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Free, Non-Stop Flights for Aussies Fleeing Lebanon, from Cyprus to Sydney @ Qantas

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Free, Non-Stop Flights for Aussies Fleeing Lebanon, from Cyprus to Sydney @ Qantas
Go to Deal
beatthatflight on 04/10/2024 - 20:46 qantasnewsroom.com.au (1199 clicks)
Last edited 04/10/2024 - 22:02

In a break from my regular travel deal posting, hopefully this'll help someone who needs to get out of Lebanon fast.

Qantas will operate two non-stop flights between Cyprus and Sydney, to help Australians in Lebanon get home on behalf of the Australian Government.

The flights will be operated using a Qantas Boeing 787 and will be able to carry up to 440 Australians back home.

The first service is expected to depart Larnaca in Cyprus on Monday evening (local time), arriving in Sydney on Tuesday.

The second direct Dreamliner service is expected to depart on Wednesday.

The national carrier will operate these assisted-departure flights free of charge for the Australian Government, with no cost to those travelling on the flight. The airline is working to obtain the necessary approvals.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is coordinating registration for Australians wanting to return home.

Qantas has called for pilots and cabin crew to nominate their interest in operating the flights. This is expected to be oversubscribed as it was with the special assistance flights from Tel Aviv in October 2023, when 900 cabin crew expressed their interest for 70 positions.

These assisted-departure flights will impact some customers booked to travel on our international network, and customers are being contacted directly with alternative travel arrangements. We’re working to minimise the impact as much as possible and appreciate their understanding.

ADVICE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT

Australians who want to leave Lebanon via Cyprus should register at DFAT’s Crisis Portal. If you have already registered with DFAT you do not need to register again.

For urgent consular assistance, Australians should continue to call the Australian Government’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas) or 1300 555 135 (from within Australia).

Travel Cyprus International Flight Lebanon

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closed Comments

  • BobCobb on 05/10/2024 - 06:32
    -1

    I sense a lot of commentators are on the lowest marginal rate.

    Interesting. Most interesting.

  • Mr BoMBAStiG on 05/10/2024 - 06:34
    +11

    They had their chance for months to return to Australia. Ignored the advice from the same Department who is now funding this, using our tax payer dollars.
    The people using these flights should be sent an invoice with their split on how much this is costing us all.
    They don't need our charity, they made a conscious bad decision and should share the consequences they have now made us all responsible for.

    • Rick Sanchez on 05/10/2024 - 11:35
      -1

      It's a drop in the bucket mate. Why do you care about the cost so much?

      • Mr BoMBAStiG on 05/10/2024 - 11:57
        +2

        Funding someone's emergency surgery in a public hospital that has been directly caused by smoking or obesity frustrates me just as much. Drop in the bucket there too.

        • Jstrrrr on 06/10/2024 - 17:21

          That's just the thing. There are a millions things that need funding. Each is a drop. And those millions drops form the bucket.

  • Dogstar on 05/10/2024 - 06:38
    +11

    https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/middle-east/le…
    "Since 19 October 2023, our advice has been Do Not Travel to Lebanon."

    Mmhmm.

    • 11112007 on 05/10/2024 - 09:50
      +1

      Exactly…..

    • spaceflight on 05/10/2024 - 10:14

      That's "do not travel to" which is different from "immediately evacuate"

      • MrThing on 05/10/2024 - 11:44
        +3

        You just made up a travel ranking… There is no immediately evacuate ranking

        When your countries travel ranking is the same as north Korea and war torn countries in Africa, you would think that would be a hint

        • spaceflight on 05/10/2024 - 11:49

          You just made up a travel ranking… There is no immediately evacuate ranking

          Ok then in DFATs words "Do not wait, leave immediately." which is pretty close to "immediately evacuate"….

          The point is that someone could have been in Lebanon since before 19 October 2023 so if you were already there the advice of "do not travel to" doesn't mean anything because you are already there

  • webtherapist on 05/10/2024 - 06:48
    +2

    HOW MUCH AU GOV GONNA SUBSIDISE OR FULLY FUND QANTAS FOR THIS? ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AU GOV HAVE TO BRING AUSSIES BACK SAFELY - NOTHING IS FREE!

    • Rick Sanchez on 05/10/2024 - 11:37

      I'm curious as to how I should be reading your username.

