STATEMENTS ON INDULGENCE
Mr LAXALE (Bennelong) (17:22): On behalf of Bennelong, I'd like to express our community's deep sorrow and extend our profound condolences following the catastrophic flooding and landslides that have devastated regions across Nepal, Tibet and China. I offer Bennelong's heartfelt sympathies to the families who have lost loved ones, to the communities that have seen their homes and livelihoods completely upended and to all those who are enduring the harrowing agony and waiting for news of the missing.
The scale of this disaster is just breathtaking. In remote, mountainous terrain and valley communities, torrential waters and massive earthflows have cut off entire villages. Rescue workers on the ground face immense challenges navigating impassable roads, completely obliterated and collapsed infrastructure and volatile and dangerous conditions as they search through the mud and debris.
While complex geological factors contributed to this disaster, we can't ignore that human-induced climate change is accelerating the instability of these high-altitude regions, making natural disasters more fierce and more likely. Nepal contributes less than 0.1 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet it has once again faced the most tragic and disproportionate share of the consequences.
This crisis underscores a profound climate injustice. Nations on the front lines are paying the ultimate price for a global emergency they did not create, highlighting the urgent need for international solidarity, support for adaptation and ongoing climate action. I wish the world well to be able to reach meaningful conclusions at the upcoming COP.
The grief caused by this disaster is felt right across the world but also here in Australia. Across our country, hundreds of thousands of people call Nepal their ancestral home or have a connection. In my own electorate, around 1,000 Nepalese Australians are watching the news with heavy hearts, desperately trying to contact family, friends and loved ones in the affected regions.
We stand with our vibrant Nepalese Australian community during this extraordinarily painful time. Yet, in the face of such profound grief, we are witnessing an inspiring display of strength and solidarity. Local community members, cultural organisations and neighbours across the country are uniting to offer comfort, share support and raise aid for Nepal, China and Tibet, demonstrating the profound compassion and resilience that define communities and Australians in times of crisis.
We also hold in our thoughts the Australian families whose loved ones were travelling or working in this region when disaster struck. At this stage, over 30 Australians remain unaccounted for. To those families waiting anxiously by the phone for updates, please know that you're not alone.
The thoughts and prayers of this entire parliament and the nation are with you. The Australian government, rightly, is working to locate every unaccounted for Australian and provide support to their families. Consular officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are working around the clock.
They are in close contact with local authorities and tour operators on the ground. I remind anyone seeking emergency consular assistance or trying to trace missing relatives to contact DFAT's 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300555135. Of course, our commitment to our friends in Nepal, China and Tibet goes beyond words.
We're demonstrating our support through direct action and practical assistance on the ground. The Australian government has committed an initial $11 million in humanitarian assistance to support this response and recovery operation. This funding is delivering essential life-saving supplies—including food, emergency shelter, clean water and sanitation—to affected families.
Furthermore, Australia has deployed 49 personnel to Nepal to support crisis operations. This includes a 15-person Disaster Assistance Response Team equipped with specialist drone operators from Fire and Rescue NSW and the Queensland Fire Department to assist in search and rescue efforts across challenging terrain. We've also deployed an Australian Federal Police disaster victim identification team alongside specialists in humanitarian assessment, logistics, communication and planning.
I also want to acknowledge the extraordinary generosity of the Australian public. Even as people face their own pressures at home, Australians have already donated over $4 million to the emergency action appeal. This compassion reflects the very best of our national character, extending a helping hand to neighbours in their hour of greatest need.
Disasters of this magnitude test the endurance of nations, but they also highlight the strength of human solidarity. Australia and Nepal share a warm and enduring friendship built on deep community ties, mutual respect and a shared history. In this difficult time, Australia stands shoulder to shoulder with the people and government of Nepal, as well as all of those affected across the region in Tibet and China.
We honour the memory of those who have lost their lives. We salute the bravery of those who responded first, and of the rescue teams working in perilous conditions. We reaffirm our support for the long road of recovery ahead.