Howard apologises to Australians stranded in New Orleans

John Howard

CANBERRA - Prime Minister John Howard has apologised to Australians stranded in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans but denies his government could have done more to rescue them.

Angry tourists and their families have slammed the government's response to their plight, with the first Australian consular official only allowed into the disaster zone today -- a week after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city.

Grave fears are held for two Australian men -- a 30-year-old Victorian and a 75-year-old dual national living in New Orleans -- who have not been able to be contacted.

A further 15 Australians are also believed to still be in the area, but more than 30 have made it to safety.

Brisbane man Peter McNeil, whose son John was trapped in the increasingly lawless and fetid city for several days, says Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's staff were rude to his family and hung up on Queensland senator Ron Boswell when he tried to plead their case.

"Senator Boswell was really angry, and we had the same treatment," Mr McNeil told Radio National.

"His (Mr Downer's) staff just were not interested in helping us one iota."

And Brisbane woman Fiona Seidel, who was also stranded in New Orleans, said Mr Howard had abandoned her.

"I'm a good Australian. I pay my taxes. I work. I own a home. I do the right thing. I don't commit crimes. And he pretty much wasn't there for me when I needed him," Ms Seidel said.

But Mr Howard said the criticism of his government and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) staff was misplaced and unfair.

"If she feels that the government has in some way failed her, I apologise to her, because we never like to fail those who we are charged to represent," Mr Howard told parliament.

"But can I say that her criticism, however understood and however well-intentioned, is misplaced and ... unfair.

"If any Australian feels that the government let them down I regret that."

Mr Downer said Australian officials had been kept out of the disaster zone for days by local officials, who were not allowing consular officials from any foreign countries into the area.

He said diplomats had exerted as much pressure as they could, ringing US officials every four hours in an attempt to be allowed in to help the Australians.

The Australian allowed in today, accompanied by a British official, was the first consular official from any country to visit the scene, Mr Downer said.

"We need to understand that we are, unfortunately, constrained by the laws and rules of a foreign country," he told parliament.

"We certainly would not want to put more Australians into a position of danger by flouting local laws."

But Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said the government had turned its back on Australians in need.

He said diplomats and defence officials in the United States should have been able to talk their way into the disaster zone to rescue the Australians -- or should have ignored the warnings and gone in anyway.

"You don't just stop because you have met your first barrier. When Australian lives are at risk you don't allow yourself to be tied up by red tape," he told reporters.

"You have got your special mates in your equivalent defence forces in the US. You ring up your special mates and you jump on a chopper."

But Mr Howard said the idea was ridiculous.

"The idea that you could have the military personnel of a range of foreign countries operating independently within the United States to rescue their own foreign nationals is a recipe for chaos and potentially for bloodshed," he said.

- AAP