  • beerbudget on 05/10/2024 - 07:10
    +6

    I'm sure there will be, but any Australian citizens who get on this flight better have a bloody good reason why they didn't come home sooner.

  • poormansBoy50 on 05/10/2024 - 07:18
    +1

    Targeted…

  • Dollar Dreamer on 05/10/2024 - 07:24
    +2

    Habibi, this is a fully sick deal.

  • PavloXYZ on 05/10/2024 - 07:55
    +9

    How is this a deal? It's funded by taxpayers where we didn't get a say in it. Sort of like saying hey, I want this new toy and I'm going to use my entire classmates money to pay for it. Like many others have already stated, they were giving months and months of warning to get out and they didn't. They chose to stay. Now if anything, let these protestors, people who openly mourn for the death of Hamas leader and demonstrators holding up the Hamas flag to empty out their bank accounts to bring them back. And then also get them to support them indefinitely once they are here. It's their "brothers" and "sisters" anyway right?

    I found this on a subreddit under Malaysia and thought it's interesting to share.

    Misbehaving Palestinians in viral video to be sent back

    Palestinians refugees in Wisma Transit

    I find the comments made by the Malaysians important issues that we need to take into account as it can serve as a lesson before we take them in. Some are;

    · What's the long term plan for these refugees after bring them here and giving them treatment and urgent care.
    · They are on refugees pass, why are they acting like they're on vacation pass
    · Stomping her feet protesting while she's perfectly safe in Malaysia from any kind of ammunition
    · Got hotel to stay, 3 meals a day, we still have Malaysians homeless on the street and hungry, people should learn to be thankful.
    · Jordan accepted them and guess what, a few years later they wanted to overthrow the King. And you wonder why nobody in the middle East wants to lift a finger.
    · Under Yaseer Arafat they also sides with Saddam Hussein to invade Kuwait even though Kuwait allowed them in and allowed them to work. Imagine that.

    lots more on there if you're keen to get their perspective. I have an Indonesian friend and she shares a lot of views similar to the comments as I asked for hers once finding out President Widodo blames Israel and wants to bring some Palestinians refugees to their country.

    anywoo, happy long weekend everyone, stay safe!

    • robeh on 05/10/2024 - 09:00
      +5

      Well this is for flying Australian citizens home, so not quite sure why you're writing an essay about Palestinian refugees in Indonesia but good for you

      • Rick Sanchez on 05/10/2024 - 11:38
        +2

        Does he even realise this is a different country? Lol

        • c9 on 05/10/2024 - 11:53
          +1

          Maybe Indobargain website redirected to Ozbargain?

    • Thejedi on 05/10/2024 - 16:33

      You're acting like you've ever had a say in how tax payer's money get spent. There are a whole lot of worse ways they spend out tax.

      • infinite on 05/10/2024 - 21:33

        They could start by flying them all back.

  • Logical on 05/10/2024 - 07:56
    +9

    Not a good use of tax payer money. We all know the gov subsidises this crap.

    • robeh on 05/10/2024 - 09:03
      +4

      In the grand scheme of the budget, this would be pennies to try to encourage more of our citizens to get themselves out of war.
      I personally think helping Australians flee a war zone is a good thing 👍

      • besttechadvisor on 05/10/2024 - 12:13
        +3

        I'd rather encourage Australians to call an ambulance in a medical emergency, but many states don't do that.

        Instead, we pay for return flights for people who are both rich and ignorant enough to holiday to a potential warzone?

        It's a massive misuse of funds.

  • Alejandro on 05/10/2024 - 08:07
    +7

    Not a deal, should have left months ago and the cats will just come here to protest

  • Fredfloresjr on 05/10/2024 - 08:11
    +3

    Thought Hezbollah were different? Thought they “can” protect their country? Thought they were “tough” when sending missiles to the nearby country? What happened? They are acting the victims now of what is currently happening to their country? So Iran is doing the same, and months later we will see protest “free Iran”?

    • Rick Sanchez on 05/10/2024 - 11:39
      +4

      Are we evacuating hezbollah? Don't think so.

      What are you on about?

      You've been consuming too much mass.media.

  • Iwantthatbargain on 05/10/2024 - 08:16

    Free, Non-Stop Flights for Hezbolah supporters Fleeing Lebanon, from Cyprus to Sydney

    Did they do this for Australian Ukrainians ?

