Evacuation flights for Aussies in New Caledonia get green light

The federal government has received the green light to send two evacuation flights to New Caledonia to bring Australians home after rioting engulfed the French territory.

Six people have died in the rioting that began last week, while the country's international airport has also been shut down.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong had previously said the Australian Defence Force was ready to fly to the Pacific archipelago to pick up any Australians wanting to leave, and today announced the government had received the go-ahead for the repatriation flights.

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"We've received clearance for two Australian government assisted-departure flights today for Australian and other tourists to depart New Caledonia," she said.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is contacting registered Australians. Passengers are being prioritised based on need.

"We continue to work on further flights."

https://twitter.com/SenatorWong/status/1792713702933967082

Any Australians in New Caledonia who wish to leave have been encouraged to register with DFAT.

About 300 have already registered as of yesterday.

The rioting broke out last week in response to reforms passed in Paris that allow recent arrivals to the French overseas territory to vote in local provincial elections – a move some local leaders fear will weaken the say of the indigenous Kanak people.

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The indigenous population accounts for around 40 per cent of New Caledonia's 270,000 total inhabitants, and many have called for independence from France.

Three referendums on the topic have been held since 2018, with the pro-independence vote falling short on each occasion – although it boycotted the most recent poll in 2021.

A state of emergency in response to the unrest was declared on Wednesday, and France sent an extra 1000 security reinforcements to the territory to quell the violence.

While the worst of the rioting appears to be over, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal yesterday said "we are still a way off a return to normal".