Labor says government is not serious about finding a firm extraction plan for medical personnel who might be sent to west Africa
Scott Morrison has accused Labor of proposing to put Australian medical personnel in “harm’s way” by sending them to fight Ebola in west Africa.
The immigration minister said on Friday the government would not send teams to countries stricken by the deadly virus before a firm plan was in place to get any infected Australians out.
“Our first responsibility is to do what we need to do here in Australia,” Morrison told the Nine Network.
“Should we be directing people to be put in harm’s way with no credible extraction plan?”
The government says anyone who fell prey to the virus would not survive the 30-hour trip back to Australia, and firm extraction arrangements with other nations must be made first.
But Labor’s deputy leader, Tanya Plibersek, said the government was not making a serious effort to make such arrangements.
“At the moment, [the government] are discouraging people that want to help,” she said.
“I know you’re not trying to find [an extraction plan].”
Labor believes Australia should more actively support the global fight against Ebola, citing the World Health Organisation’s 60-day countdown to get the virus under control.
“Volunteers who are trained and willing and able to go should have the support of the Australian government to do so,” Plibersek said.
Morrison said the government wasn’t stopping Australians from travelling to west Africa with non-government aid organisations.
He said the opposition shouldn’t “play politics” with Ebola.
“It’s disappointing,” he said of Labor’s call for government-backed aid missions. “The government is trying to protect Australia.”