Wales has been the backbone of it, and Queensland and Western Australia and others have all played a very significant part.

“But the reopening in Victoria, I think, will help address that problem, and it will mean more Australians home, earlier.”

The UN request for Australia to facilitate Mr George’s return home is an interim measure while the committee continues hearing the case.

The UN Human Rights Committee has accepted our submissions that the petitioners would suffer “irreparable harm” if not permitted to return home and ordered their “immediate” repatriation to Australia. @FreeandOpenAustpic.twitter.com/CuA2gFoQHn

— Lionel Nichols (@LionelNichols) April 15, 2021

Mr George argues Australia is in breach of article 12.4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: that “no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of the right to enter his [or her] own country”.

In a video statement following the ruling, Mr George slammed Australian border restrictions as “draconian”.

He said flight caps preventing Aussies stranded overseas from making it home were “probably stemming from a lack of adequate quarantine facilities”.

“This is an important moment for the case because there are about 40,000 Australians who are, practically, unable to come home to Australia because of the restrictions that have been placed on the border,” he said.

“I believe Australia can address the issue of a safe, but frictionless, border for people who have an absolute need to cross it, through the application of public health measures.”

We're watching with interest the reports about the UN Human Rights Committee requesting Australia facilitate and ensure the prompt return of the two Australians who have brought a complaint to them.
We want to see Australian citizens return home safely.

— Australian Human Rights Commission (@AusHumanRights) April 16, 2021

The case is a project of Free and Open Australia, a group for Australians affected by border restrictions.

Campaign spokeswoman Deb Tellis said on Thursday the request was “an important victory for the rights of all Australian citizens.”

“Today‘s decision by the UN is a wakeup call to the government,” she said.

“It must use its power to expand quarantine facilities, and end travel caps that are being dictated by the states.

“There are thousands of our fellow citizens suffering loss of their relatives and loss of their jobs.

“By not caring about them, Mr Morrison and his ministers are not only acting cruelly, but unlawfully.”