  • Need Education on 05/10/2024 - 08:20
    -1

    How many Aussies in Lebanon?

  • BeauKilla on 05/10/2024 - 08:24
    +1

    This site should be called ozdump, everyone just farting into the wind for self gratification.

    • kml22 on 05/10/2024 - 08:53
      +1

      Ukraine all the way.
      We all know how Lebanon is, dragging their political issue over to Australia, and protesting about stuff that most Aussie don't cares about

      • Rick Sanchez on 05/10/2024 - 11:40

        You mean Lebanese people? Or the country of Lebanon coming here? And they're all the same to you?

        Aside from the fact these are Aus citizens

  • navshaf on 05/10/2024 - 08:45
    +5

    Political stunt on taxpayer dime

    • Jstrrrr on 06/10/2024 - 17:30
      +1

      The type of feel-good virtual signalling Albo excels at.

  • SunElf on 05/10/2024 - 08:51
    +3

    How come is this a deal??? This is anti-bargain for me!

  • kml22 on 05/10/2024 - 08:51
    +2

    All the people whom coming back from this flight should be vetted. Who knows if they've being radicalist while they're there.

    • cheaponos on 05/10/2024 - 08:56
      +2

      I thought government didn’t negotiate with terrorists? Hezbollah control Beirut airport. What a farce!

    • Rick Sanchez on 05/10/2024 - 11:41
      +2

      These people are Australians bud. They're already vetted.

      • infinite on 05/10/2024 - 14:50
        -1

        The "family members" they are flying back with aren't……

  • Iggemo on 05/10/2024 - 09:00
    +5

    You would have thought helping people in a dire situation would be uncontroversial but, nope, apparently "muh taxpayer dollars!!!". OzB community once again shows us displaying any empathy or assistance for people in need is actually a controversial position to take, smh. These comments are depressing and the attitude of the community on these sort of matters just makes me ashamed to be an Aussie. I know i'll get downvoted to oblivion but that's fine, i wouldnt want the approval of this community.

    • kml22 on 05/10/2024 - 09:09
      +5

      The problem here is Australia has been taking advantage of their generosity, and these people abuse our system. I say no more, these are people with crocodile tears.
      You said makes you ashamed to be Aussie? You should instead be ashamed of helping these people who support violent and extreme view.

      • Rick Sanchez on 05/10/2024 - 11:42
        +3

        "These people"

        See that's the problem.

  • edfoo on 05/10/2024 - 09:04
    +4

    This shoud not be posted as a deal. It's another one of those "humanitarian" aid, not to be posed as a deal in OzBargain.

  • chloden on 05/10/2024 - 09:26
    +6

    Why are there Australians still in Lebanon a year on? I read a story of a lady who is desperately trying to come home, but she only went over 6 weeks ago. So now we are paying for these people to return to Australia.

    • DrScavenger on 05/10/2024 - 15:35

      Maybe wanted to visit family before things went bad and thought she would be fine

  • barratttc on 05/10/2024 - 09:29
    +8

    Lefties are strong in this post.

    Leave the Australians of convenience there. They had plenty of warning to leave!

    • Rick Sanchez on 05/10/2024 - 11:43
      +5

      Lefties? Australians of convenience?

      Keep generalising, and keep feeling miserable and outraged when you read your news.

  • Mixhael on 05/10/2024 - 10:28
    +4

    Politics aside, this isn't a deal. More like a PSA and comment baiting.

    • Rick Sanchez on 05/10/2024 - 11:44
      +1

      Definitely the best bait posted on ozbargain in a long time.

    • cheaponos on 05/10/2024 - 22:09
      +1

      Plenty of negs and heaps of people reported the post however the admins have cleared the reports and decided to leave it as a deal. Interesting.

      • infinite on 07/10/2024 - 14:52
        -1

        I had multiple comments removed elsewhere in the forum because a mod didn't like my opinions as someone who is black and not a woke extreme leftist. Additionally to that, the same mod then targeted me further by blocking me from voting on comments in the same discussion thread. They were literally so triggered by me not being woke, they censored my ability to upvote comments.

        Others in here openly promoting officially sanctioned and recognised terrorists and terror groups though - that's perfectly OK. Those same people then also wishing Genocide on an entire country - also perfectly OK.

