Garpal Gumnut
Ross Island Hotel
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Does anyone have any thoughts on the following , ABC today from Senate estimates committee.?
Govt unlikely to recover Lebanese evacuation expenses
The Federal Government spent more than $30 million evacuating Australians from Lebanon during the conflict with Israel last year, but says it is unlikely to get much of the money back.
A Parliamentary hearing has been told the cost of evacuating people by sea from Beruit topped $10 million, while others were flown back to Australia and put up in emergency accommodation on Cyprus.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman Rod Smith says efforts are now under way to recoup some of the money from people who had travel insurance or dual nationality.
But he says the department only expects to get hundreds of thousands of dollars back, rather than millions.
"Individuals were caught up in extraordinarily difficult circumstances and it was seen as very much a reflection of the Government's consular role for those costs to be covered by the Government," he said.
Govt unlikely to recover Lebanese evacuation expenses
The Federal Government spent more than $30 million evacuating Australians from Lebanon during the conflict with Israel last year, but says it is unlikely to get much of the money back.
A Parliamentary hearing has been told the cost of evacuating people by sea from Beruit topped $10 million, while others were flown back to Australia and put up in emergency accommodation on Cyprus.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman Rod Smith says efforts are now under way to recoup some of the money from people who had travel insurance or dual nationality.
But he says the department only expects to get hundreds of thousands of dollars back, rather than millions.
"Individuals were caught up in extraordinarily difficult circumstances and it was seen as very much a reflection of the Government's consular role for those costs to be covered by the Government," he said.