STATEMENTS ON INDULGENCE
Mr CLARE (Blaxland—Minister for Education) (16:39): I'm proud to represent one of the largest and fastest-growing Nepali communities in Australia. There are almost 10,000 people of Nepali heritage in suburbs like Auburn and Granville in my electorate. They're business owners, educators, healthcare workers, students.
They contribute so much to our local community. Today, I rise to acknowledge their immense sorrow. The grief felt in Nepal is also felt here, in Australia, by the many people who maintain strong ties to their homeland, and it's shared by our whole community.
The flooding and landslides that have struck Nepal have been devastating. So many lives have been lost and so many families torn apart—homes, businesses and livelihoods shattered. For many members of my local community, this is not a distant tragedy.
This has affected relatives, friends, neighbours and loved ones. On behalf of the people of my electorate, I extend our deepest condolences to all of those who've lost family members and friends and to everyone affected by this disaster. We stand with the people of Nepal in mourning and we stand with the Nepali Australian community as they support family and friends through this unfathomable tragedy.
Even in the face of this suffering, we see the qualities that define the Nepali people: resilience, compassion and an unwavering commitment to family and community. Across Australia, members of the Nepali community have come together to provide support, to raise money and to help those affected. That spirit of solidarity is truly inspiring, and that is certainly true in my electorate of Blaxland.
Blaxland is one of the most multicultural electorates in the nation. People come from every corner of the world. They've built their lives here, bringing with them their cultures and traditions and their aspirations.
The Nepali community is an important part of that story and an important part of the success of our local community. I want to share the words from the President of the Auburn Nepalese Community, Arun Shrestha: At this difficult time, our community stands united. The Auburn Nepalese Community is working together with members, local businesses and supporters to raise funds and provide meaningful assistance to those affected.
We are committed to ensuring that our support reaches the people who need it the most. And we encourage to come together and contribute in whatever way we can. Nepal needs our support now more than ever.
Let us stand together as one community, support Nepal and help our brothers and sisters rebuild their lives. Today, let us remember those whose lives have been lost. Let us keep their families and their loved ones in our thoughts and our prayers, and let us honour their memory by strengthening the bonds that unite our two countries.
Dhanyabad. Thank you.