4 ms·

A lot of people don't realize that Australians cannot leave Australia -- for quite some time now. On the basis of the current "situation". I can see them restr

A lot of people don't realize that Australians cannot leave Australia -- for quite some time now. On the basis of the current "situation". I can see them restricting entry, but restricting leaving??? You have to go through pretty tough hurdles to get permission to leave the country. And the courts have ok'd the government's power to do this. I'm saying this, because I'll probably never go to Australia, but the government there is actually one of the worst in the universe of "free" countries right now. The right to travel -- man... that's one of the things that we hated the Soviet Union, East Berlin and North Korea for... and now... Australia. And on top of that, adding more surveillance powers. What's going on down under???

switch007 5y ago
> A lot of people don't realize that Australians cannot leave Australia -- for quite some time now. Do you mean pre COVID? When I visited 10 years ago I had to pass through a checkpoint (maybe customs) after checking in, before security. I’ve always wondered what that’s for as we don’t have that in the UK. Many countries now effectively have instigated a permission to leave the country system. It’s highly worrying. Many many freedoms have come under assault since early 2020
- robbiep 5y ago
  It’s post covid, and it’s ostensibly to ensure that they don’t just want to come back again soon which will cause more upset with the government because they will ‘take’ away incoming seats from stranded Australians (currently around 30,000 trying to return to the country, and only I think 3-4000 allowed in a week at present). Not sure what you mean about coming into the country, the steps seem the same to me (inbound into australia) as they do for both the UK and the US - passport control, pick up bag, customs, out. Been the same for as long as I’ve been regularly travelling in and out (~18 years)
  - switch007 5y ago
    > Not sure what you mean about coming into the country, Sorry, I meant on departure from Australia. I distinctly remember going through something like passport control on departure. "When departing Australia, you need to present your passport, completed Outgoing Passenger Card and boarding pass to an ACBPS officer" [0] Though the paper based Outgoing Card seems to have been deprecated in 2017 (before my visit) I don't really have an opinion but the concept was alien to me at the time. Maybe the process is/was less obvious in UK, split between the airlines, advanced passenger info etc. [0] https://assets.ctfassets.net/v228i5y5k0x4/2rMXkdDstm6okc0cgogUYE/2f87d17bb0d1b99d2f8d6697712e2742/GuideforTravellers.pdf https://assets.ctfassets.net/v228i5y5k0x4/2rMXkdDstm6okc0cgo...
- eric4smith 5y ago
  Post Covid.
- switch007 5y ago
  Too late to edit but to clarify I meant a checkpoint on departure from Australia
tcbasche 5y ago
I think “tough hurdles” is a perception more than anything. I left recently to live and work in Europe and they approved the application in 2 days and didn’t ask any questions. All I provided was some proof of my new employment. The stupidest part was I had to sign something to say I wouldn’t return within 3 months or I would get fined and go to jail. I’ve lived in Aus most of my life and it still boggles my mind how much they treat their own citizens like criminals.
- rambojazz 5y ago
  What's the rationale for jailing an own citizen for returning to their country in less than 3 months?
  - tcbasche 5y ago
    There was no reason given but I can only assume it’s punishment for not following through with your plans? In all seriousness I would suspect it’s purely a deterrence measure to further underline the arbitrary nature of this stupid restriction.

switch007 5y ago

> A lot of people don't realize that Australians cannot leave Australia -- for quite some time now. Do you mean pre COVID? When I visited 10 years ago I had to pass through a checkpoint (maybe customs) after checking in, before security. I’ve always wondered what that’s for as we don’t have that in the UK. Many countries now effectively have instigated a permission to leave the country system. It’s highly worrying. Many many freedoms have come under assault since early 2020

robbiep 5y ago
It’s post covid, and it’s ostensibly to ensure that they don’t just want to come back again soon which will cause more upset with the government because they will ‘take’ away incoming seats from stranded Australians (currently around 30,000 trying to return to the country, and only I think 3-4000 allowed in a week at present). Not sure what you mean about coming into the country, the steps seem the same to me (inbound into australia) as they do for both the UK and the US - passport control, pick up bag, customs, out. Been the same for as long as I’ve been regularly travelling in and out (~18 years)
- switch007 5y ago
  > Not sure what you mean about coming into the country, Sorry, I meant on departure from Australia. I distinctly remember going through something like passport control on departure. "When departing Australia, you need to present your passport, completed Outgoing Passenger Card and boarding pass to an ACBPS officer" [0] Though the paper based Outgoing Card seems to have been deprecated in 2017 (before my visit) I don't really have an opinion but the concept was alien to me at the time. Maybe the process is/was less obvious in UK, split between the airlines, advanced passenger info etc. [0] https://assets.ctfassets.net/v228i5y5k0x4/2rMXkdDstm6okc0cgogUYE/2f87d17bb0d1b99d2f8d6697712e2742/GuideforTravellers.pdf https://assets.ctfassets.net/v228i5y5k0x4/2rMXkdDstm6okc0cgo...
eric4smith 5y ago
Post Covid.
switch007 5y ago
Too late to edit but to clarify I meant a checkpoint on departure from Australia

tcbasche 5y ago

I think “tough hurdles” is a perception more than anything. I left recently to live and work in Europe and they approved the application in 2 days and didn’t ask any questions. All I provided was some proof of my new employment. The stupidest part was I had to sign something to say I wouldn’t return within 3 months or I would get fined and go to jail. I’ve lived in Aus most of my life and it still boggles my mind how much they treat their own citizens like criminals.

rambojazz 5y ago
What's the rationale for jailing an own citizen for returning to their country in less than 3 months?
- tcbasche 5y ago
  There was no reason given but I can only assume it’s punishment for not following through with your plans? In all seriousness I would suspect it’s purely a deterrence measure to further underline the arbitrary nature of this stupid restriction.