Australian permit to leave home

Perth residents Olga and Keith Holmes at Cable Beach in Western Australia. They were refused an exemption to leave the country by the Department of Home Affairs. Picture: Abby Murray Shocked Australian citizens have told The Australian about “alarming” letters they have received from the Department of Home Affairs after applying for an exemption to travel abroad to visit sick relatives, take up scholarships or join family abroad. Australians must apply for a permit, which is granted only in exceptional circumstances. The vast majority of applications — up to 75 per cent — are being denied. Australia is the only democracy in the world with an outbound travel ban, which prevents citizens from leaving without an exemption from a bureaucrat. The process has been described as arbitrary and secretive by dis­appointed travellers and they have been told there are no grounds for appeal. The EU, Canada, Britain and New Zealand let their citizens leave the country provided they quarantine upon return….. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/innocent-aussies-on-flight-ban-list/news-story/4d8f5c162914d1bf9ff5265be6c8c13d