Matt Thistlethwaite, Assistant Minster for Foreign Affairs and Trade: 41 Australians remain unaccounted for in the region devastated by the floods and landslides in Nepal and Tibet. Australian DFAT officials are working around the clock getting as close to the region as they possibly can, and we hold every hope that we can rescue these Australians and return them home to their families safely. Yesterday the Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, did a phone call with the Nepalese Foreign Minister to express our deepest sympathies to the people of Nepal and to offer Australia's support. As a result, we've announced $5 million worth of humanitarian aid to support the rescue and recovery and provide vital supplies to the affected communities and to ensure that Australia is doing its bit to help out. We've also been in touch with members of the Nepalese community here in Australia. Yesterday I hosted a roundtable online with members of the Nepalese and Tibetan communities to update them on the situation and to offer Australia's support. We've also sent critical crew to the region to assist. Australia has deployed four emergency relief staff who are travelling to the region, as well as four additional consular staff and they will arrive on the ground in Kathmandu today. We're offering our deepest sympathies and support for both the Nepalese community and Tibetan communities here in Australia. Last night I attended a vigil at Strathfield in unity with the Nepalese community to offer our support, our condolences, and to do all we can to get them through this difficult period. In Rockdale here, we have one of the largest Nepalese communities here in Australia and Ash Ambihaipahar, the Member for Barton, is supporting that community. I'm going to hand over to Ash to say a few words and then we'll take some questions.
Ash Ambihaipahar, Member for Barton: Thanks, Matt. We're here in the heart of Rockdale. About two nights ago we hosted a vigil to be with our Nepalese and Tibetan community. It is a heartbreaking situation, a lot of our community members are really distressed. I think the most important thing through the conversations with the community is making sure that we get the right supports, Headspace provides that support, given how the natural disasters can have devastating impacts with our local community here, knowing that their family and friends are in the situation in Nepal. So it's important that the community reach out to their local member. I know the Federal Member for Banks, Zhi Soon, who is a strong advocate as well for our Nepalese community that straddles across the electorate of Barton and the electorate of Banks, and he's doing a lot of work to connect with our Nepalese leaders and our community making sure that they have the support as well. He's also organised a condolence book which you can also find on his social media to make sure that we can pass our messages to the people of Nepal.
Assistant Minster: Thank you, happy to take some questions.
Journalist: Yep, do you know the circumstances of the three extra Australians who are now missing, are they part of a tour group or travelling separately?
Assistant Minster: Yeah, we're getting this information from the Nepalese Tourism Board. They have lists of Australians who are on organised tours in the region. We're also working with the Chinese authorities on the Tibetan side. They were the figures that we received overnight. Our DFAT officials are in Kathmandu on the ground working with those local authorities to get regular updates regarding the missing Australians. We still hold every hope that we can find these people alive. The region has been devastated by the flooding and the landslides, roads have been blocked, homes have been destroyed, communications infrastructure has been knocked out, and power is down. So it's very difficult to get information in and out of the region. But DFAT officials are on the ground getting as close to the region as they possibly can to try and ensure that we hopefully bring as many Australians home as we possibly can.
Journalist: How likely is it that the number of missing Australians will continue to grow?
Assistant Minster: It's a very fluid situation and we're getting updates on a regular basis. Our officials that we've sent to the region are some of the most highly trained and specialised in humanitarian relief and recovery and they'll work with the Nepalese officials in a management role to ensure that we're doing everything that we can and we're providing regular updates to family and next of kin. If anyone has any information or is seeking any information regarding relatives and loved ones that may be in the area, they can call 1300 555 135 to get the latest information.
Journalist: And those personnel that Australia have sent, have they arrived yet and have they been able to access the area?
Assistant Minster: They left last night and they're en route and they will arrive today on the ground in Kathmandu. Because the region is cut off, they will get as close as they possibly can and they'll work with the local Nepalese authorities to do all they can to ensure that Australia plays its part and does its bit.
Journalist: Is Australia prepared to provide more assistance and what would that look like?
Assistant Minster: At this stage that's the request that the Nepalese Government has made and that's Australia's response. When the earthquakes hit Nepal in 2015, Australia provided over $20 million worth of response and aid. Our focus at the moment is very much on food and providing water and shelter to those affected. We're also funding the supply of medical kits, that's at the request of the Nepalese Government. If there's more to do, we'll consider those requests and look to provide more support in the future.
Journalist: In the roundtable you mentioned and you know your communications with the Nepalese community here, how are people feeling at this stage?
Assistant Minster: There's obviously a lot of anxiety and distress in the community. They're worried about loved ones, they're worried about the effect of people who are living in the region and of course they're worried about their local community here. We're offering that support through our local Members of Parliament, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Home Affairs as well. I want to say to the Nepalese and Tibetan communities that all Australians stand with you in this difficult time, and we offer you our support, our love, our friendship, and we're there to help.
Journalist: There have been concerns from some families about whether Chinese officials are withholding or censoring information, do you trust that they're providing a full picture?
Assistant Minster: Look, we have our DFAT officials in Beijing that we're in constant contact with. We did make an offer to the Chinese government for assistance, they've said that they can handle the situation at the moment, but they were very grateful. We've obviously had communication difficulties with the whole region given that a lot of the telecommunications infrastructure has been wiped out. But our Ambassador, Scott Dewar, and the staff at the at the embassy in Beijing are working around the clock, they're in contact with the Chinese officials to ensure that we can do all we can to locate and bring those Australians home, but also provide assistance if it's required. Thank you guys, appreciate it.