Government’s rush to get stranded Australians home from New Caledonia

Hundreds of Australians have been rescued from riot-stricken New Caledonia, while the government walks a fine line of diplomacy.

The Australian government’s efforts to rescue the remaining stranded Aussies stuck in New Caledonia, as riots continue across the French territory, has been a difficult tightrope to walk alongside diplomatic tensions between China and the West.

Usually, the idyllic Pacific island is the perfect spot for Aussies to holiday, but hundreds have been caught up in violent riots for almost two weeks.

At least six people have died since the fighting broke out, with escalating tension forcing the French government to close the Noumea International Airport.

Barricades that have been set up in Noumea, New Caledonia following protests. Picture: Supplied

Australians have been told to stay inside as barricades have been placed around the capital, with many having limited access to food and medicine as looters and vandals took over the city.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade successfully evacuated 108 Australians on Tuesday, while a third French-organised flight carrying 89 stranded Aussies and dozens of citizens from other nations landed in Brisbane on Wednesday.

A French Gendarmerie armoured vehicle was spotted manoeuvring through burnt out vehicles on a highway on the outskirts of Noumea. Picture: AFP via NewsWire

People have been trying to protect their suburbs from the recent riots in New Caledonia. Picture: Supplied

Efforts to repatriate the remaining Australians wanting to come home were paused on Thursday after French President Emmanuel Macron touched down in Noumea.

More Australians were due to leave Noumea as the government continued to work on organising further flights to assist the remaining stranded citizens.

Some 300 Australians initially registered their interest to leave New Caledonia with DFAT.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said passengers were being prioritised based on need.

108 Australians and other tourists landed in Brisbane on two Australian Government assisted-departure flights from New Caledonia on Tuesday. Picture: Supplied/NewsWire

More passengers arrived into Brisbane on a French Government flight from Noumea on Wednesday. Picture: AFP via NewsWire

Conflicting tensions in the Pacific

Monash University fellow in history Nicholas Ferns told NewsWire the escalating tensions in New Caledonia a multifaceted event stemmed from the decision by the French National Assembly to allow people who have lived on the Pacific island for more than a decade the right to vote.

Dr Ferns said Australia’s relationship with France is playing a huge role in how the government responds to the riots and its efforts to rescue stranded Aussies.

“It’s coming at a time where Australia is trying to rehabilitate the France relationship after the France submarine deal and AUKUS,” he said. 

Stranded Australians were grateful to be home safe this week after riots broke out in New Caledonia. Picture: AFP via NewsWire

“One of the factors is there’s a strategic element because New Caledonia is the fourth highest provider of nickel, which is used to make batteries for electric vehicles.

“France is a much more powerful country.

“Australia has to be respectful whereas Australia can dictate to other Pacific Island countries that are independent and sovereign.”

Dr Ferns said despite Australia being the geographical leader in terms of its position in the Pacific, the government is also being cautious in its response to how France is handling the ongoing crisis in Noumea because of China’s interest in the region.

“It’s a kind of acknowledgment of the western powers in the region, there is this big fear that China is starting to get involved in the area,” he said.

“But the local (Pacific island) leaders are less concerned in China.

“They’re happy to work with China, they’re not worried about the geopolitics of it all.”

More than 600 heavily armed gendarmes were deployed to secure Route Territoriale 1, the main north-south artery connecting the capital with the rest of the island. Picture: AFP via NewsWire

What sparked the riots

In 1998, France signed the Noumea Accord, which provided an increase in political power to New Caledonia and its indigenous population, the Kanaks.

Dr Ferns said those in favour of pro-independence from France have been expressing disappointment in the system for decades.

“While the riots were sparked by the decision to amend voting laws, which were perceived as strengthening anti-independence interests, they reflect the longer history of tensions associated with French colonialism in the Pacific,” he said.

“Economic inequality is a major problem in New Caledonia, and the divisions between the Indigenous Kanak population and European population have simmered for decades.”

A French Government flight was authorised to leave Noumea to travel to Brisbane International Airport carrying stranded Australians. Picture: AFP via NewsWire

But Dr Ferns said the latest decision in Paris has angered the pro-independence movement in the Pacific island nation.

“There is a bit of generational divide,” he said.

“Part of what explains the extreme reaction is that there is a generation that is now born after an agreement made in the late 90s, which this (latest) decision has overridden.

“These are people who are not benefiting from French colonialism and the latest French reform, which is the change to the voting rules, is kind of the spark.”

Australia’s continued efforts to rescue stranded citizens

The French Government must give clearance for DFAT to rescue those remaining Australians.

Ms Wong has been working with the French government and DFAT to ensure those remaining Australians hoping to return home can do so safely.

“The Australian Government stands ready to assist more tourists out of New Caledonia and has planes ready to fly,” Ms Wong said on Thursday.

Senator Penny Wong says the government is working with France to repatriate the remaining Australians stranded in Noumea. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“We have not been given clearances for additional flights. We know this is frustrating for the Australians who remain.

“We are working to ensure flights (on Friday).

“We are also working with local authorities on travel arrangements for Australians on outer islands.

“DFAT will continue to update registered Australians directly.”

Speaking in Noumea, Mr Macron said he planned to delay the voting reforms that sparked the riots until peace had returned to New Caledonia.