Former Cricketer Michael Slater Slams Scott Morrison Over India Travel Ban
Slater tweeted that the Prime Minister should "come and witness dead bodies on the street".
Sports commentator and former cricketer Michael Slater has taken another jab at Scott Morrison over the India travel ban, telling the Prime Minister to “come and witness dead bodies on the street”, via Twitter.
Amazing to smoke out the PM on a matter that is a human crisis. The panic, the fear of every Australian in India is real!! How about you take your private jet and come and witness dead bodies on the street!
— Michael Slater (@mj_slats) May 5, 2021
Slater, who was previously stuck in the host country for the Indian Premier League, also challenged the PM to a debate, and expressed sympathy the people of India.
This is the second online criticism this week directed at ScoMo by Slater. On Monday, he tweeted that the Prime Minister had “blood on his hands” over his handling of India’s coronavirus surge.
“I ask [the Australian IPL team], like the many Australians that are in India at present to be patient and understanding, that’s what I’d ask,” Morrison responded on morning television show Sunrise a day later.
I’m guessing there’s a good deal of overlap between the government’s fan base and Michael Slater’s fan base. It will be fascinating to see how this skirmish plays out.
— Troy Simpson-Gates (@TroyPSimpson) May 5, 2021
The response to Slater’s rant has been mixed, with some criticism directed at his recent relocation from India to the Maldives.
I’m kind of baffled that Michael Slater got called out for being an spoilt prat. He’s literally just saying what so many others are saying and thinking. The only reason his voice has been heard over them is because he has a platform to be heard from.
— milky boi (@rararachumz) May 5, 2021
Is Michael Slater the biggest jackass in Australia?
— Byron Bateson 🇦🇺 (@byzbateson) May 6, 2021
#MichaelSlater isn't doing himself any favours talking about private jets….from a hammock in the Maldives.
Air India pilots and crew are not yet vaccinated. They have no health care plan. BYO O2 cyclinders.
India should lockdown. NOW.
— Janey Has Moved (@janeyhasmoved) May 5, 2021
Next time the sporting elites fight for special permission to leave Australia during a pandemic can we remember this cricket situation in India please… @ScottMorrisonMP @CricketAus #cricket #india #MichaelSlater #COVID19Aus
— Ali C FitFantastic (@FitFantastic1) May 5, 2021
Cricket Australia confirmed it had “no immediate plans to provide a charter flight to return players” directly to Australia, as per the government’s travel ban. It’s believed that over 40 Australians were in India to play, coach, or commentate like Slater.
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
— Michael Slater (@mj_slats) May 3, 2021
Slater is not alone in his concerns — the unprecedented barring of Australian citizens returning home has been questioned by UN human rights officials, while a Melbourne man has launched a case against the government in federal court on Wednesday.
The India travel ban began on Monday and will last until Saturday, May 15. The IPL was officially postponed on Tuesday with most English players returning home yesterday.
Australian batting coach Michael Hussey tested positive earlier this week. The rest of the cohort will be relocated the Maldives or Sri Lanka to wait out their return to Australia, Nine Sports reported.
If the PM is right and Michael Slater is wrong, then why has the PM never scored a century in just his second test at Lord's? Debate over.
— Nick Oliver (@nicknamesnuts) May 5, 2021