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Premier Mark McGowan pledges $2 million for India after backlash

Briana FioreThe West Australian
VideoPrime Minister Scott Morrison says the decision to ban flights from India was difficult but justified

Premier Mark McGowan has pledged $2 million of taxpayers’ money for relief funding to aid COVID-ravaged communities in India.

It comes after he led the calls for a controversial block on Australians returning home from the devastated country.

Jandakot MP Yaz Mubarakai today declined to comment on whether he supported the ban on people from his birthplace which was championed by Mr McGowan.

India is recording more than 350,000 new coronavirus cases on top of thousands of deaths each day.

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Those trapped there will be unable to return to Australia after the Commonwealth culled flights and imposed harsh penalties — including jail time — for those caught trying to return illegally.

Mr McGowan declined the charitable handout had anything to do with the backlash he received for instigating the ban.

“It’s about trying to do the right thing in difficult circumstances,” Mr McGowan said.

The money will be allocated to a Western Australian grant program that will be available to local Indian community organisations providing on-the-ground support.

Those organisations have been working to install oxygen concentrations in hospitals, source ventilators and to help the vulnerable.

A medical worker in PPE observes patients inside a makeshift COVID care facility in a sports stadium at the Commonwealth Games Village in New Delhi.
Camera IconA medical worker in PPE observes patients inside a makeshift COVID care facility in a sports stadium at the Commonwealth Games Village in New Delhi. Credit: Getty Images/Getty Images

Mr McGowan said he stood with the Indian community during this “extremely challenging time”.

“My thoughts and sympathies, and those of all Western Australians, are with everyone with family, friends and loved ones who have been affected by the current situation in India,” he said.

Despite calling the situation “absolutely heartbreaking”, Mr McGowan had pushed for a travel ban on those returning home to Australia from India.

Last month he said “we need to seriously look at temporarily restricting travel of people who have been in or through India” — after a returned traveller sparked a lockdown in Perth and Peel.

He went on to blame people returning from India for putting the system under pressure.

“At least half of the people in India wanting to come home have probably gone there recently... that’s a big mistake,” he said.

Mr McGowan then supported the Commonwealth in a bid to jail returning citizens from India.

The Federal Government culled flights from India and vowed to jail anyone who returned to Australia illegally for five years.

They would also be handed a fine of up to $66,000.

When asked if he supported the “harsh” measure, Mr McGowan said “yes, I do”.

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