Federal Government backs down from charging coronavirus evacuees from China | ABC News

Australians evacuated from the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in China will no longer be charged $1,000, with the Treasurer blaming “incorrect advice” from bureaucrats for the mix-up.

Josh Frydenberg said the Government would not be seeking to recover the cost of the Qantas flights from China to Christmas Island, contradicting statements given by senior ministers and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) in recent days.

“They’re not going to be charged,” he told the ABC’s Insiders program.

Read more here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-02/government-blames-dfat-for-coronavirus-charge-mix-up/11921846

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