STATEMENTS ON INDULGENCE
Dr ALY (Cowan—Minister for Small Business, Minister for International Development and Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (16:23): For the hundreds of thousands of Australians of Nepali background, this disaster in Nepal is not something happening far away. It is indeed deeply personal. These are family members, friends and communities they know and love.
For some, they are the villages that they grew up in, the streets they walked and the places where their memories were made. Yesterday, Australian officials confirmed the welfare of one previously unaccounted-for Australian, and this will be an enormous relief for their friends and family. The number of unaccounted-for Australians is now at 35, and, for the families and friends of those remaining Australians, every hour without news is absolutely excruciating.
The Australian government continues to work closely with authorities and support Australians affected by the disaster. More than 1,300 people have lost their lives; thousands remain missing, and tens of thousands have been affected by this disaster. Our thoughts remain firmly with those families.
Nepali Australians have given so much to this country. They work in our hospitals and our aged-care homes. They teach in our schools and early education centres.
They run businesses and employ Australians. They contribute to communities right across our nation. They are Australians.
They've brought a rich cultural heritage to Australia whilst also embracing and helping shape the country that we are today. Right now, many members of that community are hurting. Some are grieving, some are waiting for news and some are trying desperately to contact family and friends.
Many are watching from Australia as places they know in Nepal and hold fondly in their hearts have been devastated. At a time like this, political leaders have a responsibility to bring people together, to make people feel safe and to make it absolutely clear that they belong. That's why I was disappointed that some political leaders took so long to unequivocally condemn the vile and offensive commentary directed at Nepali Australians online.
That kind of commentary is disgraceful at any time, but it is particularly disgraceful when a community is hurting and dealing with the trauma of losing loved ones, families and friends. There should never be hesitation when Australians are targeted because of who they are or where they are from. We should call it out clearly.
We should stand with the people being targeted and we should make it clear that hatred and racism have no place in this country. From the outset of this crisis, Australia moved quickly to support Nepal. We've committed $11 million in humanitarian assistance.
We're currently the second largest partner government donor to this response. When Australians are caught up in crises overseas, we rely on the trust and the relationships we have built over time to help us respond quickly and effectively. That's why Australia's partnerships matter.
It means Australia can be there for citizens when they are in trouble overseas. It means we can be there for our neighbours when disaster strikes. And it means we're doing our part as a responsible partner to build a safer, more resilient and more stable region.
The resilience of our nation and our region is not separate from Australia's own interests. When countries around us are better able to withstand disasters, recover from crises and protect their communities, our entire region is stronger. Our partners in the region know that they can count on Australia to show up not only in the good times but also during their most difficult moments.
Australia's support is making a tangible difference on the ground in Nepal right now. Disaster response experts deployed through our Australia Assists program are on the front line in Nepal and are supporting humanitarian efforts and recovery planning as we speak. The team helped establish a forward humanitarian coordination hub, bringing together district authorities, the Nepal Red Cross Society and United Nations agencies.
Coordination matters, because, after a disaster of this scale, the challenge is not simply about getting assistance to the country; it's about making sure it reaches where it needs to go. One Australian specialist has been visiting temporary holding centres with the Nepal Red Cross, supporting health assessments and identifying emergency needs. Another is supporting coordination between local authorities and humanitarian partners.
One of our logistics specialists is helping relief teams reach some of the most remote and inaccessible communities, and another specialist is helping coordinate protection services for women and girls. In the chaos of disaster, vulnerability does not disappear; it increases. This is what Australia's humanitarian assistance looks like.
It's not just a dollar figure. It's about extending a lifeline to people in urgent need of help. It's also about making sure that vulnerable people do not fall through the cracks when systems around them have been overwhelmed.
On Wednesday last week, a Royal Australian Air Force plane landed in Kathmandu carrying 23.9 tonnes of essential humanitarian supplies. That includes hygiene kits, solar lights, shelter materials and community lighting towers. This is more than simply a list of equipment.
A solar light means that a family living in temporary accommodation can move safely after dark. It means someone can charge a phone and keep in contact with their friends and loved ones. A hygiene kit means dignity for someone who has lost almost everything.
Shelter materials mean a family has somewhere dry and secure to sleep during the monsoon season while they begin to work out what comes next. That's what Australian humanitarian assistance does. Through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership, Australian NGOs are working with local community organisations in Nepal to help families access safe shelter, clean water and essential services.
They're ensuring families have access to clean drinking water so that sickness does not run rampant following the loss of infrastructure. They're supporting children to return to learning so that they can feel some sense of normality. They are strengthening protections for women and girls who have lost all the support networks around them.
They're helping communities begin the long process of recovery. What's also been remarkable throughout this crisis is the resilience of local communities. Volunteers have been clearing mud and salvaging materials from damaged buildings so that essential services can reopen.
Elsewhere, the Nepal Red Cross and Nepal Police built a manual ropeway across a destroyed river crossing, and volunteers have been helping stranded residents cross by hand so they can return home. These are extraordinary acts—people seeing somebody who needs help and doing what they can. That same spirit has been reflected right here in Australia.
Australians have so far donated $14 million to various humanitarian appeals on top of the assistance provided by the Australian government. That generosity says something important about our country. When people are hurting, Australians want to help, and when a friend in our region faces catastrophe, Australians don't look away.
There's a long path ahead for Nepal. There'll be homes to rebuild, schools to reopen, roads and bridges to repair and livelihoods to restore, and there'll be families who live with the grief of this disaster long after the immediate emergency has passed. To the people of Nepal: Australia stands with you.
To Nepali Australians coming to terms with the devastation across Nepal: your country stands with you. To the families and friends still waiting for news of the 35 missing Australians: you're in our hearts. And to the humanitarian workers, emergency responders, volunteers and communities working day and night on the ground: Australia recognises the extraordinary work you are doing, and we thank you.
The road to recovery will be long and challenging, but Nepal will not undertake that journey alone. Australia will continue to stand alongside Nepal, even after the news has faded from the headlines. We will be a trusted partner that you can count on, now and always.