I was watching "The Project" the other evening and
was amazed to learn that the former Prime Minister
was granted an exemption from the Australian
government's international travel ban to fly to
London where he has accepted a job spruiking
British Trade after Brexit.

Mr Abbott was appointed by Trade Secretary Liz Truss
and the pair had breakfast together in London on
Wednesday to confirm his new role advising the British
Trade Board.

The news came days after Mr Abbott was photographed
attending a golf tournament in Wales and then on
Wednesday night Abbott was in Italy but was expected to
return to London by next week to deliver a speech to
the Policy Exchange think tank by former foreign
minister and former high commissioner to Britain -
Alexander Downer. Mr Abbott will speak about the
international response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Australian government has banned citizens from
leaving the country (people can't attend funerals or
sick relatives) and the government has also effectively
locked out thousands of Australians trying to return home
by imposing daily and weekly caps on the number of
returnees. Why has an exemption been made in the case
of Tony Abbott? He won't be spruiking Australian
trade interests - but British ones. Also will he be
in lockdown once he returns to Australia? I somehow doubt
that.

The following two links have more:

http://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/tony-abbott-granted-travel-exemption-to-take-on-uk-brexit-job-20200826-p55pnv.html

And -

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/28/tony-abbotts-proposed-job-as-the-uks-hired-gun-on-trade-is-a-baffling-choice

Your thoughts please.

be lovely to see a man of such stature back as PM one day.

runner,

He was ousted by his own colleagues after 2 years in
power and kicked out of Australian politics by his own
constituents just recently.

Why were travel exemptions made for this man?

Well, as long as he's not here but unfortunately, he's still churning up our tax Dollars as do all politicians & ex politicians from every party !
Exemption to travel ? Well, one would think someone like Abbott would have been tested thoroughly plus, he's leaving not entering Australia.
It's up to the country that he enters, to worry about his infection status, not ours.
I would love to see many more such used-up politicians to leave Australia for a long time if possible.

Foxy said-

"He was ousted by his own colleagues after 2 years in
power and kicked out of Australian politics by his own
constituents just recently.

Why were travel exemptions made for this man?"

Answer-

Kim Beasley had similar issues with his colleagues in the Labor Party.
Eventually they had to send him to the US to get rid of his subversion. It is also in Australian interest to have an Australian in a position to influence British Trade and he has shown himself to be loyal to Britain as well as Australia. Of course those that would seek to divide Australia from it's historical allies and roots would be perhaps concerned.

The UK have definitely lost any sense of realism and will suffer for it. With such a liar on the job there will be great confusion and disgruntlement for boris. Abbott is on another homecoming.