A Tasmanian mother stuck in Germany feels 'abandoned and heartbroken' by the lack of government help to get her family home.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bonnie Court told The Advocate from Munich, Germany, that she didn't want to be 'bought' home, she just wanted to be allowed to come home.
"My family is desperate to come home and so very fearful of the uncertainty of the next weeks. I ask you to bring the anguish of our situation to the attention of our government."
Ms Court said she, husband Christoph and their children 2.5-year-old Josephine and 7 month-old Benjamin were booked on a flight to Hobart via Melbourne at the end of October.
But she was by no means confident the airline would honour the booking.
"If we don't leave on October 29, we basically have no housing and no prospect of income. We don't have any family in Munich and none of our friends can accommodate us all."
Ms Court resigned in January, as the family planned their return to Tasmania. Her work visa expires on November 1.
READ MORE:
She had contacted every level of government but had to date, received no help.
"I find myself feeling abandoned and heartbroken at the governments' response."
Independent MHA Madeleine Ogilvie said she was actively helping Ms Court and was waiting for an update from the state government.
"I am particularly concerned about mums with young children and others in difficult situations. At the moment we have 12 Tasmanian families on our list.
"I have also succeeded in getting the state government to intercede and help with emergency financial support for people in very distressing and difficult situations."
Ms Ogilvie encouraged anyone needing help to contact the Tasmanian overseas traveller helpline at overseastraveller@dpac.tas.gov.au
Greens Senator Nick McKim said Bonnie's case was 'heartbreaking'.
"The government has the resources and capacity to start repatriation flights and it should have started them months ago."
The federal government announced last week that about 5000 Australians in the United Kingdom, India and South Africa would be able to get home on charter flights with quarantine in the Northern Territory.