Deputy Speaker,
For the hundreds of thousands of Australians of Nepali background, this disaster in Nepal is not something happening far away, it is deeply personal.
These are family members, friends and communities they know and love.
For some, they are the villages 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.
This will be a 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 excruciating.
The Australian Government continues to work closely with authorities and support Australians affected by this 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.
Deputy Speaker,
Nepali Australians have given so much to this country.
They work in our hospitals and 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. And they have brought to this country a rich cultural heritage while also embracing Australia and helping shape the country we are today.
And 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.
And 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 make it absolutely clear that they belong.
That is why I was disappointed that some political leaders took so long to unequivocally condemn the vile and offensive commentary directed at Nepali Australians online.
There should never be hesitation when Australians are targeted because of who they are or where they come from.
We should call it out clearly.
We should stand with the people being targeted.
And we should make clear that hatred and racism have no place in this country.
Deputy Speaker,
From the outset of this crisis, Australia moved quickly to support Nepal.
We have committed $11 million in humanitarian assistance.
We are currently the second largest partner government donor to the response.
When Australians are caught up in crises overseas, we rely on the trust and relationships which we have built over time, to help us respond quickly and effectively.
That is why Australia’s partnerships matter.
It means Australia can be there for its citizens when they are in trouble overseas.
It means we can be there for our neighbours when disaster strikes.
And it means we are doing our part as a responsible partner to build a safer, more resilient and more stable region.
Because the resilience of 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 whole region is stronger.
And 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.
Deputy Speaker,
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 frontline in Nepal and are supporting humanitarian efforts and recovery planning right now.
The team helped establish a forward humanitarian coordination hub, bringing together district authorities, the Nepal Red Cross and United Nations agencies.
Coordination matters.
Because after a disaster of this scale, the challenge is not simply about getting assistance into the country, it is 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 emerging 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.
Because in the chaos of a disaster, vulnerability does not disappear, it increases.
That is what Australia’s humanitarian assistance looks like.
It is not just a dollar figure.
It is about extending a lifeline to people in urgent need of help.
And it is about making sure that vulnerable people do not fall through the cracks when systems around them have been overwhelmed.
Deputy Speaker,
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 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 is what Australia’s humanitarian assistance does.
Deputy Speaker,
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 are ensuring families have access to clean drinking water, so that sickness does not run rampart following the loss of infrastructure.
They are supporting children to return to learning, so that they can feel some sense of normalcy.
They are strengthening protections for women and girls, who have lost all the support networks around them.
And they are helping communities begin the long process of recovery.
Deputy Speaker,
What has also been remarkable throughout this crisis is the resilience of local communities.
Volunteers have been clearing mud and salvaging materials from damaged buildings so essential services can reopen.
Elsewhere, the Nepal Red Cross and Nepali police built a manual ropeway across a destroyed river crossing.
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 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, Australia does not look away.
Deputy Speaker,
There will be a long path ahead for Nepal. There will be homes to rebuild, schools to reopen, roads and bridges to repair, and livelihoods to restore.
And there will 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 are 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 you can count on, now and always.
Thank you.