Qantas to operate 2 evacuation flights from Lebanon via Cyprus to Sydney

[Quickstatus]

Like it or not Australia has both an ethical and a legal obligation to assist citizens stranded overseas

The ones who live in Lebanon are not stranded - they live there ie permanent residents. Not people who live in Australia and are travelling

There are a lot of ex-pats around the world

Depends if they live abroad or if they are just on a time limited working contract abroad. However the Australian passport will always put the Govt in a political conundrum.

what I cannot understand is why Cyprus? L

That is the nearest safe harbour. They did it in 2006. Türkiye is the other.

I have known them to extend loans to facilitate services and repatriation

They tried that in 2006. Some paid others didnt. Eventually they cancelled the debts.

 

[Quickstatus]

I have known them to extend loans to facilitate services and repatriation

They tried that in 2006. Some paid others didnt. Eventually they cancelled the debts.

 

[Danger]

1) I haven't seen any coverage from Australians in Lebanon saying, 'I'm an Aussie. The government should get me out.' Has that happened?

2) The Qantas release doesn't say the flights are limited to Australian citizens who reside in Lebanon, as opposed to those you are visiting (for whatever reason).

3) I'm not as familiar as I'd like to be with EC261 and the similar UK provision but I wonder if any of those come into play if the 787s being used are coming off LHR, FCO or CDG routes.

 

[N860CR]

There are many instances where the government has not actively assisted Australians overseas one only needs to look at the Covid era.

This is the point I came here to make. The government abandoned and locked out its own citizens for two years. We’ve proven we have zero obligation to our nationals abroad (and the public generally supported that, as terrifying as it was). In this instance, we have a group of people who sadly have a lot of power in some very marginal seats. That would be a big reason for this push to bring home a few hundred “passport bingo” winners. The joys of our democracy!