PM hopes to repatriate 26,000 stranded Aussies by Christmas

Scott Morrison has repeated his goal of returning 26,000 Australians home by Christmas as the first Qantas repatriation flight since the beginning of the pandemic landed in Darwin. After another self-funded charter flight was approved -- and then cancelled without explanation -- the Queensland and federal governments say getting 40 'vulnerable' travellers home from Laos is now their top priority.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks after the national cabinet meeting, at Parliament House in Canberra Source: AAP