Prime Minister Scott Morrison remains tight-lipped on when repatriation flights to India will recommence, as 9,000 Australians remain stranded in the country.
Senior members of the government will meet in the National Security Committee on Thursday to consider whether to recommence repatriation flights once a travel ban to the country ends on 15 May.
But as the government faces sustained pressure to resume flights, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has admitted it will take “some time” to return all those registered as wanting to leave the country.
Mr Morrison has refused to commit to a starting date for the repatriation flights.
"We are very hopeful and confident that on the other side of 15 May we will be able to start restoring those repatriation flights," he told reporters.
"But that decision hasn't yet been taken. We will do it on the basis of the evidence."
The government is considering whether the Howard Springs quarantine facility in the Northern Territory - which has a capacity of around 2,000 people - could be used solely for arrivals from India.
The plan would prioritise the return of vulnerable Australians stranded in India, as
The travel ban has made it a criminal offence for anyone who has been in India in the past 14 days to enter Australia - with anyone who attempts this facing a $66,600 fine or five-year jail term upon arrival.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said even once flights resumed, the task of returning Australians remained a logistical challenge.
“This Indian situation will take some time,” he told ABC Radio.
“There is no way we can work through the Indian system immediately to remove every person, if indeed they wanted to go, it will take some time.”
The government has maintained the “temporary pause” is aimed at easing pressure on the nation’s hotel quarantine system, which recently witnessed a surge in coronavirus cases of Indian origin.
Mr Morrison earlier defended the travel ban in an interview with radio station 3AW.
“I can tell you the pause is working,” Mr Morrison said.
“It was the right decision for Australia’s health and safety but it was also the right decision to ensure we can sustainably and safely bring Australian citizens, residents and their direct families back.”
Mr Morrison said despite the flight ban - medical evacuations could be considered if an individual was considered to be in a life-threatening situation during the COVID outbreak.
“There is the capability for medevacs,” he said.
“We don’t have any of those cases - if there are serious issues then we manage those through the High Commissioner and our consular offices.”
The travel ban has attracted sustained criticism from some members of the Indian community and human rights advocates who claim it is unfair and punitive.
A 73-year-old Australian man stranded in Bangalore on Wednesday also filed a legal challenge against the decision to make it a crime for those stuck in the country to return to Australia.
Mr Morrison denied suggestions the travel ban amounted to a breach of human rights, after the UN Human Rights Committee raised “serious concerns” over the response.
“We are doing the right thing not only by Australians here but I believe we are doing the right thing by the Australian citizen and residents we are trying to bring home to ensure we can do that safely,” he told 3AW.
India as the total number of infections passed 20 million.
