STATEMENTS
Senator DARMANIN (Victoria—Deputy Government Whip in the Senate) (10:28): I rise today to offer my condolences arising from the devastating floods and landslides that have affected communities across Nepal, Tibet and parts of China. My thoughts are with the families of the 36 Australians who remain unaccounted for following this disaster. While six Australians who were missing have now been found safe, there are still dozens of families waiting for answers, and the uncertainty they face is unimaginable.
This is an extremely distressing time, and every hour that passes it only gets harder. This tragedy is being felt particularly strongly in my own community of Glenroy. Glenroy is the home to Victoria's largest Nepali community, some of whom I'm lucky enough to call my friends.
The raw heartbreak of this disaster is being felt right across our community. Many families are searching for answers right now and have spent the past weeks desperately trying to contact loved ones or searching for information about family members in affected areas. Across our community, there is an enormous sense of grief, anxiety and uncertainty.
I want the Nepalese Australian community in Glenroy and right across Australia to know that we see your pain and we stand with you. You do not face this difficult time alone. We mourn with you, we hope with you and we will continue to support you.
At least 1,300 people have lost their lives, and thousands more remain missing. Entire communities have been devastated. Homes, roads, bridges and critical infrastructure have been destroyed.
Search and recovery efforts continue under extraordinarily difficult conditions, with damaged communications networks and many areas remaining inaccessible. In the face of this tragedy Australians have shown remarkable generosity. Communities across the country have come together through vigils, fundraising events and community gatherings.
Australians have donated more than $4½ million to the Emergency Action Alliance appeal, with the Australian government matching those donations through a $5 million contribution. That generosity is something we should be proud of and reflects the deep connections that exist between Australia and Nepal, and it reflects the compassion so many Australians feel for those affected.
The Albanese government is continuing to support search, rescue and recovery efforts, and Australian officials in Kathmandu are working around the clock to locate unaccounted-for Australians and to support their families. They are working closely with the Nepali authorities, hospitals, tour operators and emergency services while dedicated case officers continue to provide updates and support next of kin.
Australian crisis response specialists have been deployed to Nepal alongside a disaster assistance response team that includes specialist drone operators from Australian emergency services, and their expertise and technology are assisting Nepali authorities in search and rescue operations. Australia has also provided telecommunications data that may assist in identifying the last known locations of missing Australians.
Beyond the immediate response, Australia has committed $11 million to support urgent relief and recovery, delivering emergency shelter, food assistance, essential health services, hygiene kits, solar lighting and other critical supplies requested by the government of Nepal. Royal Australian Air Force aircraft have delivered almost 24 tonnes of humanitarian supplies to Kathmandu, including solar lights, generators and community support equipment.
Of course these measures are important, but today I want to return to the people at the centre of this tragedy. To every member of the Nepalese Australian community carrying the weight of uncertainty and each of the 36 families waiting for news and to those gathering in prayer, attending vigils and supporting one another through this difficult time: please know that Australia stands with you.
Our thoughts remain with those who are missing, with those who have lost loved ones and with the communities working to recover and rebuild. And to the people of Glenroy and the wider Nepalese community in Victoria and our country: we are thinking of you, we are standing with you and we are hoping alongside you for answers, for healing and for the safe return of those still unaccounted for.