Pensioners trapped overseas - border closures

[Olive]

There is absolutely no reason at all why, during something like a pandemic and people having no option but to stay where they are, they couldn't put the 26 week rule on hold for the duration. In fact it would be far easier than stopping the payments and having to deal with the fall-out of all that.

I agree.   And surely it's not a huge sum of money overall: it's not as if many superannuitants will be in this position.