In late December, Anna Malos and her partner Georgie flew from Melbourne to the United Kingdom.
Georgie, who was born in the UK and is a dual citizen, was suffering from metastatic cancer and wanted to be near her family during her final months.
At the time they flew out, the coronavirus pandemic had not yet begun.
"She had been told that she may only have months or weeks to live and so it was time to be near them," Ms Malos told SBS News.
Over the next seven months, Ms Malos remained with her partner and her family in the UK.
Georgie died on 3 July. By this point, coronavirus restrictions in the UK had eased enough that Ms Malos was able to be by her partner's side.
After arranging the funeral and packing up her life in the UK, Ms Malos booked a flight home to Australia for 1 September, which was more expensive than usual and was quickly bumped back.
"Seats on my current flight when I was rebooked were $1,620 one way for economy and $7,465 for business class - well above normal costs," Ms Malos said.
Ms Malos is now booked on an economy flight for 5 September, but given the ongoing uncertainty, she says there's no guarantee her plans won't be forced to change again.
"Is it too much to ask that citizens can get home to their own country?" she said.
'Change the cap'
Thousands of Australians stuck abroad like Anna are desperate to come home, having been repeatedly bumped off flights or told they will have to fork out thousands of extra dollars on a business class seat.
It's estimated 19,000 Australians have been unable to get through the locked border, and some say it's practically impossible for them to predict when they might get through.
On 10 July, the National Cabinet placed a limit on the number of Australians who could return home from overseas. On 7 August, it agreed to extend the caps until 24 October.
At the moment, only 4,000 people are allowed into Australia each week.
Amid calls to change the caps, Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne this week announced the government would open a new hardship program, with loans to be provided to "the most vulnerable Australians overseas".
“These are one-off loans which will be available to cover emergency living costs until a person is able to return. Loans will also be available to help with the cost of airline tickets to return to Australia,” Senator Payne said.
Those eligible can apply for the loans, capped at $2,000 for individuals and $5,000 for families. The loans, only available as a last resort, need to be repaid upon return to Australia.
In a statement, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said: “This support is intended to assist Australians in financial distress due to COVID-19 to purchase return flights to Australia where this is possible, including where prices have increased, or to shelter in place while they await an available flight to Australia.”
Foreign Minister Marise Payne has apologised after stranded Aussies' identities were exposed for a third time. Source: AAP
Where commercial flights are not available, DFAT continues to work with airlines and other governments to help Australians find ways to get home, the spokesperson added.
But Ms Malos feels more needs to be done.
"I totally agree with having restrictions. I agree with quarantine. I've just spent six months with someone who was incredibly vulnerable to the disease. I appreciate people making the effort to stay at home and making the effort to distance," Ms Malos said.
"But the way (the government) has done it is just unfair. It's just a mess. They've abdicated their responsibility to commercial airlines."
Ms Malos said she felt some Australians stuck overseas have been demonised.
"Some of the rhetoric in the press is saying 'it's your fault anyway' and is acting like everyone is wanting some kind of financial handout.
"I have a home. I have a job. I can't get to it."
While it would be most convenient to quarantine in her home city of Melbourne, Ms Malos said she'd be happy to isolate anywhere if she can successfully get on a flight.
"I will fly anywhere. But I don't know where to pick. I have to guess which city is the most likely to have the numbers to let me in."
National Cabinet will meet again on Friday, where it's expected the arrival caps will be discussed.
Ms Malos urged the federal government to "take responsibility" and alter the caps.
"Change the cap. Manage the cap yourself. Don't just give [responsibility] to a commercial company that needs to make money, rather than take care of your own citizens."