        The Ozbargain owners sure do allow some ……… interesting mod discretion to say the least.

  • CommuterPolluter on 05/10/2024 - 10:45
    +3

    Dual citizenship needs to end already.

  • bargaino on 05/10/2024 - 10:52
    +3

    "Aussies"? Not many Skips on the plane. They left months ago.

  • Dollar Dreamer on 05/10/2024 - 10:57
    +3

    My popcorn bucket failed after the 20th fill up. Hold on to the comments, I am just gonna go run and get a new popcorn bucket.

  • lost1thong on 05/10/2024 - 11:16
    +2

    Tax payer funded travel is not a good deal for anyone but one individual….

    • chloden on 05/10/2024 - 12:00
      +1

      You mean one company… Qantas.

  • AstroPhysic on 05/10/2024 - 11:36
    +5

    So I can buy a one way flight to Cyprus, and get the return flight for free!
    This is a really good deal! Thanks OP

    • CyberMurning on 05/10/2024 - 13:06
      +1

      Now everyone will told their relatives hey there is a bargain, lets fly there and dont worry one day youll get fly back for free.

  • THICKnSLOW on 05/10/2024 - 11:47
    +1

    Of all the deals on this website over the years, this one has to be the weirdest.

    Should be deleted due to limited availability and impending war

  • besttechadvisor on 05/10/2024 - 12:11
    +4

    If I call an ambulance for a medical emergency, I have to pay for it.

    But if I want to get free return travel on my next holiday, I just have to look towards potential warzone? Maybe the IRA will flare back up, I've always wanted to see the streets of Derry!

    C'mon, the Gaza war has been going on for a year, Hezbollah and the IDF have been seriously talking about war for at least half that time.

    If someone's ignorant enough to travel to a warzone, how much do we want to pay for those ignoramuses to come back?

    Tax payer's money shouldn't be going to free flights for people who can already afford to travel overseas, it should be going towards nuclear submarines.

    • gamemaster on 05/10/2024 - 12:50

      Ambulance fees are a state government issue, not a federal government issue. Some states have free ambulance services.

      There's no cost for ambulance treatment and transport for Queensland residents. This includes treatment and transport that takes place in other parts of Australia.

      https://www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/our-services/emergency-ambu…

      • besttechadvisor on 05/10/2024 - 13:02
        +3

        Yes, I know. I live on the border of Queensland, and have an ambo relative in Queensland. If it wasn't for their striking, Queensland would also have ambulance fees despite being under ALP.

        Either way, it's beside the point, which is that tax payers shouldn't be funding the return flights on holidays when there's much more important, and urgent, infrastructure that goes under funded for all, and more vulnerable, Australians right here in Australia.

        In the same way there's nothing stopping the Federal Government from giving Qantas a bunch of tax payer's money, there's nothing stopping the Federal Government giving state healthcare more money to be used for ambulances.

        It's time for all levels of ALP to actually start taking care of Australian workers instead of just talking about it and pulling political stunts, like free flights and e-scooter rebates.

        • gamemaster on 05/10/2024 - 13:22

          But it highlights you are picking and choosing your outrage based on politics and ideology. What you might think is appropriate government expenditure would be considered inappropriate for others.
          Where do you draw the line?

          Should people who go to Bali get drunk and have a scooter accident be given any financial assistance from the government if they chose not to take out travel insurance which is recommended?

          Should people who choose to smoke or drink excessive amounts of alcohol or illicit drugs get healthcare when they decide to ignore the warnings about its harms?

          Should taxpayers fund disaster recovery for people who chose to live in high risk areas such as bushfire prone land or near flood prone areas?

          It’s a slippery slope argument when you pick and chose what’s appropriate when a person decides on making a life choice that can impact themselves.

          At the end of the day these are people like you and me, sometimes they make bad choices but I do not see the merit in abandoning them or punishing them further.

          • besttechadvisor on 05/10/2024 - 13:39
            +3

            @gamemaster:

            But it highlights you are picking and choosing your outrage based on politics and ideology.

            No, I'm not. I'm pointing out the inconsistencies in the government's logic/stunts.

            What you might think is appropriate government expenditure would be considered inappropriate for others.

