Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you to Senator Ciccone for the question. I'm pleased to confirm that 349 Australians, permanent residents and their family members arrived in Sydney last night on a Qantas flight from Cyprus. It was heartwarming to see these Australians welcomed home by their loved ones. Three further government assisted flights from Cyprus back to Sydney and Brisbane are planned over the next 24 hours, and I want to acknowledge and thank Qantas and Qatar Airways for this repatriation. All those returning on government assisted flights have rights of entry or valid visas. These fights are the latest step in our government's efforts to help Australians in Lebanon to safety. As you would be aware, the government's travel advice for Lebanon has been 'Do not travel.'

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