STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator BRAGG (New South Wales) (13:36): The events that we've seen in the past few weeks in Nepal have brought great sadness to many Australians. We have seen that principally emanating from the Nepalese Australian community, which of course is a very large community in our country, and we have very strong people-to-people links with Nepal. Last week I was able to meet with the members of the Nepalese Australian community in south-west Sydney with the Leader of the Opposition, and we were able to hear the ongoing problems facing the people of Nepal—struggling to find victims, trying to get the right health care and the right energy and other resources to bear that are needed for Nepal's recovery.

This has been felt very deeply across our society, as senators would be aware. I want to acknowledge my good friend Pjay Shrestha, who is on the ground in Nepal helping to coordinate resources and helping to engage the fundraising needed to support Nepal's recovery. Pjay and many others are spending all their time on the phone, speaking between Australia and Nepal, trying to make the links and get the information to the family members, many of which are undergoing bereavement.

I want to note, for the record, our support for the Australian government's support of Nepal. Of course, it's very important that we come together for these sorts of natural tragedies, but there is of course always a question about whether the information is flowing as quickly as it can. Of course, we want the government to work as swiftly as it can, noting the good work already undertaken.