            Sure, everyone does that. But this isn't a debate in a vacuum.

            Where do you draw the line?

            Where I draw the line doesn't really matter. That the line I draw actually forms a line is more important.

            Charging for ambulances but giving free flights doesn't form a line, and definitely not a straight one - it's a cross over ambulances and a circle around a political stunt.

            Should people who go to Bali get drunk and have a scooter accident be given any financial assistance from the government if they chose not to take out travel insurance which is recommended?

            Personal opinion: of course not.

            Objectively: it's ridiculous for taxpayers to fund drunken holidays while ambulances are charged for.

            Should people who choose to smoke or drink excessive amounts of alcohol or illicit drugs get healthcare when they decide to ignore the warnings about its harms?

            Should taxpayers fund disaster recovery for people who chose to live in high risk areas such as bushfire prone land or near flood prone areas?

            It’s a slippery slope argument when you pick and chose what’s appropriate when a person decides on making a life choice that can impact themselves.

            Personal opinion: they should be taxed at point of sales to compensate for the likely increased burden they place on public healthcare.

            Objectively: lifestyle choices over decades is much harder to account for than flying into a warzone.

            At the end of the day these are people like you and me, sometimes they make bad choices but I do not see the merit in abandoning them or punishing them further.

            Personal opinion: these people shouldn't be abandoned, and I never advocated for that. They did have to pay for return flights eventually anyway, so they should pay for these ones as well, just like I have to pay for a damn ambulance.

            Objectively: no one's saying we should abandon people who fall down a staircase either, but we still charge them for their ambulance ride.

            • Clarky77 on 05/10/2024 - 14:33

              @besttechadvisor: Very well said!
              Well done for taking the time/effort to break it down, this is what can be lacking these days and is often why bad decisions are made, people who are passionate make a lot of noise while generally pragmatic, moral, thinking people sit on the sidelines.
              The antidote to free speech is more speech, speak up people no matter how insignificant it may be to yourself, if it provokes an internal response then try to voice it because it’s highly likely there are many others who agree.
              I don’t think anyone would be against everyone having unlimited incomes and unlimited services if we had limitless resources but that isn’t the world we live in so we need to limit the burden on government/society, if however you feel compelled to assist someone yourself you are always welcome to donate money/services but just because you think something should be free doesn’t mean it should be publicly funded.

            • gamemaster on 05/10/2024 - 20:34
              +1

              @besttechadvisor: If free ambulance is a very important issue for you as it seems by your posts, you could raise it as an issue with your member of state parliament. It would be a cause I would get behind too in the most part with strict criteria. In the mean time you can ensure your PHI has ambulance cover if you are concerned with the cost of having to call an ambulance to a hospital.

              Sometimes arguing for a benefit you want is better time spent than arguing to remove a benefit for someone else.

              With regards for your desire for universal free ambulance services, we also don’t want a situation where people call ambulance services as a free alternative to using private or public transport for non emergencies. That would not be a good use of funding from that states, health costs can easily blow up. The NDIS being a prime example of how a scheme with positive intentions can end up with massive cost growth.

              • besttechadvisor on 05/10/2024 - 21:17
                +6

                @gamemaster: I'm well aware our discussion is not going to reform policy.

                I feel you've missed my point. I never actually said whether I support free ambulances in any case, let alone universally.

                My only point was that the Government is incredibly inconsistent, and the inconsistency is evidence that these "free" flights are yet another political stunt rather than genuine policy.

                Most likely to win over Lebanese/Arab/Muslim voters with this specific stunt while generally backing Israel (and, therefore, Israel's war).

                The reason I care about this point, rather than trying to gain more benefits for myself, is that this amounts to pork barreling and is a symptom of a deeper issue.

                Just like giving rebates for e-scooters (politically stunt) instead of building a proper public transport system (good policy).

                It's not where the line that is drawn that I'm complaining about right now, I'm mad that there's not really a line at all. Talking my member of Parliament won't change that.

    • Telios on 05/10/2024 - 13:07

      People do this sort of thing though.

      It's called disaster tourism.

      There was a famous video years ago of a guy saying he visits places after major terrorist incidents for pennies because the industry is collapsing.

      • besttechadvisor on 05/10/2024 - 13:14
        +5

        I've actually got an old friend who has been reporting on Ukraine since about 2016. I've got nothing against go into disaster zones.

