There are still around 100 desperate Aussies ‘stuck in limbo’ in New Caledonia as they try to flee riots that have killed at least six people.
A French plane arrived in Brisbane on Wednesday night carrying 103 Australian citizens and family members after 84 Australians and 24 other nationals were repatriated to the Queensland capital on Tuesday.
A total of 187 Australians and their family members had now returned from New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a post on social media platform X.
There are about 500 Australians in New Caledonia and some 300 in total had registered their interest in coming home with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Pacific Minister Pat Conroy told ABC TV on Wednesday.
Australia would continue to work with the French government on further flights, Mr Conroy said.
A further 103 Australians and their family members have landed in Brisbane on Wednesday night (pictured) on a French assisted-departure flight from New Caledonia
Relieved passengers arrived in Brisbane on Wednesday night but around 100 Aussies are still stranded and waiting for a flight home
‘The primary plan is more French flights but as I’ve indicated publicly, we do have contingency plans and we do have planes on standby should there be an issue with that,’ he said.
Those on board the first two flights were filled with relief after days of failing to find a way off the island, said Fadi Chemali, who was on the first plane to reach Australia.
‘Everyone clapped once we landed, we were all just so happy,’ he told AAP after landing in Brisbane.
Mr Chemali had been holidaying with his wife and daughter for a week before rioting erupted and spent eight days scrambling to find a way home.
‘I didn’t see any of the violence up close but we heard a lot, including gunshots from where we were, it has been fairly intense.’
At least six people have died in the territory and hundreds have been injured since violence broke out last Monday.
Rob Slade (pictured left) greets his partner Vicki Murray (right) after arriving from New Caledonia
Australian tourists Monique (left), Juliett (centre) and Pascal Urban (right) arrive from New Caledonia
French troops are trying to stem further unrest, with buildings razed, shops looted and roads barricaded.
Australia’s Consul-General in New Caledonia, Annelise Young, posted on X that her team had been working round the clock with officials in Canberra and Paris and closely with French authorities to ensure safe passage for Australian tourists.
New rules changing who is allowed to participate in the nation’s elections have been slammed by the indigenous Kanaks, who fear their vote will be diluted by thousands of French nationals who have moved to the island.
About 270 rioters have been arrested and a 12-hour curfew imposed from 6pm to 6am.
France has sent more than 1000 security personnel, with hundreds more to join to help quell the unrest.
The reopening of the international airport for commercial flights will be reassessed on Thursday.
Australia has urged people to reconsider travel to New Caledonia.
Those there have been advised to limit their movement.
