STATEMENTS ON INDULGENCE
Mr THISTLETHWAITE (Kingsford Smith—Assistant Minister for Immigration and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade) (19:17): On behalf of the people of Kingsford Smith, I expressed our sincerest condolences and sympathies to those affected by the catastrophic flooding and landslides in Nepal and Tibet, China. The disaster has caused immense loss of life, widespread disruption and profound grief across both nations.
Entire communities have been devastated. Families are waiting anxiously for news of loved ones. Rescue workers continue to operate in conditions that are dangerous, unpredictable and physically demanding.
Australia stands with Nepal and China at this difficult time. We stand with the families of the missing. We stand with the communities who are grieving, rebuilding and supporting one another through unimaginable hardship.
The government's focus is on the welfare of Australians caught up in this disaster and on supporting Nepal and China as they respond to an event of extraordinary scale. Thirty-five Australians remain unaccounted for in the affected region. There was some good news this afternoon with an eighth Australian making contact with DFAT.
We remain very concerned for those who are unaccounted for. Australian officials are working around the clock, getting as close to the affected areas as conditions will allow and liaising with local authorities, tour operators and community leaders. The circumstances are extremely challenging.
Roads have been blocked or washed away. Homes and infrastructure have been destroyed. Telecommunications and power networks have been knocked out, and in many areas access is only possible by air.
Despite these obstacles, our officials are pushing forward with determination and professionalism. Yesterday, on Nepal's national day of mourning, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister expressed their condolences in parliament, and I was proud to sign the condolence book at the Nepalese Embassy on behalf of the Australian government. Australia has already deployed 49 extra personnel to Nepal to support the crisis response.
The deployments include 15 drone operators with disaster assistance response, as well as AFP disaster victim identification teams. The personnel also include those with specialist skills in humanitarian assessment, logistics, communications and planning. The extraordinary scale of this disaster, the conditions on the ground and the remoteness of the affected region mean there are immense challenges for rescue and recovery efforts.
Our government has done everything it can to support the humanitarian response. We've committed $11 million to this response. The Australian public have also shown extraordinary generosity, with more than $4 million being donated to the emergency action appeal.
It builds on Australia's long history of support for Nepal during times of crisis, including the response that was provided to the 2015 earthquakes. We're also working closely with Chinese authorities on the Tibetan side of the border. Our embassy in Beijing, led by our ambassador, Scott Dewar, is in regular contact with China's officials.
We've offered assistance and, whilst China has indicated they can manage the response at this stage, they've expressed appreciation for Australia's support. Communication difficulties across the region, caused by damaged infrastructure, have made information flows challenging, but our officials are doing everything possible to obtain accurate updates. Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has reported more than 1,300 confirmed deaths and nearly 5,000 people missing, including 587 foreign nationals.
China's official figures also reflect significant loss of life and large numbers of missing persons. These numbers are heartbreaking. They underscore the magnitude of the challenge ahead.
In times like these, the strength of international cooperation becomes clear. Rescue teams, governments, NGOs and communities are working together across borders, languages and landscapes, and Australia is proud to contribute to that effort. Here in Australia, the impact of the disaster is being felt deeply within the Nepalese and Tibetan communities.
Last week I hosted a series of online round tables with community leaders to provide updates, answer questions and offer Australia's support. The distress within these communities is profound. Many have family and friends in the affected areas.
Many are waiting for news. Many are supporting one another through fear, uncertainty and grief. I attended a vigil in Strathfield with members of the Nepalese community to express our solidarity and unity.
It was a moving and solemn gathering. It was a reminder of the strength, resilience and compassion that define our multicultural communities. Sydney is home to one of Australia's largest Nepalese diaspora communities.
Local leaders and members of parliament, including the member for Barton, the member for Banks and the member for Reid, are providing support, coordinating information and ensuring people have access to counselling and assistance. To all Nepalese and Tibetan Australians, I say: please know that Australia stands with you. We offer you our support, our solidarity and our friendship.
You are not alone during this difficult time. To the families of the missing, I say: we know this is an agonising time. We know the uncertainty is unbearable.
We know that every hour feels like a day. Please know that Australia is doing everything possible to locate your loved ones. To Australians in Nepal and Tibet, China, I say: follow the advice of local authorities and stay informed and in contact with DFAT.
To the people of Nepal and China, I say: we will stand with you in the months ahead as your communities rebuild. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mr Wilkie ): I thank the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and I take this opportunity to acknowledge the assistant minister's efforts, as well as those of the PMO, to keep all honourable members, including the crossbench, informed.
Federation Chamber adjourned at 19:24