“All of our ships have arrived at this point in time, but we’ve had a surge in demand, which is leading to some shortages in some areas, particularly of diesel.”
Plans are also in progress to digitise more than 60,000 Girmit records and establish a dedicated museum to preserve this history for future generations.
The online petition, signed by nearly 50,000 people, many of whom are residents of PIF countries, was presented to the current foreign minister and leader of NZ First, Winston Peters.
Parts of northern Australia are battling record-breaking floods, after heavy rain caused major rivers across Queensland and the Northern Territory to break their banks.
The spokesperson, who requested anonymity, described the situation as unprecedented in their two decades of diplomatic service and said efforts were under way to have the individuals identified and returned to India.
Authorities have reiterated warnings to travellers about the risks of carrying items on behalf of others, noting those caught importing illicit drugs into Australia face serious criminal penalties.
