Scott Morrison hits back at attack from Michael Slater over India travel suspension

Scott Morrison came under fire from former Test star, now commentator, Michael Slater over the ban on India flights.

Former Test star and cricket commentator Michael Slater has blasted the PM over the India travel ban.

Scott Morrison has hit back at cricket veteran Michael Slater after he accused the Prime Minister of having “blood on his hands’’ for its ban on Australian citizens returning home from COVID-ravaged India.

The Morrison government’s flight ban which came into effect on Monday means Australians trying to enter the country from India could face up to five years of imprisonment. The ban has sparked backlash from the Labor, human rights groups, the Indian-Australian community and some Coalition MPs.

Slater, who fled the country’s COVID crisis this week for the Maldives, launched a scathing attack on Mr Morrison on Twitter, labelling the flight ban a “disgrace.” The cricket commentator was in the country for the Indian Premier League before he was prevented from returning home to Australia.

“If our government cared for the safety of Aussies, they would allow us to get home,” he said. “It’s a disgrace! Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out quarantine system.

“I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect.”

If our Government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home. It's a disgrace!! Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out quarantine system. I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect

— Michael Slater (@mj_slats) May 3, 2021

And for those who think this is a money exercise. Well forget it. This is what I do for a living and I have not made a penny having left early. So please stop the abuse and think of the thousands dying in India each day. It's called empathy. If only our government had some!

— Michael Slater (@mj_slats) May 3, 2021

Mr Morrison said it was “absurd” for Slater to accuse him of having “blood on his hands” as he defended the restrictions and vowed to not “fail Australia.”

The Prime Minister, who acknowledged imposing the ban was a “hard decision” said the likelihood of an Australian citizen facing heavy fines or imprisonment under the biosecurity laws was “pretty much zero.”

“We have seen a rapid escalation rate in people travelling out of India that puts enormous pressure on our quarantine system,” he told Channel 9.

“This is a measure which ensures that we can keep Australia safe at this time. And we can get more Australians back safely.”

Mr Morrison also said the government was reviewing the pause of incoming flights from India which is due to end on May 15.

He said the government has been required to make a “lot of difficult decisions” during the pandemic that had resulted in Australia being in an “enviable position.”

“It’s because the government has shown the resilience and has shown the foresightedness, to take decisions,” he said.

“When we shut the borders to China people criticised me for that too.”

Indian cricketing bubble hit for a Covid six

Australian cricketers at the Indian Premier League were shocked to learn of two positive COVID-19 cases within the bio­security bubble, with some desperate to leave but most resigned to being trapped in the country, which is experiencing a humanitarian disaster.

Two Indian members of the Kolkata Knight Riders side, which includes Australia’s Pat Cummins and Ben Cutting, were confirmed as COVID-19 positive on ­Monday.

Cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Pat Cummins at training with the Kolkata Knight Riders during India’s IPL tournament.

Varun Chakravarthy. Picture: Instagram

The IPL’s worst fears were ­realised when KKR bowlers Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier tested positive on Sunday. The franchise is testing the other squad members daily to “identify any other possible cases” the IPL said last night.

There are also unconfirmed reports that players at the Chennai Super Kings have tested positive.

Cummins spoke to his manager, Neil Maxwell, on Monday afternoon. “Pat is perfectly fine,’’ Maxwell said. “Everyone else is fine. Two guys have it. There is no issue. They still feel quite safe and commend the way it has been handled. They are pretty relaxed about it. There are no alarm bells around it to be frank.’’

Cummins and his teammates will be placed in isolation and it is unknown when they will be able to play again. Other Australians, alarmed by the developments, were understood to be keen to follow Slater and leave the country.

Additional reporting: Robert Craddock