The crew aboard the Ruby Princess have a "humanitarian right" right to be cared for in Sydney rather than being treated "as an added problem during a pandemic," according to the Martime Union of Australia's Dean Summers.
The Ruby Princess has docked in Port Kembla in Woolongong on Monday, with its 1,400 crew members forced to stay inside the coronavirus-stricken vessels as authorities plan a safe way for them to return to their country of origin.
Authorities estimate around 200 crew members are showing signs of coronavirus, with sick patients being transferred to local hospitals.
The ship may be forced to stay in port for at least 10 days with the healthy crew unable to disembark unless they are given the go-ahead by the NSW police commissioner.
The Ruby Cruise ship is thought to be linked with 10 per cent of Australia's coronavirus cases after authorities allowed its passengers to disembark in Sydney on the 19th of March.
Mr Summers told Sky News authorities shouldn't allow this problem to be "hidden" in Port Kembla.
"Our remedy is we bring the ship alongside, we get a handle on the size of the problem," he said.
"Those people who just need to be isolated, let's isolate them, Sydney is full of empty hotels."
"Those people who need medical care will still need medical care in our hospitals one way or another."
"This is simply calling for some forward thinking, some lateral thinking on humanitarian grounds."
Image: News Corp Australia
