ScoMo's reply to Slats
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...n/news-story/a2c3e8e631cba3d054d545fb8fec46f0
Scott Morrison hits back at Michael Slater for saying he has ‘blood on his hands’
Scott Morrison has returned serve at Michael Slater after the Australian cricket great accused him of having “blood on your hands”.
Scott Morrison has hit back at Michael Slater after the Australian cricket great unloaded on the Prime Minister following the Australian government’s decision to block citizens from returning home from India.
Having served as a commentator for the Indian Premier League, Slater escaped from India earlier this week as the country’s coronavirus situation worsened.
Slater tweeted on Monday evening: “If our Government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home. It’s a disgrace!
“Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out quarantine system.
“I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect.”
Two hours later, the 51-year-old posted: “And for those who think this is a money exercise. Well forget it. This is what I do for a living and I have not made a penny having left early. So please stop the abuse and think of the thousands dying in India each day. It’s called empathy. If only our government had some!”
Morrison responded on Tuesday, saying it was “absurd” for Slater to accuse him of having “blood on your hands”.
“I’m not going to fail Australia,” Morrison added.
Sky News host Andrew Bolt
declared he is “ashamed of Australia” over the threat of jail terms for Indian-Australians trying to return home.
“I hate people playing the race card. But even I must now say I am ashamed of Australia, which is making it a crime for Indian Australians to come back home,’’ Bolt said.
“To me, it stinks of racism to tell the 8000 Indian Australians trying to come home that they must stay in India, in what Western Australia’s Premier admitted was the ‘epicentre of death and destruction’.”
On Monday,
Mr Morrison slammed claims that the ban is racist, warning he’s making the “hard calls” that have helped save 30,000 Australian lives.
“We are deeply, deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis in India. But the best way I can get them safely home is by doing what I am doing right now,’’ the Prime Minister told 2GB radio.
Australian cricketers
Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson returned home last week before the travel restrictions were introduced.
There are currently more than 30 Australian players, commentators, umpires and coaching staff participating in the glamorous T20 tournament — including Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, David Warner and Ricky Ponting.
Last week, Morrison said Australian cricket talent in India would not be given any preferential treatment.
“They’ve travelled there privately under their own arrangements. This wasn’t part of an Australian tour,” Morrison said.
“And they’re under their own resources and they’ll be using those resources, I’m sure, to see them return to Australia in accordance with our own arrangements.”