Federal Nationals MP Pat Conaghan's seat of Cowper includes a strong population of Australians of Indian heritage, so when travel bans for India were announced last week he paid particular attention.
He said he did not like what he heard.
"I did have concerns with the way that we spoke to that community by saying 'look, if you come to Australia then you face imprisonment," he said.
The federal government last week put a temporary ban on flights from India amid concerns about the number of COVID-19 cases in hotel quarantine.
On Friday it announced criminal penalties, including jail time and hefty fines for anyone breaching the ban, including Australian citizens.
Mr Conaghan said he supported the ban, but the delivery of the message was poorly handled.
"We should have said 'look, we are doing this for the benefit of all of Australia, it is only for two weeks, we will work with you to get you back as soon as we possibly can once the situation is under control'."
'Most people quite understanding'
Cowper takes in the state seat of Coffs Harbour, held by Gurmesh Singh, whose election win in 2019 made headlines in India.
Mr Singh said he supports the government's travel ban, but it was taking a toll on his community — particularly in Woolgoolga, home to one of the largest Punjabi communities in Australia.
He said he was hearing reports of people stranded after not getting a flight home and those returning for the funerals of people who died in the pandemic.
He said husbands and wives had become separated and some weddings have had to be put on hold as couples find themselves in different countries.
"Certainly every person I've spoken to are obviously very glad that our system here in Australia is working so far and we've been kept safe."
The travel bans have left an estimated 9,000 Australians stranded in India.
They are due to be lifted on May 15.