        In fact, I fully support the good work he's doing, but he can pay for his own flight home when things get hairy.

        • johnfuller on 09/10/2024 - 10:53

          look at lebanon, usual flight price to australia is 1k, when israel started bombing, the tickets were 23k, how will you get back now?

          • besttechadvisor on 09/10/2024 - 13:08
            +2

            @johnfuller: I never said we should allow people to be extorted, I just said that it's a political stunt that it's free. If the Government charged them the usual flight price, then that would've been perfectly fair.

            Didn't necessarily have to be charged up-front, didn't even have to be applied to everyone equally, but free flights for people who can afford to fly to Dubai (as per pictures in the media) while regular Aussies have to pay for ambulances is insanely inconsistent from ALP.

            Qantas can also take some responsibility. Most of these people should've already had return flights booked, which Qantas would no-doubt have cancelled most of, so Qantas should've been offering to credit those tickets towards these earlier flights.

            • johnfuller on 09/10/2024 - 13:56
              -1

              @besttechadvisor: why should qantas take some responsibility?

              your saying that people boarding should pay to come back home, but if you apply it here, you must apply it to every scenario, so looking at other flights offered by government in the past, how would you feel others were free but now you have to pay, but now it looks like its only applied to this flight because its lebanon or the lebanese?

              • besttechadvisor on 09/10/2024 - 14:11
                +2

                @johnfuller:

                why should qantas take some responsibility?

                Because they will be cancelling flights, having taken their money and left people stranded.

                looking at other flights offered by government in the past, how would you feel others were free but now you have to pay … only applied to this flight because its lebanon or the lebanese?

                So, because we've done something wrong in the past, we should continue with it because of the optics?

                If so, that's part of the problem - this is marketing.

                I wouldn't have agreed with it if were Aussies in Thailand, Bali, Ukraine, etc. Speaking of Ukraine, I'm struggling to find any free flights for Aussies out of Ukraine, and that was a much bigger invasion.

                • johnfuller on 11/10/2024 - 10:03
                  -1

                  @besttechadvisor: your knowledge is poor, qantas doesnt fly to Beirut, its Emirates that handles those flights.

                  the Ukraine situation is different, russia didnt take over the airport, nor did they bomb it, nor where they anywhere near it

                  are you aware israel wanted to bomb the airport which is why they stopped all flights?

                  here is a history of rescue flights

                  1954: Operation Passage to Freedom: RAAF transport aircraft helped evacuate thousands of refugees from North Vietnam to South Vietnam after the First Indochina War.
                  1975: Operation Babylift: RAAF assisted in the evacuation of orphaned babies from Saigon during the fall of South Vietnam.
                  1999: INTERFET peacekeeping force in East Timor: RAAF aircraft played a crucial role in evacuating civilians and delivering humanitarian aid during the unrest in East Timor.
                  2002: Bali Bombings: RAAF transported injured Australians back home for medical treatment following the terrorist attacks in Bali.
                  2004: Indian Ocean Tsunami: Australia launched a major humanitarian response, with RAAF aircraft delivering aid and evacuating people from affected areas.
                  2011: Christchurch Earthquake: RAAF assisted with the evacuation of Australians and provided support to New Zealand following the devastating earthquake.
                  2021: Kabul Airlift: RAAF evacuated Australian citizens and Afghan visa holders from Kabul during the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

                  • besttechadvisor on 11/10/2024 - 12:05
                    +1

                    @johnfuller:

                    see how you there is a qantas plane in Beirut, thats not normal, they never travel to these locations

                    It's beside my point, but we can argue this anyway… You can book flights to Beirut from Qantas that will have a stopover. These bookings would have been cancelled as the final leg of the flight would've been cancelled by the relevant airline. Qantas, being responsible for the booking, should… "take some responsibility" for the booking.

                    the Ukraine situation is different, russia didnt take over the airport, nor did they bomb it, nor where they anywhere near it.

                    Russia tried to invade Kyiv but failed. So no, in that respect, it's not different, except that Israel is more successful than Russia.

                    In reality, the situation in Ukraine was much worse for fleeing Australians because it happened with much less warning. DFAT has been telling Australians to leave Lebanon for months as it's been entirely obvious that the conflict was going to spill over.

