STATEMENTS

Senator SCARR (Queensland) (10:50): I too rise to support this condolence motion. Let me say at the outset that it is a great sign of respect and affection for our wonderful Nepalese Australian community that the first item of business of this Senate as it returns after the disaster that happened in Tibet and Nepal is this condolence motion, and that is fit and proper.

On 30 August 2026, I attended a candlelight vigil which was hosted by the Nepalese Association of Queensland in King George Square, in my home state of Queensland. Also in attendance were my friends from the other side of politics the Hon. Milton Dick MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Hon.

Shayne Neumann, who's the federal member for Blair. All three of us, as federal representatives, were there in solidarity with our wonderful Nepalese Australian community, and all three of us have in the past attended festivals and celebrations which have been hosted by the Nepalese community of Queensland. These include traditional celebrations and sports days involving family members.

We've seen the Nepalese Queensland community at times that have been happy and joyous, with a welcome extended to everyone in the community to participate in their festivals. So it was fit and proper that we be there with the Nepalese Queensland community in their time of need. The Nepalese Australian community is part of the Australian story.

They are part of the Australian story and they make a wonderful contribution to our country through their small businesses; through their employment and professions, working in our aged-care homes as nurses and in our hospitals; through their community sponsorships; and through opening up their hearts to everyone in the Australian community. They're really a great blessing for our Australian community.

So now is the time for the Australian community to wrap its arms around our Nepalese Australian community. We are there for you, we are there with you, we feel your pain and we are here to give our Nepalese Australian community all of the support we possibly can. I'd like to commend the government on the contributions it has made in terms of both financial support and on-the-ground support in trying to find as many survivors as possible in the aftermath of these horrific events.

I would like to put something on the record as part of this condolence motion—the words of a leader of the Nepalese Queensland community. These are the words of Mr Tikaram Sarma, president of the Nepalese Association of Queensland: EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION On behalf of the Nepalese Association of Queensland (NAQ)and the Nepalese community across Queensland and Australia, I sincerely thank everyone who stood with us during the Candlelight Vigils for Nepal in Brisbane and across Australia.

We are deeply grateful to the Australian Government, governments at all levels, emergency services, multicultural communities and the wider Australian community for their compassion, solidarity and support. We also sincerely appreciate the financial, logistical and technological assistance, as well as the support of expert rescue personnel sent to Nepal to assist those affected by this devastating disaster.

At a time of great sorrow and uncertainty, your kindness and solidarity reminded us that we are not alone. We respectfully appeal to the Australian Government to consider extending technical and financial assistance to support Nepal's recovery and reconstruction once the immediate rescue and relief efforts are complete. Thank you for standing with Nepal and our community.

Sincerely, Tikaram Sarma President Nepalese Association of Queensland Inc. ( N AQ) You can donate to the recovery efforts through the Nepalese Association of Queensland, and I've put a link on my website to their fundraising efforts. Lastly, I want to commend the leadership of the Nepalese Australian community, including Tikaram.

In many cases they have loved ones who they have not heard from. They're not sure what has happened to their own loved ones but, at the same time, they're providing support to members of their own community and reaching out to other parts of the Australian community. So my deepest, deepest respects go to Tikaram and to all the other leaders of the Nepalese community.