Foreign Minister Penny Wong says the government is trying to help Australians leave the Middle East. Photo: National Press Club.
As the US-led war against Iran escalates, the Federal Government is urging Australians not to travel to the Middle East and for those who are in many parts of it to leave.
But with commercial airlines in a state of chaos at the moment and flights being cancelled, fleeing the Middle East is proving difficult.
About 115,000 Australians are currently in the Middle East, with 11,000 who regularly travel between that region and Australia, on Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways.
Monday morning (2 March), Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government was doing its best to help repatriate Australians in extremely difficult circumstances.
“We understand this will be a challenging time for many people, particularly those with family in the region or travel plans,” Senator Wong said.
“The Albanese government’s priority is the safety and security of Australians. We will continue to support Australians to navigate the disruption ahead, providing regular travel advice updates and consular assistance where we can, noting there are limits to what any government can do in a fast-moving and uncertain environment.”
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, also this morning, Senator Wong said there were no flights available.
“It’s very difficult at the moment for the government to provide a great deal of assistance in circumstances where flights are being cancelled, disrupted, and their [air] space is closed,” she said.
“First, we need to see if commercial flights will restart. Given the numbers of people in the region, people will get home most quickly … if we can facilitate people getting on to commercial flights.
“At the moment, the issue is not who is flying, it’s that people are not flying.”
The United States and Israel began air strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities over the weekend, with Iran engaging in retaliatory strikes across the region.
Senator Wong has confirmed Australia was not involved in the strikes or even had advance notice of them.
“Obviously, we did not participate in the strikes, and you would not expect us to participate,” she said on Sunday.
“These are strikes which are determined by the parties concerned, which are the United States and Israel.”
Anthony Albanese immediately expressed support for the attack and repeated that Australia was not “directly active in the current military strikes”.
“Australia stands with the brave people of Iran in their struggle against what is an oppressive regime,” the Prime Minister said on Sunday.
“While we aren’t directly active in the current military strikes, we have been clear and acted on our utter rejection of the brutal Iranian regime.”
The Greens are demanding that the government not offer support of any kind to the war.
Greens leader Larissa Waters said the US and Israel had “unleashed chaos across the Middle East” and Australia’s endorsement of it was “disgraceful”.
“This war will not bring safety to the brave Iranian people who are fighting for liberation from the brutal regime,” she said.
“The Greens condemn these illegal, abhorrent and unilateral attacks. Australians do not want to be dragged into another US-Israeli war.
“The Labor government must immediately rule out Australian support for Trump and Netanyahu’s illegal war. No resources. No intelligence. No more cover.
“The Labor government must also confirm to the Australian people that no intelligence from Pine Gap or other US bases in Australia was used … and rule out allowing these bases to be used in this illegal war going forward.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed on Monday morning that US joint facilities in Australia were not involved in the strikes.
Smartraveller has updated its list of countries not to travel to in the Middle East. These are Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
It also says Australians should reconsider the need to travel to Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Region Canberra.