                    Australians in Ukraine = caught by surprise = I can't find any flights
                    Australians in Lebanon = took risk knowingly = free flights from the Government in attempt to win back Muslim voters while still supporting Israel's war

                    Are you aware israel wanted to bomb the airport which is why they stopped all flights?

                    Ukranian airspace is still closed two years later. Here's a list airports Russia's attacked, according to Chat GPT:

                    Boryspil International Airport (Kyiv) – One of the largest and busiest airports in Ukraine, located near the capital, Kyiv. It was targeted early in the war to disable air traffic and prevent foreign aid from arriving.

                    Antonov Airport (Hostomel) – A strategic military airfield located northwest of Kyiv, attacked during the first phase of the war. Russian forces attempted to seize it to establish an air bridge for moving troops and supplies but faced stiff Ukrainian resistance.

                    Ivano-Frankivsk International Airport – Located in western Ukraine, this airport was attacked in missile strikes aimed at disabling Ukraine’s air defence and disrupting civilian flights.

                    Lviv International Airport – Lviv, located near the Polish border in western Ukraine, has been targeted by missile strikes aimed at destroying military infrastructure.

                    Odesa International Airport – The port city of Odesa has been repeatedly hit by Russian missile strikes, including its airport, targeting its military and logistic capacity.

                    Mykolaiv Airport – This southern Ukrainian airport has been targeted multiple times as Mykolaiv has been a key battleground in southern Ukraine.

                    Vinnytsia Airport – Located in central Ukraine, it was hit by Russian missile strikes in the early stages of the war.

                    Dnipropetrovsk International Airport (Dnipro) – This airport in eastern Ukraine has been targeted by missile strikes, significantly damaging the facility.

                    Zhuliany Airport (Kyiv International Airport) – Another airport in Kyiv that has been targeted during the war, though not as frequently as Boryspil.

                    Kharkiv International Airport – In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, which has been under heavy bombardment, the airport has also been a target.

  • EFC94 on 05/10/2024 - 12:22
    -4

    Laughing at everyone crying about why the taxpayer should need to pay for this, just wait till you find out what the previous Liberal Government wasted money on over the past however many years. This is pocket change in comparison.

    • umoddbro on 05/10/2024 - 12:36
      +11

      It's not about the money, it's about sending a message. We're paying for people's bad life decisions doesn't matter if it's $1 or $1 million why should we?

      • EFC94 on 05/10/2024 - 12:50
        -1

        Could argue the exact same thing, why should I as a taxpayer need to pay for someones bad life decisions in voting for a Liberal government?

        By extension of that, people drink alcohol, eat a garbage diet, smoke cigarettes and vape, these all have a negative impact on the health of whoever is consuming it, yet the taxpayer is still expected to foot the bill via Medicare. There's so many things Governments "waste" money on, its quite hypocritical to just whinge about particular things.

        • infinite on 05/10/2024 - 14:52

          Most people have common sense and are of the opinion that taxpayers shouldn't be footing the bill for any of that.

      • johnfuller on 09/10/2024 - 13:58

        bad life decisions? why start here? why not charge people more that make bad health decisions ?

    • Clarky77 on 05/10/2024 - 12:56
      +2

      Yes great argument, the last government wasted money on stupid shit so how dare you criticise the current governments stupid spending.
      That’s what good government is all about, making sure you remember every dodgy thing that’s ever done so that you can use it as a precedent to justify ever increasing wasteful spending.
      Personally I think the government should give every citizen a no-show $150k p/year job, it’s disgraceful that in 2024 people have to work to enjoy a middle class existence. Work should be optional, vote for me!

      • CyberMurning on 05/10/2024 - 13:08
        +3

        Yeah no matter which side take control every government will be remembered for their bad things, its impossible to make everyone happy, not even god can do that

    • BinSimmons on 07/10/2024 - 19:49

      Anyone who doesnt think both sides of the aisle constantly waste taxpayer money is delusional. Labor do it, liberal do it & the other parties like the greens do it from purely existing.

      Its just Labor seem to be a tad more laxed when it comes to tightening the purse strings. Im pretty sure the average Australian taxpayer could think of at least 10 things they'd like to see tax money spent on instead of $600 million going to Papua New Guinea to establish a rugby team.

