Christmas might be around the corner, but tens of thousands of Australians will be unable to celebrate with their loved ones, still unable to return home.
Since September, over 43,800 Australians have returned from overseas, with over 17,000 Australians registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The hotel quarantine limit per week, however, is keeping at least 36,000 citizens and permanent residents who have registered with DFAT stranded overseas.
The mandatory quarantine cap sits at 6,000 arrivals per week elevating daily costs for the Australians still unable to return.
Many of those have seen their airline tickets cancelled while losing their jobs and drying up funds in order to pay for accommodation overseas.
In a statement, a spokesperson for DFAT said its highest priority was helping vulnerable Australians overseas. So far, DFAT has helped repatriate 3,700 were vulnerable citizens.
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