Australia is banning its own citizens from entry

Most of Australia and Serbia, along with anyone interested in tennis is watching the crap unfolding between Novak Djokovic (colloquially known as Novax) and the Australian government. The sentiment seems to be mainly against Novax in Australia and firmly against the government in Serbia. The rest of the world is shaking its head wondering, “HTF did Melbourne get voted most livable city seven times?”

Meanwhile, the rest of Australia and I am wondering what national policies will change again this afternoon.

For example, referring to the electronic form that Novax missed a radio button on (that’s literally what it was), I have to ask, what’s the bloody point?

I filled this form in to request permission to go to my own country this week. And guess what?

Technically, it’s not a direct denial of entry into the country. It’s more just a notification to the airline that I’m a public health risk and the airline can make its own decision. I read the airline’s policy, and yes, of course they’ll deny carriage to anyone who is a public health risk.

So what do you do? There’s nothing in the form or email to indicate how a computer program determined I was a public health risk. Unlike Novax, I’m fully vaccinated (not that it makes a difference in reality) so what’s the problem?

Honestly, I was feeling a bit depressed and my victim mentality was starting to kick in when I realized, “Heck, this program was written in a rush either by public servants or an inefficient overpriced outsource to keep up with Australia’s policy on the fly.”

This form didn’t actually exist when I bought my ticket.

Policy is usually developed, written, and incorporated over a period of months or years. This appeared overnight. It’s not necessarily because the Australian government wants to ban its own citizens; the idiots formulating policy probably haven’t thought it through.

So, I just told the truth a different way and viola! I got approved.

All I did was interpret one question differently and I’m good.

What a shit mix.

But it does beg the question: what are Australians stranded overseas going to do if their visa runs out (as mine will)? Are they going to be forced to request political asylum? Become immigrants? Apply to the UN for refugee status?

It’s seriously screwed up. I’m lucky in that I have dual citizenship, so I always have a plan B. What happens if you don’t?

Peter.