      I just think that since they all do it that we just call a spade a spade & when they announce some huge spending proposal they have to include the little disclaimer that this proposal is intend to garner favour & ideally buy votes from <insert minority/special interest group name here>

  • Robmatho on 05/10/2024 - 12:42
    +13

    This is not a 'deal' and has no place being on Ozbargain..

    • WhatsThisThenSlaat on 05/10/2024 - 13:01
      +2

      Yeah Rob you tell them, we came for eneloops not loop holes 🤣🤣

    • Mike Nolan on 08/10/2024 - 18:44
      +5

      Agreed, one has to question the motives of these “Australians” currently in Lebanon. Seems a fairly desperate attempt to win back some of the Muslim vote if you ask me.

  • Sylke on 05/10/2024 - 13:29
    +1

    Fine and eloquent exchanges,all. Smartraveller has had the warnings up for ages. I guess you must make of that what you will. Womp womp. Aboriginal Australians may have been the sole occupiers of these lands for 49800 years womp womp. In the absence of superior military might Qantas could provide flights for approximately 25,000,000 people back to their counties of origin. All of this is based in fact and can be validated by scholars of the Bible, the Torah and the Korana/Quran (and all their associated texts) all documents that accurately reflect the truthful position of gods intention, dutifully recorded thousands of years ago and clearly justifying all holy actions being undertaken today, along with space travel, the internet and driverless cars. Rock on organised religion and more power to you intellectual giants that combat the gritty landscape of conflict within Ozbargain.
    I guess it’s a bargain if you consider a life has value, but not all lives have value, do they? womp womp

  • browser on 05/10/2024 - 13:45
    +5

    The government has been issuing travel warnings for months, tax payers should not be funding this type of repatriation flights, or should be very selective on case by case basis.

    Pandemic time was different, especially during early phases, travellers were genuinely stuck without prior knowledge.

    Assisted flights should still be made available but with pay later options, to be collected by state revenue offices or instalments from welfare payments.

  • alayne on 05/10/2024 - 14:36
    +3

    Why is this being downvoted 😭

    • Hawk Tuah on 05/10/2024 - 17:04
      +1

      Same reason you have unhinged posters with 50+ comments in this one thread :)

  • browser on 05/10/2024 - 14:41
    +6

    Free repatriation flights set bad precedents, they tell people that when situation is dire enough there will be free flights home, until then it's all good on the ground.

  • Jake17 on 05/10/2024 - 15:25
    +3

    These posts should be locked from comments immediately. Because people will always start spewing hatred whenever there are posts like these

    • Telstra2G on 05/10/2024 - 20:16

      Maybe shouldn't allow to post this or just put it in the discussion part?

      This is borderlining a Tesla RRP "deal".

    • infinite on 05/10/2024 - 21:35
      -1

      Why come in here and spew hatred by gaslighting the users here then?

      Why not be the solution instead of the problem ?

  • DrScavenger on 05/10/2024 - 15:42

    So many bad takes and false equivalences.

    • johnfuller on 11/10/2024 - 09:59
      -1

      so many rednecks, if only they knew where their tax dollars were spent they would see this as a drop in the ocean

      • DrScavenger on 11/10/2024 - 12:43
        -1

        Whenever anyone complains about petty stuff like this just bring the submarine deal and how much we are giving to American Military industrial complex. It's not even Australian!

  • Jamie777 on 05/10/2024 - 15:52
    +2

    When I obtained citizenship (my previous country doesn’t allow dual citizenship, so I renounced it), I took an oath to serve and help other Australians with a sense of mateship, and I have been doing so for decades. However, it saddens me to see many negative comments here that many native Australians don’t seem to agree with this.

    • gromit on 07/10/2024 - 08:28
      +7

      I think people are just fed up with stupidity and expecting to be bailed out. Whether that is getting arrested in a foreign country for breaking their laws and wanting the government to get them out, having an accident with no travel insurance and expecting the government or go fund me to bail them out or as in this case travelling to a foreign country the government has been advising DON'T go there or Leave immediately for months and once again expecting the Australian taxpayers to pick up the bill for ignoring the sane advise. I am all for helping out a fellow human (Aussie or otherwise), yet there are so many that are in bad situations both at home and abroad through no fault of there own that should come before people that got themselves into these situations because they ignored all warnings.

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