,The French authorities have been providing us with regular updates. The situation is really worrying“, announced Anthony Albanese on Australian television ABC.
The government chief said Canberra has identified 300 Australians who have shown a desire to leave New Caledonia, where all flights have been suspended since Tuesday.
Australia and New Zealand requested archipelago authorities over the weekend to allow them to land planes to repatriate their citizens.
Albanese said, “The Australian Air Force is certainly ready to fly (…). The situation on the ground prevents flights at the moment, but we continue to request authorization.”
Riots in New Caledonia left five people dead following the presentation of a new bill adopted in Paris, which stipulates that French residents living in the archipelago for ten years are authorized to vote in local elections.
Local political leaders, including independence supporters, fear the new measure will weaken New Caledonia’s forces.
French authorities on Saturday night announced the dispatch of 600 additional forces to New Caledonia, in addition to the more than 2,700 already deployed in the Pacific archipelago.
