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

[DejaBrew]

On the community radio news today on our way to lunch they interviewed a woman on one of the QF flights. Asked her if she was happy to got out of Lebanon.
Her answer was I don’t know. I have had to leave my home, my family and my country so I am not happy.
So why does she deserve a free ticket to Australia when she doesn’t recognise it as “her” country.

To play devil's advocate on this one... the flights were open to Australians, Australian permanent residents and their immediate family members. For all we know, that lady was an immediate family member of an Australian or Australian permanent resident and it may therefore be completely valid for her to recognise Lebanon as "her" country. Even if she was an Australian, then there's no saying she didn't emigrate from Lebanon and therefore still feel a sense of belonging to her country of birth.

 

[jrfsp]

To play devil's advocate on this one... the flights were open to Australians, Australian permanent residents and their immediate family members. For all we know, that lady was an immediate family member of an Australian or Australian permanent resident and it may therefore be completely valid for her to recognise Lebanon as "her" country. Even if she was an Australian, then there's no saying she didn't emigrate from Lebanon and therefore still feel a sense of belonging to her country of birth.

Indeed I’d imagine that’s the case with most dual nationals particularly if that’s their place or birth / where she grew up, also anyone would have significant trepidation leaving behind family and friends in a war zone - not being able to say when or even if she’ll see them again.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

To play devil's advocate on this one... the flights were open to Australians, Australian permanent residents and their immediate family members.

Why Are we opening it up for Australian Permanent Residents? They aren’t even citizens! If they want to be that generous Id be more than happy to get one of these free repatriation flights when I’m back home in Canada as I’m on a student visa! Just, please, make sure I’m seated in business class (1A is preferred but I’ll settle for somewhere else if push comes to shove). I’ll deal with collecting the status credits from Qantas later!

-RooFlyer88

 

[DejaBrew]

Why Are we opening it up for Australian Permanent Residents? They aren’t even citizens! If they want to be that generous Id be more than happy to get one of these free repatriation flights when I’m back home in Canada as I’m on a student visa! Just, please, make sure I’m seated in business class (1A is preferred but I’ll settle for somewhere else if push comes to shove). I’ll deal with collecting the status credits from Qantas later!

-RooFlyer88

For better or worse, Permanent Residents essentially have all the same rights as Australian Citizens apart from the ability to -:

• have an Australian passport
• vote in Australian Government elections unless you enrolled (as a British subject) before 26 January 1984
• access student loans
• join the Australian Defence Force
• obtain ongoing work in the Australian Government
• return to Australia from overseas without a valid travel facility

My partner has PR and I'll be honest with you that if the Government excluded her from repatriation flights on account of her not being a Citizen, I'd be mighty p!$$ed off and making all sorts of representations to Home Affairs. I'm sure those currently impacted by the situation in Lebanon would feel much the same.

 

[Mr Bill]

Why Are we opening it up for Australian Permanent Residents? They aren’t even citizens! If they want to be that generous Id be more than happy to get one of these free repatriation flights when I’m back home in Canada as I’m on a student visa! Just, please, make sure I’m seated in business class (1A is preferred but I’ll settle for somewhere else if push comes to shove). I’ll deal with collecting the status credits from Qantas later!

-RooFlyer88

Sorry but I'm a bit confused. Are you commenting as an Australian citizen, a dual Oz/Canuk citizen or a Canadian here on a student visa ?

 

[DejaBrew]

My partner has PR and I'll be honest with you that if the Government excluded her from repatriation flights on account of her not being a Citizen

For clarity, I'm speaking in general terms here. My partner is not Lebanese, nor is she involved in any way with the current goings on in the Middle East.

 

[Quickstatus]

So why does she deserve a free ticket to Australia when she doesn’t recognise it as “her” country.

Passport of convenience...

 

[DejaBrew]

Passport of convenience...

As opposed to Aussies holding dual passports (e.g. British) when they've never lived in - or have any intention of living in - the UK?

Look... the "my country" thing irks me as much as the next person, but with all due respect, there are a lot of assumptions being made in multiple posts within this thread.

 

[Quickstatus]

As opposed to Aussies holding dual passports

Same passport of convenience

 

[p--and--t]

Sorry but I'm a bit confused. Are you commenting as an Australian citizen, a dual Oz/Canuk citizen or a Canadian here on a student visa ?

You beat me to it. Is this a very liberal usage of the term "we"?

 

[drron]

Why not have the flights open to open to people who have been in Australia in the last 5-10 years;
Same goes for those living on Australian pensions overseas. Pension lapses after 5-10 years after leaving Australia.

 

[Sprucegoose]

On the community radio news today on our way to lunch they interviewed a woman on one of the QF flights. Asked her if she was happy to got out of Lebanon.
Her answer was I don’t know. I have had to leave my home, my family and my country so I am not happy.
So why does she deserve a free ticket to Australia when she doesn’t recognise it as “her” country.

There's certainly confusion and entitlement in abundance at the moment.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 10:16 PM

But not free of charge .

No, we the taxpayer.....

 

[DejaBrew]

Why not have the flights open to open to people who have been in Australia in the last 5-10 years;

Because you can't just pick and choose which legally-enshrined rights you wish to recognise for Australian Citizens (or non-citizens with PR and a valid Resident Return Visa).

 

[drron]

Because you can't just pick and choose which legally-enshrined rights you wish to recognise for Australian Citizens (or non-citizens with PR and a valid Resident Return Visa).

Though it has been done in the past.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Sorry but I'm a bit confused. Are you commenting as an Australian citizen, a dual Oz/Canuk citizen or a Canadian here on a student visa ?

Canadian on a student visa using the Royal we

 

[Mr Bill]

Seems like this thread has attracted some comments bordering on xenophobic. Let's hope that none of us are ever in a situation that requires evacuation because of civil unrest or natural disaster. Thank heavens that, warts and all, Australia is a compassionate country.